The Word

Context: The Gospel According to John (John 20:31,21:24)

• Author: John
• Timeline: 90-110AD. Could be as early as 70s
• Purpose:
  • That the reader may believe that Jesus is
    • The Christ
    • The Son of God
  • And by believing we may have life in His name

The Word (v1-5)

• Existing from the beginning. What is the beginning? Where/when does it start?
  • The eternal past. Beyond the scope of time and our understanding.
    • Alpha and Omega. First and the Last. Beginning and the End.
• Existing with God
  • Again from the beginning – eternal past
• The Word didn’t just exist with God. The Word is God.
• Everything was made through the Word
• For us, The Word is
  • Life. 
  • Light.

A Witness (v6-9,John 1:15,Matthew 28:19-20)

• John, a man, sent by God
  • He was sent as a witness
    • To testify about the light
      • That all might believe 
• John was not the light
  • He was sent to testify about the true light – that enlightens all of us
    • John was sent ahead to testify about the true light that was coming
      • John was sent ahead, but The Word was before John
• John did what he was called to do. Testified!
  • What are we called to do?

The World (v10-14)

• The Word came to the world
  • The world that was created by The Word
    • But the world didn’t recognize its Creator.
• The Word came to the people who were called – the children of Israel
  • They didn’t receive Him. Even though they recognized Him?
• However, those who did receive Him and believe in His name
  • He gave them the right to become God’s children
• The Word became flesh and lived in the world
  • John and disciples saw His glory
    • Glory of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth

Conclusion / Application

• The Word became flesh so that those who believe Him may become God’s children
• We are called to be witnesses to nations – discipling, baptizing and teaching.

Main Passage John 1:1-14 – World English Bible (WEB)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him. Without him, nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome[a] it. 6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light. 9 The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him. 12 But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name: 13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Footnotes

1. 1:5 The word translated “overcome” (κατέλαβεν) can also be translated “comprehended.” It refers to getting a grip on an enemy to defeat him.

Notes / Cross References

John 20:31 but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

John 21:24 This is the disciple who testifies about these things, and wrote these things. We know that his witness is true.

John 1:15-18 15 John testified about him. He cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’” 16 From his fullness we all received grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared him.

Genesis 1:1 1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Matthew 28:19-20 19 Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

1 Peter 1:18-21 18 knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish or spot, the blood of Christ, 20 who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in this last age for your sake, 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead, and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope might be in God.

Romans 8:1-4 8 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.[a] 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the law couldn’t do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh; 4 that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Footnotes

1. 8:1 NU omits “who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit”

Matthew 23:23-28 23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone.

Hebrews 1:10 And, “You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the works of your hands.

Psalm 102:25-27 Of old, you laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the work of your hands.

26 They will perish, but you will endure. Yes, all of them will wear out like a garment.  You will change them like a cloak, and they will be changed. 27 But you are the same. Your years will have no end.

Revelation 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

Hebrews 1:1-2 1 God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds.