Foundations Week 31, Day 5

Scripture Read: John 1
Title: Jesus, The Beginning and the Word

H.E.A.R. 
(H) Highlight verse: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory. glory as the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."  John 1:14

(E) Explain:  John (the son of Zebedee) the Apostle is the author.  This is the same John who wrote 1,2,3 John and the same one who is believed to have written Revelation.  Since John never actually uses his name in the book it is generally agreed that he is the author.  There is some external evidence that even the early Church Father’s support John’s authorship.  It was written about 40 to 60 years after the death of Jesus which would put it at about 70 to 100 A.D.  This Gospel letter was written to Jews and Gentiles in Ephesus and was written to show Jesus is/was the chosen Messiah.  The purpose for his writing was evangelical in intent and informative so the readers could have a deeper understanding of Jesus and eternal life.   

The first 18 verses have aptly been titled “The prologue to the Gospel” by many.  John takes the time at the beginning of his account to be what Gary M. Burge writes, “An overture to the story of the rest of the Gospel.”[1]  He establishes some truths about Jesus

1. Jesus is the Word
2. Jesus has been since the beginning.
3. Jesus is God.
4. Jesus is Creator.
5. Jesus is the true light.
6. Jesus came to his own people and was rejected.
7. Jesus became a man and dwelt among humanity.

(A) Application:  Since time began the Word was present.  There has not been a time when the Word has not existed.  The Word as we will soon see refers to Jesus and has always been, He was not created and He has no beginning.  This makes Jesus eternal.  The Word was with God… this does not just mean he was in close proximity but implies intimate personal relationship. 

Not only was the Word with God but was also the very essence of God Himself.  I like the way The New English Translation reads, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God.[2] 

In Him is life… Jesus doesn’t just possess life; he is the source of life… He is the source of physical and spiritual life.  As we noted above that he is the Creator of all (physical life) but also through his death and resurrection became the source of Spiritual life as well.

John also denotes that Jesus is the light that dispels darkness.  In the Bible darkness is synonymous with death and evil and light dispels the darkness.  The darkness will try to overcome Jesus (as we will see in the Gospel) but to no avail.  Christ is victorious!  F.F. Bruce writes in his commentary, “Light and darkness are opposites, but they are not opposites of equal power.  Light is stronger than darkness; and darkness cannot prevail against it.[3]

The Word became flesh:  The incarnation.  The eternal God, Creator of all, and the light of the world took on the form of a man and dwelt among humanity.  John was an eyewitness as he walked, talked and touched the living God in human flesh.  John himself bore witness to Jesus’ glory.  The word glory means “the most exalted state or kingly majesty”.  This could refer to Christ’s transfiguration and his death and resurrection in which John witnessed

(R) Respond: Lord, search my heart and make yourself known to me.  Today I will reflect on Jesus, his Word, his acts of creation, his glory, and his light and life that is offered to me.

[1] Burge, Gary M. (2000). The NIV Application Commentary:  John,  p.25. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Books.
[2]  Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible. Biblical Studies Press.
[3] Bruce, F.F. (1994). The Gospel of John,  p..34. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. Eerdman’s Publishing Co.