Sermon Tone Analysis

John 1:1-18

“The Word”

 

 

 

“Who is Jesus?”

One of the most important sections of Scripture in answering that question is John 1:1-18.

These opening verses are most often called the Prologue.

They are a summary of John’s most reflective convictions about our Lord.

John was Jesus’ dear friend.

Perhaps John, from among all humans, was Jesus’ closest friend.

As we make our way through this gospel, tuck that in the back of your mind.

These are the inspired, revered reflections of an intimate friend.

In these verses, we find one of the most elevated statements concerning Christ’s identity in all of Scripture.

If not an early Christian hymn,(it may be)  if not poetry,(it may be) it is at least “high prose”.

There are seven units of thought, or stanzas.(with a triad explaining the statement to follow)  Each of these provide incredible information toward an answer to that question, “Who is Jesus?”

Whatever else you may come to know about Christianity, know this.

Know what is taught in these 18 verses.

The rest of the gospel unfolds these 18 verses.

John focuses upon the central fact of our Christian faith: Christianity is not a philosophy, it is about a Person, and that Person is fundamental to our faith.

To remove Jesus from Christianity is like taking numbers out of math, the sun out of daylight.

It is to strip Christianity of its most essential component.

While other world religions focus upon the teachings, ideas, philosophies of their founders and teachers, Christianity is about a personal relationship with a Person.

That is why Jesus Christ is the most astonishing individual in human history.

More books have been written, music composed, pictures painted, and drama performed about Jesus than any other person.

Why?

Why did other great figures come and go?

Why do others fade into the annals of history but Jesus Christ looms as large in modern society as he did 2000 years ago?

Why is he the most powerful personality to ever appear on this planet?

That is the question John answers in the prologue…Who is Jesus?

We will see (in v. 14, 17)that “the Word (Logos)” is John’s descriptive word for Jesus.

Greek philosophy taught that there was a rational center to the universe.

The Logos.

Part of that logos was in every person.

It held the universe together.

Hebrew  religion recognized that it was God speaking that brought the world into existence.

“God said, “Let there be light…”

They also saw that the “Word (Logos) of God” came to God’s prophets giving them a message for the people.

In a broad sense, John is saying that the philosophical yearnings of man and the theological revelations given by God are met in Jesus.

The Logos is a person.

Jesus was the Living Word... because God needed to speak a word... to move toward His creatures.

He'd spoken through creation, the conscience, the prophets, ultimately what He had to say could only be said through His son.

So, His Son, "the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His being", because He is God.

*A.

**The Word and Deity (1)*

*1.

“In the beginning was the Word,”*

The Word is eternally God.

In those few words, John informs us that the Word has existed from all eternity.

At the beginning of time, the word was there with God.

The Word has existed eternally.

When your mind can comprehend that incomprehensible “time before time”.

The Logos already “was” when time began.

At creation, the Word was already present.

Let it grip you.

Let it drive you to worship.

Also, John states that the *Word was with God* (pros: face-to-face).

John indicates that the Word is separate and distinguishable from the Father.

He is a separate person.

He was there with God (1 John 1.2: the Word of life was with the Father and was manifested to us).

\\ In just a few simple but profound words, John offers a glimpse of the Trinity.

The word has existed from eternity past, yet at the same time, He is a separate Person from the Father.

He is eternal yet separate.

\\ \\ 2) The Word is equally God.

\\ Those final five words at the end of v.1 are some of the most important words in all of Scripture in understanding who Jesus is: *“and the Word was God.”* (not “a god” as the JWs would have you believe [proper syntax will not allow it]).

He was God.

As much as the Father is God, even so, the Word is God.

He was with God and He was God.

He is equal with the Father.

And the Word was God.   

    

 

*B.

**The Word and Creation (2,3)*

In v. 3, John turns from the Word’s relationship to the Father to His relationship with the creation.

The apostle informs us that not only was the Word present at creation, He was also the agent of creation.

*“All things were made thru Him, and without Him, nothing was made that was made.”*

Everything that exists owes its existence to the Word.

He is the Creator.

Apart from him, there is no existence.

Worship Him.

Col.

1:15-17: *“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones of dominions or principalities or powers.

All things were created through Him and for Him.

And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”*

*C.

**The Word and Life (4,5,9)*

 

John moves now from creation in general to the most significant element of creation, life itself.

Life is one of John’s distinctive characteristics.

He uses the word 36 times (whereas no other NT book uses it more than 17x).

The spiritual concept of life is very important to John.

\\ \\ The gift of physical life is precious.

Ill.

Doctor said, “Good news & bad news.”

Good first—you have only 24 hours to live.

Good?

What is the bad? “I should have told you yesterday.”

\\ \\

John is not saying "a heartbeat and brainwaves like every baby born into the world"

          He refers to spiritual life - self-existent, non-dependent life

          Jn.

5:26 *" For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in Himself."*

God differs from every created thing.

Everyone else is dependent upon something else for life.

Jesus had that in Him .

That life was the light of men.