John 1
Jesus was with God before creation;
God created all things through Him
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 nothing was made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shined into the darkness; and the darkness did not overpower it.
- Just as words display thoughts, in this same way Christ displays God.
- The Bible displays identical characteristics for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- They are all equal.
- They are all infinite and eternal righteousness, knowledge, power, and love.
- Jesus, being in the beginning with God shows that He was not created by God but was always there with God.
- Revelation 19:13 And he was clothed with a garment dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 This one 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 enlightens every man coming into the world.
- Jesus is God the Son. He enlightens or shows the truth to every man.
- Romans 1:19 Because what can be known of God is revealed in them; for God has showed it to them.
10 He was in the world. The world was made by him and the world did now know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own did not receive him. 12 But as many as received him, to them he gave power/right/privilege to become the sons of God, even to those that believe on 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.
- 1John 5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loves him that begat loves him also that is begotten of him.
The Lord of glory dwelt among sinful man, full of grace and truth
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 witnessed about him and cried out saying, This is the One I spoke of when I said, He that comes after me preceded me: for he was before me. 16 And of his fullness we have all received, and grace for grace 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.
- How could human eyes that can only see a few miles in distance see the God who is infinitely larger than the universe?
- John the Baptist was born six months before Jesus but Jesus was the eternal Son of God born into human flesh so He was before John.
- In the law we see our sin.
- Under grace, we thrill to being loved by God though unworthy.
- Ezekiel 1, Daniel 7, and Revelation 4 describe the glory of God.
- Even in unattractive human flesh, God was so amazing that people flocked to Him and were enthralled by Him.
- John 14:9 Jesus said to him… He that has seen me has seen the Father…
19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who are you? 20 He confessed and did not deny; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21 And they asked him, What then? Are you Elijah? And he said, I am not. Are you that prophet? And he answered, No. 22 Then said they to him, Who are you? That we may give an answer to those that sent us. What do you say of yourself? 23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as the prophet Isaiah said. 24 And those sent were from the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, and said to him, Why then do you baptize if you are not that Christ or Elijah or that prophet? 26 John answered them saying, I baptize with water: but one stands among you whom you do not know; 27 It is he who coming after me has preceded me, whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.
- Isaiah 57:15 For thus says the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
He is the Son of God
28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. 30 This is he of whom I said, After me comes a man who has a higher rank than I: for he existed before me. 31 And I did not recognize him: but I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel. 32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it stayed on him. 33 And I did not recognize him: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said to me, He on whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizes with the Holy Spirit. 34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. 35 Again the next day John stood, and two of his disciples; 36 And looking on Jesus as he walked, he said, Behold the Lamb of God! 37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, What do you seek? They said to him, Rabbi, (which is interpreted, Teacher,) where do you live? 39 He said to them, Come and see. They came and saw where he lived and stayed with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.
- The tenth hour is four in the afternoon.
- Jesus took these two disciples home with Him.
- Revelation 21 describes the Lord’s eternal dwelling
of the New Jerusalem—foundations of solid gemstone, streets of gold, gates of pearl.
- 'That sin is infinitely evil is demonstrated by the ruin it has wrought among the angels and the present depravity of humanity. No cure could be found at less cost than the blood of the Son of God.’ (Lewis Sperry Chafer)
- God never goes easy on sin—His Son paid in full.
- Colossians 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross
- Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.
40 One of the two that heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, We have found the Messiah, which is interpreted, the Christ. 42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus saw him, he said, You are Simon the son of Jona: you will be called Cephas/Peter, which is interpreted, A stone. 43 The following day Jesus decided to go to Galilee, and found Philip and said to him, Follow me. 44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, We have found him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 46 And Nathanael said to him, Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him, Come and see. 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him and said of him, Behold, truly an Israelite in whom is no guile! 48 Nathanael said to him, From where do you know me? Jesus answered and said to him, Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.
- Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
He is the King
49 Nathanael answered and said to him, Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel. 50 Jesus answered and said to him, Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, you believe? You will see greater things than these. 51 And he said to him, Verily, verily I say to you, From now on you will see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of man.
- ‘Verily, verily’ was a tender endearment saved only for beloved ones.
- Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a garment dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, to strike the nations: and he will rule them with a rod of iron: and he treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he has on his garment and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
John 2
Jesus turned water into wine
1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2 Both Jesus and his disciples were called to the marriage. 3 And being short of wine, Jesus’ mother said to him, They have no wine. 4 Jesus said to her, Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come. 5 His mother said to the servants, Whatever he says to you, do it.
- Running out of wine was a huge social blunder with humiliating consequences.
- Mary had confidence that Jesus would do what she asked in this personal crisis for the bride and groom.
- What great advice! Whatever He says, do it.
- Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.
6 And there were six stone water pots like those used for the purifying of the Jews, containing 22 gallons each. 7 Jesus said to them, Fill the water pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, Draw out now, and take to the governor of the feast. And they took it. 9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from: (but the servants who drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, 10 And said to him, Every man sets out the good wine at the beginning; and when men have drunk, then that which is worse: but you have kept the good wine until now. 11 This beginning of miracles Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and showed his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
- This was probably the best wine anyone has ever tasted.
- Jesus miracles were living parables.
- This first miracle in Cana presents Jesus Himself, the eternal bridegroom, the source of all joy because wine represents joy in scripture and He turned the water into wine.
- The water of the word of God turns to joy in our hearts as we see there this holy infinite One who loves us enough to die for us.
- Song of Solomon 1:2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for your love is better than wine.
- Psalm 16:11You will show me the path of life: in your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Jesus showed man what is right
12 After this he went down to Capernaum, he, his mother, his brothers, and his disciples: and they stayed there not many days. 13 And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, 14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers sitting: 15 And when he had made a whip out of ropes, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; 16 And said to them that sold doves, Take these things from here; do not make my Father’s house a house of merchandise.
- People came to the temple to seek God.
- The religious ‘leaders’ had turned God’s house into a shopping bazaar.
- Satan was the first one to do this.
- Ezekiel 28:16 By the multitude of your merchandise they have filled the midst of you with violence, and you have sinned: therefore I will cast you as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
- 1Corinthians 3:17 If any man defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of your house has devoured me. 18 Then the Jews answered and said to him, What sign do you show us, since you do these things? 19 Jesus answered and said to them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20 Then said the Jews, It took forty-six years to build this temple and you will raise it up in three days?
21 But he spoke of the temple of his body.
- Jesus could raise Herod’s temple of stone from rubble or ash instantly with a word. That's how He made the universe.
- Could any of them make a human body? Not in a billion years.
- God, however, did make man’s body and would raise Jesus’ human body after being dead for three days.
- 1Corinthians 6:19 What? Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, who you have from God, and you are not your own?
He knows what is inside us, our thoughts and our evil
22 Then when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this to them; and they believed the scripture, and the word that Jesus had said. 23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, seeing the signs that he did. 24 But Jesus did not commit himself to them, because he knew all men, 25 And did not need any to testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
- The Father was testifying that Jesus was His Son by every miraculous thing that Jesus did.
- The heart inside man worships God one minute and curses the next.
- Jesus knew that soon these very people would shout, Crucify! And pound irons spikes through His wrists and feet.
- James 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be.
- Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
John 3
1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 This one came to Jesus by night and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that you do, unless God is with him.
- Jesus proved He was God.
- None of the other ‘gods’ of the centuries healed the blind and lame.
- None of the others walked on water.
- None of the others spoke to quiet the storm.
- None of the others raised the dead.
- None of the others came back from the dead.
- Jesus proved who He was so that no one would miss it.
- Psalm 96:5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
3 Jesus answered and said to him, Truth, I tell you the truth, Unless one receives birth from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus said to him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Truth, I tell you the truth, Unless a man is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again. 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but can not tell where it comes from or where it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
- Humans are first born of water. Amniotic fluid is the water in the womb.
- During birth the water breaks and the baby is born of water.
- To enter the kingdom of God we must be born of God’s Holy Spirit.
- Physical human eyes cannot see spiritual birth just like it cannot see wind.
- Since the resurrection of Jesus Christ, those who believe in Him are a totally new species of beings: created in the image of God with God living in them. This is so big!
- 2Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new.
- John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak to you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Jesus is present everywhere
God loves the world so much that He gave us His Son
9 Nicodemus answered and said to him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said to him, You are the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Truth, I tell you truth, We speak what we know, and testify to what we have seen; and you do not receive our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and you do not believe, how will you believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13 No man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man who is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whoever believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God loved the world so much, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him does not perish, but has everlasting life.
- We spend billions of dollars each year on things to try to prolong life for just a little while.
- God offers eternal life for free.
- The significance of the phrase, ’only begotten son’ is that the gods of mythology mated with humans and produced part human offspring.
- God our Maker has only One Son through His Holy
Spirit overshadowing the virgin, Mary.
- “When I hear that Jesus Christ died to take away my sins, has purchased heaven for me, and bestows upon me all he has then I hear the Gospel.” Martin Luther
He did not come to condemn but to save
He does our works in us
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one doing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds be reproved. 21 But he that does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be revealed, that they are worked in God.
- Isaiah 26:12 LORD, You will ordain peace for us: for You also have worked all our works in us.
22 After these things Jesus and his disciples came into the land of Judea; and he stayed there with them, and baptized. 23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salem, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. 24 For John was not yet cast into prison. 25 Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying. 26 And they came to John and said to him, Rabbi, he that was with you beyond Jordan, to whom you bare witness, behold, the same baptizes, and all men come to him.
- John 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.
- John 10:28 And I give to them eternal life; and they will never perish, neither will any man pluck them out of my hand.
27 John answered and said, A man can take nothing unto himself, unless it is given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. 29 He that has the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: then my joy is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I decrease.
- If we continue learning the Word of God and praying to God our focus on God will increase and our focus on earthly things will decrease.
- Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…
He is above all
He speaks the words of God
31 He that comes from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaks of the earth: he that comes from heaven is above all. 32 And what he has seen and heard, that he testifies; and no man receives his testimony. 33 He that has received his testimony has set to his seal that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God: for God does not give the Spirit by measure. 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. 36 He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that does not believe the Son will not see life; but the wrath of God stays on him.
- Hebrews 1:2 Has in these last days spoken to us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds
- Colossians 1:17-19 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell
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SUMMARY: John 1-3
- Jesus was with God before creation
- God created all things through Him
- The Lord of glory dwelt among sinful man, full of grace and truth
- He is the King
- Jesus turned water into wine
- Jesus showed man what is right
- He knows what is inside us, our thoughts and our evil
- Jesus is present everywhere
- God loves the world so much that He gave us His Son
- He did not come to condemn but to save
- He does our works in us
- He is above all
- He speaks the words of God