The Word John 1:1-5

Introduction The gospel of John has a clearly stated purpose –Jn 20:30-31 To bring about belief in Jesus as the Christ To follow-up on belief so that one might be saved The gospel is not a complete account of all Jesus did or said –Does not even cover all time periods of His life –More events covered toward the end of His life Jn 7 – begins the last 6 months Jn 13 – begins the last day

Introduction John does not cover most events in Matthew, Mark, and Luke –Probably John wrote 30 years after the other gospel writers Those accounts were known and available John emphasizes belief in Jesus as the Christ –The events usually revolve around an individual who comes to believe Answers: Why and what did they believe? Mixed in are some examples of those who didn’t believe or didn’t act on their belief –The teachings of Jesus center on who He is and how His listeners can know for sure

Prologue John begins with a prologue (foreword) –Jn 1:1-18 –Herein John makes the claims he will set out to prove throughout the gospel The first group of claims, which will be our focus in this lesson (Jn 1:1-5)... –That Jesus existed before He was born –That Jesus was God, the Creator –That Jesus’ work as Creator has significance for us today

The Word A title only used by John (in Jn 1:1-14, 1 Jn 1:1, and Rev 19:13) –What does the title “the Word” mean? Either “A ‘word’ is that by which we communicate our will; by which we convey our thoughts; or by which we issue commands; the medium of communication with others.” (Barnes) –As in Heb 1:1-3 – Jesus as the means of communication Or because 1 st century Jews used ‘the Word’ as a title of the Messiah based on Isa 55:11 and similar passages Or both

The Pre-existence of the Word “In the beginning was the Word” (Jn 1:1) –“In the beginning” references Gen 1:1 “was” – past tense, already existing, eternal The OT prophets had prophesied of a pre- existent Messiah –Micah 5:2 - “from of old, from everlasting” –Isa 9:6-7 – “Everlasting Father” –Zech 2:10-11 – the Messiah’s promise to come made 500+ years before Jesus’ birth

The Pre-existence of the Word Jesus Himself affirmed His pre-existence –Jn 8:56-58 More about this statement in a later lesson He said He existed before Abraham –Jn 17:4-5, 24 Existed before the world –Rev 22:13 Titles that indicate His eternal nature Paul also taught the pre-existence of Christ –1 Cor 10:1-4; 2 Cor 8:9; Php 2:5-8; Col 1:16-17 Also in Heb 1:2-3

The significance of His pre-existence He is God –John specifically states this fact (Jn 1:1-2) “with God” showing a relationship with yet a distinction from the Father “was God” showing an equality of nature –The eternal existence prophecies (Mic 5:2; Isa 9:6-7) show the Messiah to be God –Zechariah’s use of the LORD as both the Messiah and the One who sends the Messiah (Zec 2:8-11; 12:10) –Jesus made this claim by His use of “I AM” e.g., Jn 8:58-59 – the Jews recognized the claim being made based on Ex 3:13-14

The significance of His pre-existence He is Life –Jn 1:3-4 Life would not exist without Him Life could not continue to exist without Him –Col 1:16-17 All things created by Him, through Him, and for Him In Him all things are held together (consist) –Therefore, He is the one who can offer us eternal life (Jn 5:21, 11:25-26, 14:6)

The significance of His pre-existence He is Light –Jn 1:4-5 We live in a world of darkness –Eph 4:17-19 By bringing a way out of sin, He brought light into the world –Jn 12:35-36 »We can be “sons of light” –Jn 8:12 »We can have “the light of life” –1 Jn 1:5-7 »We can “walk in the light”

Conclusion Jn 3:19-20 –Many refuse the light and the life brought by Jesus Don’t stubbornly remain in darkness –There is only death there –Come to the light of the world and find eternal life