Sermon Tone Analysis

John 1:1-18

Who is Jesus?

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Who is Jesus?

1st-century Jews & Romans – Rabbi?

A revolutionary leader?

Other religions- Prophet?

God’s 1st creation?

Satan’s brother?

Today - Homeboy? Co-pilot?

The promoter of #lovewins who accepts love in any form?

A historical figure?

Myth?

Blue-eyed Brit?

Who is he, really?This is a crucial question, because there are 100 different versions of him out there, but only 1 can actually save you.

This is the question John answers in his opening statements.

Each gospel presents Jesus in a different light

Matthew – Messianic Kingship

Mark – Servant

Luke – Man

John – Divinity/Godhood

Put this text on a table, look at it from different angles, see it through a particular pair of glasses.

I want us to get into the mindset of the 1stcentury Jew as we read today’s scripture and hear from the Word.

What would they have thought?

What understanding would they have brought to the table?

They were a verbal culture, so they would have had a rich imagination every time they heard the scriptures.

They memorized the scripture, so it would have saturated their understanding.

By the time a Jewish child was 13, they would have memorized the Pentateuch and other books of the OT.

Read again to see the repetative words

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.

3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.

4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John.

7 He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him.

8 He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

From the Pillar Commentary –

the Prologue summarizes how the ‘Word’ which was with God in the very beginning came into the sphere of time, history, tangibility—in other words, how the Son of God was sent into the world to become the Jesus of history, so that the glory and grace of God might be uniquely and perfectly disclosed.

The rest of the book is nothing other than an expansion of this theme.

Outline

God & Creator

Life

Light

Creator & God

Eight “I Am” statements in the book of John

(just to plant a seed for later)

“I am the bread of life.”

(John 6:35, 41, 48, 51)

“I am the light of the world.”

(John 8:12)

“I AM” (John 8:58)

“I am the door of the sheep.”

(John 10:7,9)

“I am the resurrection and the life.”

(John 11:25)

“I am the good shepherd.”

(John 10:11, 14)

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

(John 14:6)

“I am the true vine.”

(John 15:1, 5)

First off, notice that John bookends this prologue with Jesus’ God-ness.

He is crystal clear

See this in the repetition of the words John uses.

It’s pretty clear in English.

It is even clearer in Greek.

[read bolded words in passage]

Parallels to Genesis 1 are unmistakable and intentional

Frozen 2 – going back to the beginning to weave in new details so a new story can be told

Genesis has 2 members of the Trinity.

John shows the 3rd member was there also

In the beginning…

Let there be light / Light shines in the darkness

God created life (in all its forms) / All things were created through Christ and in Him was life

Adam was created / The Word became flesh

Tabernacled among us… This would have been a vivid mental image.

Example – 9-11, Never Forget.

What comes to mind when I say that?

Planes hitting the Twin Towers?

Terrified, ash-covered American citizens in the streets?

The exact time and place you were when you heard the news…

This would have been equally as stimulating, like a movie flashback.Jesus came and tabernacle among us – BOOM – The Israelites are in the wilderness.

God’s glory comes in and settles over the Ark.

God comes and dwells among his people in an earthly vessel.

God is here now in like-manner.

Other references to Jesus’ divinity in John:

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.”

John 8:58

“Now, Father, glorify me in your presence with that glory I had with you before the world existed.”

John 17:5

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they will see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the world’s foundation John 17:24

APPLICATION

· For the 1st century Jew, this would have been mind-blowing.

· This Creator Jesus was the same Jesus that walked this earth in their parent’s generation!

· John connected that Jesus was indeed Emmanuel – God with us – the same God of OT

TAKEAWAY – Jesus isn’t just a good teacher, historical figure, your bestie, or British.

Our culture has tamed our King.

He is the all-knowing, sovereign creator of the world.

He is God – 2nd person of the Trinity – who was face to face with the Father from the dawn of creation.

TRANSITION – So, Jesus is our Lord and Creator, but John doesn’t stop there.