AM April 10th John 1

The Gospel of John.

April 10th John 1

A Prologue

1v1-3 The Word – Christ

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 by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

1v4-34 The Witness – John the Baptist

4: In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5: And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6: There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7: The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8: He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9: That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10: He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11: He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12: But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15: John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16: And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17: For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18: No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. 19: And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20: And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21: And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. 22: Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23: He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. 24: And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. 25: And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26: John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 27: He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. 28: These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

This book was written by John the Apostle in his old age. It may have been the last NT book to be written. AD 85–100. John wrote to counter the false teaching that downgraded the Lord and emphasised his humanity. John writes to show that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah and the Word of God. John brings before us eight signs that authenticate his ministry. Seven is the number of the creation, John shows that the Lord will bring in a new creation. The First three Gospels were called Synoptic Gospel because they all write from the same point of view in approximate chronological order. But John’s Gospel is different. It was written much later and he does not give the same emphasis in the miracles or parables. John brings before us ‘Signs’. John uses simple language but it conveys the most profound truths. John present a simple chronological sequence, ‘the next day’ etc. Although John is showing the deity of Christ his humanity is not forgotten, ‘Jesus... being wearied with his journey’ etc. The name ‘Jesus’ is the main title of Christ. John gives his own reason why he wrote his Gospel. (20v30,31). He wrote so that the reader might have faith in Jesus - believing that he was the Christ, the Son of the living God, and that through faith, the reader might have eternal life. John’s favourite word ‘Believe’ is used over a hundred times. ‘Eternal life’ occurs 35 times, but only 12 times in the other Gospels.


Sign One Water to wine
Sign Two Healing of the son
Sign Three Healing of the lame man
Sign Four Feeding of 5,000
Sign Five The Lord walks in water
Sign Six Sight to Blind man
Sign Seven Lazarus raised from death
Sign Eight Fish from Galilee


John also writes to show the reaction of people to Christ. for example. Nicodemus’ unbelief and the Woman of Samaria’s - faith.

John’s Gospel records the seven “I AM’s of Christ.

1. I am the Bread of life
2. I am the Light of the world
3. I am the Door for the sheep
4. I am the Good Shepherd
5. I am the Resurrection and the Life
6. I am the Way, the Truth and the Life
7. I am the True Vine

The Gospel has two parts and the central idea is found in chapter 6. The situation John describes here, is a picture of the situation of today – The Church Age. John says - Christ is separate from his people, they (Israel) are on Gentile waters, but he is coming back. The Lord is coming back for Israel, who are struggling with the Nations.

The Introduction of Christ the King
The first four signs
Christ reflects Israel’s history

The Rejection of Christ the King
The second four signs
Christ is Israel’s future

Steve