John, Part 1
Series: Clear the Way, Part 1
John 1:1-5
- This morning, we are going to kick-off our study into the Gospel of John
- I never want to assume that we all have the same knowledge … intro:
• A young Jewish man; referred to as youngest Apostle (late teens / early 20s)
• He was the son of Zebedee and Salome; his brother James was 1 of the 12
• Salome was devoted follower (req. sons sit at Jesus’ left/right; at the cross)
• John wrote 5 books in NT: 3 epistles, Revelation, and this Gospel (~90 AD)
• Along with Peter and James, he was considered part of Jesus’ ‘inner circle’
• He witnessed 3 miracles others did not see (raising of Jairus’ daughter, Jesus’ Transfiguration, and the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane)
• The book that bears his name focuses on 4 things: Doctrine of salvation, Eschatology (doctrine of the final destiny of the soul and of humankind), the Holy Spirit, and the Identity (personhood) of Jesus Christ
• “If Matthew, Mark, Luke are books, the Gospel of John is the movie.”
• Gives no account of several things: baptism, Lord’s Supper, parable teaching
• EX: John gives longer, theological discourses (sermons), of Jesus’ response
• Yet, he writes of Nicodemus, raising of Lazarus, the woman of Samaria
• John centers on the truth of Christ: He is the Messiah sent from God to save
- John’s recollection of Jesus’ ministry is crucial for us: teaches us WHO Jesus Is!
-- CH: Over the course of this we will challenge several perceptions you have
-- Hang with me and seek the Lord – God’s Word should change us as we study it
- To make it easier to digest: the entire book will be broken up into smaller series’
-- This will allow us to unpack, to explore, and not to lose the focus of the passage
-- Today, we begin the series titled: “Clear the Way” (it -Ch 1- has 7 messages)
- BIG: Believe that God wants us to see, to know, and to truly see: Jesus!
-- Why? Many subscribe to legalistic, non-scriptural, opinions of who Jesus is
-- We believe in traditions that are molded by our feelings vs. God’s actual word
-- From the writings of someone who was with Him, we can see this very clearly
-- My simple challenge to you: Once you know the truth, what will you do with it?
- In honor of God’s word, would you stand with me as we read John 1:1-5 / Pray
Point 1 – Christ is Eternal
- Understand: precise Greek word John uses: logos; the word, account, message
-- Early readers saw this as an indicator of more than letters that have a meaning
-- They understood this as the physical, creative, power of God – they were right!
- John saying: the Word is the apex of completeness - encapsulated in One person
-- As John knew Him, Jesus Christ embodied it: God acting on the world in Him
-- Because of this, we have the incredible truth John presents of who He really is!
-- (teach) I want us to attempt to grasp what John knew as the truth (3 things):
1. Christ pre-existed the creation of time (v1)
- In the beginning (Greek: en arche) He was not created during it; but PRESENT
• Moses wrote: Psalm 90:2, “Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God.”
-- John expressed that Jesus is timeless – that He is the physical Word of God
2. Christ was the fullness OF God - in the form of a person (v1)
- John’s expression is that Christ was THE Word – the spoken existence of God!
-- John did not say that “the Word” was “the God” – NO: the Word was God!!
-- Greek: Theos; one true God, divine, supreme, the One who created everything
-- APP: The Word is the person from God (the Father) to the Creation (us)
- When we see Christ – we see a distinct person; we see the very character of God
• Paul: Colossians 1:15, “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation”
• RE: Paul wrote to Colossians due to infiltration of false teaching! Level-set
3. Christ was coexistent WITH God (v2)
- He was face-to-face with the living God; more than a created being
-- More than a figurehead of who God is … but God in a person; the Son
-- SEE: was ‘with’ (Greek: pros; alongside) God: as 2nd person of Trinity
-- Immortal, outside of time, before Creation, deserving of all praise and honor
- The testimony of John is: Jesus Christ is The Word; self-existent and eternal
-- One who does not owe His response to anyone but God – who He is the Son of
Point 2 – Christ is Creator
- BIG: John writes that Jesus had a hand in the Creation; was active in the process
-- Greek: panta; all things Refers to every detail that is in creation; not just parts
-- Each thing: ocean, person, angel, leaf, or wind came into being BY Christ
• Paul: Colossians 1:16, “for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see - such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.”
- STRETCH: Even the very words to describe Him were made BY Him!
-- Greek: egeneto; to physically come into being (ex: He spoke and it was)
-- Grasp this: At one time, nothing was! Matter is NOT eternal; can be destroyed
-- Yet … Christ, who is OF the very power of God … SPOKE life into existence
-- When He did – everything was created out of nothing because of His authority
- In Christ all things, specifically, and intentionally were made by God’s will (v3)
-- Within the Godhead – Christ is the active agent, the person who made all things
-- DIFF WAY: If God is the Noun, then Christ is the Verb – the active action!
• Paul: Colossians 1:17, “He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.”
-- Now see this: Creation was His purpose; to demonstrate for us what LIFE is!
-- Why do we need to understand? B/C of Who He is (Savior): His power is here!
• Paul: Colossians 1:18, “Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything.”
- 2025: God is not in some distant space that is removed from this world
-- He is active, involved, invested – the Word – reflects His intimate involvement
- BUT, the problems of this world are NOT because of God or what God has done
-- We choose to allow sin to replace His holiness in our lives; it’s what ruins us!
-- Our problems are because of the sin that we introduced in place of who God is
- So conversely: the solutions to our problems cannot be found in ourselves!
-- The answer – the solution – IS CHRIST because in Him creation was birthed!
-- Think: To return to Christ is to return to the life we were SUPPOSED to have!
Point 3 – Therefore, Christ is the Light of Life!
- John told us this: Jesus is the physical light that brings life to darkness!!! (v4)
-- Scientific fact: Without light, life cannot exist – see 2 things John illustrates:
1. Christ is the source of light
- Because of His nature, and Who He is, His very presence IS light to us!
-- Consider our Isaiah series: we saw the very presence of Christ through Isaiah
• REF Isaiah 6:1-4, “… He was sitting on a lofty throne, seraphim surrounded Him, cried out Holy, Holy, Holy”
-- This is how Isaiah saw the Lord (Jesus)!! Worthy, exalted, glorified!
-- His very being gives us a focal point; a place to look TOO for life right now!
- APP: He is the very excellence of life; the vigor of life; the power of life!
-- And, in that life … He brings LIGHT into the darkness of our sin to rescue us!
2. Christ is God’s response to the darkness
- His light, through the LIFE that He brings, is what illuminates the darkness! (v5)
-- It is more powerful than the wickedness that sin’s effects could ever bring
-- APP: His light (power) is what undoes sin - - it brings order back into the chaos
-- His light is the completeness of everything that you and I will ever need!
• Colossians 1:19-20, “For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.”
TAKEAWAY
- SEE: His light shines in the darkness to reveal the goodness of God (rescue)
-- TRUTH: His life (which is the Light) cannot be overpowered by our flaws / sin
-- DEEPER: So, our wickedness cannot outshine the LIFE that Jesus brings!!
- CH: Your sin is NOT greater than what God has already done or will do, ever!
-- Why this book is so pivotal; begins with the truth: You are not the center of life!
-- This is why the invitation is open to all; why NONE are excluded; ALL invited!
-- It’s why we confess that all have sinned so we can know how to be restored
-- It is what God had to do to show His love for us – to reach us in darkness
- Pray
