John 1 - Simply Profound
- Chad Werkhoven
- Dec 2, 2022
- 2 min read
As you prepare for Christmas, be reminded that Jesus is so much more than a little babe in a manger.
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Previous DIG DEEPER posts on John
John 1 Summary
This famous passage is commonly referred to as John's Prologue. Rather than explain the details of Jesus' birth as Matthew and Luke do, or just jumping into the beginning of Jesus' ministry as Mark does, John introduces Jesus poetically, tying in many Old Testament themes:
JESUS IS THE WORD (v1-3)
The word 'Word' has a bigger sense, which is reflected in the Greek. Jesus is the Logos, which was the transcendent power that Greek philosophers recognized was holding all things together. We get the English word "logic" from this.
Jesus is the all powerful, ever existing divine logic that created all things. The Logos has always been with God and is God.
JESUS IS THE LIGHT (v4-13)
He is the source of light and life in all people. This world has been plunged into darkness by sin, but Jesus is the one true light that overcomes that darkness.
Even though Jesus, the Logos, spoke the world into existence, His creation did not recognize Him when He came, and like bugs that scurry away when a rock is lifted up, the sinful world scurried away rejecting the true light.
But it doesn't take long for John to present the gospel message, which comes in v12:
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
JESUS TOOK ON OUR NATURE AND LIVED AMONG US (v14-18)
The tabernacle and temple were so significant in the Old Testament because the Israelites could see that God's presence lived among them. When Jesus came, John writes that He dwelled (literally: tabernacled) among us.
As you read John, be on the lookout for how Jesus speaks about and interacts with the Temple, showing that He supersedes it. Jesus is a new grace, replacing the grace the Mosaic sacrificial system could only symbolize.
Jesus is the fullest revelation of God. He literally is the Word of God.
Dig Deeper
The prologue John begins his gospel with certainly is fit for a king. Even though Jesus gave up so much to come down and dwell with His people in their sin, He never gave up His authority.
Notice the first thing John records Jesus saying: In v38 He simply asks what are you seeking? Ironically, Jesus' question goes unanswered.
It's not until another conversation begins that Jesus answers His original question with a command: Follow me (v43).
Make sure you are seeking the Logos and following Him.
AAA Prayer :
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (v1)
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that God will make what you want the same as what He wants (v38)
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
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