John 1:1 Word Was God - For The Glory of Jesus

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Word Was God

John is telling us that the Word was God. The Word is Jesus Christ. John introduces his gospel telling us that In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God.

This is a Bible Study. Have your own Bible handy to look up the references mentioned.

If you do not have a Bible, I invite you to go to BibleGateway.com or another online Bible.

John 1:1-8

1. “It was given to John, the beloved disciple, to write a book for both Jews and Gentiles, presenting Jesus as the Son of God.” (Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament Volume 1 Matthew-Galatians. [Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2004]. 284)

“‘The Word’ is one of the highest and most profound titles of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume IV: [Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983], 369)

John “began by linking the Logos (Word) with the beginning. This statement asserts that the Logos existed before creation began.” (Borchert, Gerald L., The New American Commentary Volume 25A, John 1-11. [Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2002], 102)

2. He was in the beginning with God. [NKJV]

This is telling us that Jesus has been with God from the beginning.

3. “John tells us that Jesus participated in creation and again states his case twice for emphasis.” [Max Anders and Kenneth O. Gangel (2012). HNTC Vol. 04: John. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]

All things were made through Him [NKJV]

“Jesus Christ was God the Father’s agent involved in creating everything in the universe (Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:2). (MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Bible Commentary. [Nashville, Thomas Nelson Inc., 2005], 1343)

Without him was not any thing made that was made.

Jesus was with God when everything was created.

Life and Light

4. “‘Life’ and ‘light’ are qualities of the Word that are shared not only among the Godhead (5:26) but also by those who respond to the gospel message regarding Jesus Christ (8:12; 9:5; 10:28; 11:15; 14:6). (MacArthur, 1344)

“Life is a key theme in John’s gospel; it is used thirty-six times.” (Wiersbe, 285)

“Jesus Christ the Creator provides physical life; Jesus Christ the Redeemer provides spiritual life; and Jesus Christ the Savior provides eternal life.” [Max Anders and Kenneth O. Gangel (2012). HNTC Vol. 04: John. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]

“In the Lord Jesus Christ there is life, and the life that He gives is the light of men.” (McGee, 372)

“This world today is in spiritual darkness, and the Lord Jesus Christ has brought the only light there is in the world. He is the light.” (McGee, 373)

Darkness

5. “You go into a dark room, and the minute you switch on the light, the darkness leaves, it disappears. Darkness and light cannot exist together physically. The moment you bring light in, darkness is gone. The minute light is taken out darkness will come right back in. But spiritual light and darkness exist together.” (McGee, 373)

“People love either the light or the darkness, and this love controls their actions (John3:16-19). Those who believe on Christ are the ‘sons of light’ (John 12:35-36)…The coming of Jesus Christ into the world was the dawning of a new day for sinful man (Luke 1:78-79).” (Wiersbe, 285)

Comprehend [NKJV] “The better meaning of this term in context is ‘overcome.’ Darkness is not able to overcome or conquer the light. Just as a single candle can overcome a room filled with darkness, so also the powers of darkness are overcome by the person and work of the Son through His death on the cross (cf. 19:11a).” (MacArthur, 1344)

“Satan strives to keep people in the darkness, because darkness means death and hell, while light means life and heaven.” (Wiersbe, 285)

John the Baptist

6. Sent from God [NJKV]

Note that John the Baptist was Sent from God. See Luke reference below.

“For more on John the Baptist, cf. Matthew 3:1-6; Mark 1:2-6; Luke 1:5-25, 57-80.” (MacArthur 1345)

“The name ‘John’ always refers to John the Baptist in this Gospel, never to the apostle John.” (MacArthur, 1344)

7. “As a forerunner to Jesus, John was to bear witness to Him as the Messiah and Son of God.” (MacArthur, 1344)

“There were other witnesses:
(1) the Samaritan woman (4:29).
2) the works of Jesus (10:25).
(3) the Father (5:32-37).
(4) the OT (5:39-40).
(5) the crowd (12:17) and
(6) the Holy Spirit (15:26-27)

That all through him might believe [NKJV]. “The pronoun him refers not to Christ but to John as the agent who witnessed to Christ. The purpose of his testimony was to produce faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world.” (MacArthur, 1345)

8. He was not that Light [NKJV] “While John the Baptist was the agent of belief, Jesus Christ is the object of belief. Although John’s person and ministry were vitally important (Matthew 11:11), he was merely the forerunner who announced the coming of the Messiah.” (MacArthur, 1345)

But was sent to bear witness of that Light [NKJV]

We are to be like John the Baptist. We are only to bear witness about Jesus Christ.

References

In this article Scripture quotations taken from KJV.

Borchert, Gerald L., The New American Commentary Volume 25A, John 1-11. Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2002
Max Anders and Kenneth O. Gangel (2012). HNTC Vol. 04: John. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com
McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume IV: Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983
MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Bible Commentary. Nashville, Thomas Nelson Inc., 2005
Wiersbe, Warren W, The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament Volume 1 Matthew-Galatians. Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2004

True Light

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