John Ch.1
John 1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
When we compare vs1-2 with Genesis 1:1, we quickly realize that John the Apostle is most definitely referring here to the great God of Creation: This Word is God - Elohim.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
vs3 You and I were made through him…by him. Think upon this for a moment…
Compare Colossians 1:15-20 and Isaiah 54:16. This is the mystery…the in-fathomable sovereignty of the LORD God Almighty.
Colossians 1:15-20 ESV - The Preeminence of Christ - He is the - Bible Gateway
Isaiah 54:16 ESV - Behold, I have created the smith who - Bible Gateway
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
vs4-5 (see Genesis chapter. 1:3-4; 2:7; John 9:4-5) He is the source of my life…He is Light, not darkness…Truth, not lies…Goodness, not evil. And he has come to Save us; to bring us out of darkness and “into his marvelous Light”. (See 1Peter 2:9). In Matthew Ch.1:21, we are given a further clue as to who is this “Word”…this “Light that shines in the darkness”: “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Through his sacrifice, Jesus will save us completely from the death-grip of Satan, the Prince of darkness: He will bring down the barrier of sin, between God and his estranged creation, crushing its power under his feet forever (see Genesis 3:15). This is why John goes on to say:
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.
vs.6-7 John is functioning as a herald: One who would arrive ahead of time to prepare the way before a king - making sure the road ways were in the best possible condition and free from obstacles, rocks, hidden pitfalls, etc.
{For more on John’s story see Luke ch.1}
8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.
Vs.8-10 - The only real Light…the only real Truth! Basically “God is coming!” How do you prepare for that? John is about to tell us.
11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
vs.12 He is coming to adopt us…to redeem us…to reclaim us as his own. (This miracle of adoption will be further explained in Chapter.3 - Jesus’s conversation with Nicodemus.)
vs. 13 And it doesn’t matter who we, what we’ve done or not done and where we’ve come from: He has come to redeem…restore…adopt…Save! And he is no respecter of persons, tribes, races, or lineages!
What is his name? It is the summation of every name he has ever gone by in the OT: Yeshua: The Lord is Salvation. (But Salvation from what? We will learn more as we read more of John’s Gospel.)
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
vs. 14 and now the mystery is revealed: God has become a man: the Son-part of the Godhead; who has come from the Father-part! - A magnificent mystery that only adds to the unapproachable glory of the Godhead revealed in the OT.
John is testifying here, as only an apostle (one who knew and was sent, by Yeshua himself) can. (See also 1John 1:1-3)
15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”)
vs.15: Again, John the Baptist is preparing the way ahead of time, like a herald, for one who is greater than Him - who was there before Him. Prophets were seen as the spokesmen…the mouthpiece of God: So who can be greater than the spokesperson of God? Only God Himself!
16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
vs16 He came bringing fullness: Everything we could ever need in an inexhaustible supply…Grace upon grace upon grace…
Grace (Charis: favor, kindness; a gift or blessing)
This is a grace that will begin with mercy and forgiveness - poured out through Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross. (Read Romans Ch.5&6)
vs.17 Until that time, all they have ever known is the Law -and the barrier it has created between them and God, because of their inability to keep it. (See Hebrews 12:18-24) But it is through this very Law, that we are convicted of our sin (Romans 7)…and are able to receive this grace…
And now, for the first time, we hear his name: “Jesus Christ” will bring down that barrier; pouring out grace, mercy and forgiveness…for everyone…forever. How? This is what these Gospels - this good news - is all about.
18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
vs.18 Through Jesus Christ, God is with us (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23)…we can see Him…hear him…touch him…KNOW HIM! (John 14:9-11)
(See also Romans ch.8)
19 And this is the testimony 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?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
vs21 Two visits; from symbolically 2 people are promised in the OT: The first is a Prophet (like Moses) Deuteronomy 18:15. The second is Elijah (Malachi 4:5-6) John claims to be neither - but rather claims Isaiah 40:3 - herald to the coming of the LORD!
{As a side note: See Matthew 17:1-6 ~ Here we see Moses (the Law) and Elijah (the Prophets) as witnesses: testifying about Jesus Christ, the One who will fulfill both the Law and the Prophets; pointing the disciples ~ not to either of them ~ but to Him: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to Him.” }
24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.)
25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know,
27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”
Look again at vs26-27. If we compare this with Matthew 3:11 we realize that John as a man, can only lead people to an outward display of cleansing (water baptism) But in doing this, he is also preparing them - by showing them that all without exception need to be completely, from head to toe, cleansed (baptized) - and as a result , leading them to the only One who is able to cleanse them inwardly - The Lord, God Himself.
John then goes on in vs.27, to make a powerful statement: That he (meaning all of us in our fallen state) are not worthy even to serve in the most humble position in the courts of the Lord: at his feet. (At that present time - as John was speaking - the barrier of sin and judgment was still there). John - again leading by example - recognizes his unworthiness: We must all do the same, if we are to receive his forgiveness and pass through this barrier (by way of the Cross) to be saved.
See also an example set by three women: Luke 7:36-50; John 12:1-8; Matthew 26:6-13
28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
vs.28 Ironically this was in Bethany; home to two of these women, who will bow themselves so low - beyond “tying his sandal straps”, to washing his feet and in doing so, will acknowledge their unworthiness and receive his mercy, grace and forgiveness. Jesus will then affirm this action in John ch. 13: 12-17
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
It is unclear if those who were with John made the connection between Jesus and the perfect Passover Lambs offered up in the Temple year after year, for the remission of sins - but Hallelujah; it is clear to us now!
30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’
vs.30 Compare with ch.8:51-58
31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.”
vs.31 John’s purpose was to prepare the hearts - the consciences of the people: “The Lord is coming- and all is not well with you. It is time to confess (bring all hidden things of the heart out of darkness and into the Light) so that you can repent - turn from darkness towards the Light, who is God in Christ Jesus.” Because he comes to bring mercy - for all who would do this. Rahab the prostitute in Joshua ch.2 is one who sets the example for this. Compare Rahab’s honest plea for God’s mercy with Adam and Eve’s actions of self-preservation in Genesis ch.3:7-13.
If a person remains blind to whom Jesus Christ is, it is because they have chosen to remain hidden, in darkness. (See ch.3:19)
32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.
33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’
vs32-33 Again, affirming that Jesus Christ is so much more than just a man: Also here we find clues as to this manifold mystery of the Godhead; who we know is One (See Deuteronomy 6:4*) - with apparently 3 persons: Spirit, Son - and Father : This is not blasphemy: This is an unfathomable mystery - because He is the LORD GOD …and we are not: “Let us make man in our image” Genesis 1:26. Indeed, one of the best examples of the perfection of God, is the perfect unity of the threefold Godhead.
{*The Perfect Unity of the Godhead:
In Deuteronomy 6:4 (the Shemah), the Hebrew word for “one” is Echad, which means: “united” or “first”; and is derived from a root word meaning "to unify" or "to collect."}
34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”
vs.34 - Now it is revealed: The question remains: Who will believe John? (Isaiah 53:1) For if they do not believe John, they will not believe Jesus Christ Himself. (Matthew 21:23-27)
35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples,
36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”
35-36 It is likely that these two - disciples of John - would have had a clearer understanding of what John meant when he called Jesus “the Lamb of God”.
37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.
37 As soon as they heard John’s affirmation, they immediately followed Jesus: Their hearts had been prepared by the Lord’s herald John - but they had been destined to follow Jesus from the very beginning (John 15:16)
38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?”
38 “What are you seeking?” Deep down, they are seeking God (Matthew 5:3). Jesus will often ask this question throughout the Gospels, so that those who are following him will truly understand their need - of him. (See also John 6:68-69) The Lord requires us to bring our deepest needs into his Light and make our requests known to him (Philippians 4:6-7); just as with the healing of the two blind men in Matthew 29:20-24.
“Where are you staying?” Their answer (in the form of another question) tells us that, as yet they do not fully understand what they are seeking: But the Lord sees and knows the inward being, by which he is clearly drawing them…deep down they are seeking…yearning… for Him.
39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.
40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).
41 Again. Andrew knows him by title, but does not truly understand who he really is - except that he is different…and Andrew is drawn to him. This is probably unbeknownst to Andrew at this time, but John testimony regarding Jesus, has ignited a fire deep within his heart, that will burn steadily, but will not become fully inflamed until after Jesus’s resurrection and ascension.
42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).
42 Cephas - the rock - will be used mightily by the Lord: but let us not forget the one who quietly and patiently paved the way - who brought his brother to Jesus.
43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”
44 Now Philip was from 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 also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
43-45 It seems that Andrew was not the only one drawn to Jesus: At Jesus’s command to follow him, Philip recognized him immediately as promised Messiah of the Old Testament and was so confident, that like Andrew, he immediately ran to tell another: Nathanael
46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”
48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
46 Unlike Nathanael, Philip is completely unmoved by the fact that this promised one “of whom Moses in the Law and the prophets spoke of” comes from - of all places Nazareth, and is the son of - well, just a common man.
vs 47-49. Jesus will however, reassure Nathanael that he is no ordinary man.
How does Nathanael get such profound revelation - more than any of the other disciples so far - when Jesus has spoken so few words to him?
“under the fig tree” was a phrase Rabbis of this time used to describe meditation on the Scriptures: i.e. “It is said of Rabbi Hasa in the tract Bereshith that he and his disciples were in the habit of studying under a fig tree.” (Trench)
It is reasonable to assume Nathanael did this a lot, which makes it even more reasonable to surmise that this is how Jesus “knew him” (vs48). We could also surmise that this meditation on Scripture had subconsciously prepared Nathanael for this sudden and profound revelation: “You are the Son of God..the King of Israel!” Because the only way we can truly know God is through the very Scriptures that Nathanael likely meditated upon.
When Jesus said “I saw you under the fig-tree” (meditating on the Scriptures) those scriptures - and their author - were suddenly revealed to Nathanael!
50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”
51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
vs 51 It is possible that Nathanael, knowing the scriptures, would have linked Jesus’s words here to Genesis 28:12: Jacob’s dream of a ladder extended between Heaven and Earth, is about to be fulfilled in Jesus, who will bridge the gap between God and humanity. Once Nathanael makes this connection, and understands who Jesus Christ is, this truly does become a much greater sign: This could possibly have been the scripture that Nathanael was meditating upon when Jesus “saw him”.
Jesus also refers to himself as the Son of Man- a title used in Daniel 7:13-14: the King of Glory who comes to judge the world, and this scripture too, may have suddenly sprung to life in Nathanael’s spirit, explaining why he was able to make such a bold and profound statement. (See Matthew 16:16-17) Such revelation as this can only come from God! Things seem suddenly to be falling into place for him at this point.
The Son of Man: Taken from the book of Daniel, this is a messianic title that is neither political, nor nationalistic, which is likely why Jesus is using it. In this way he can continue about his Father’s business without any unnecessary conflicts or disturbances, as would likely occur if he called himself “king” or “Christ”. This will also prevent him from being arrested as an open threat to the authorities; there will come a time for this particular “accusation”, but that time has not yet come.
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