Chico Alliance Church
“The Word”
Introduction
The new fad these days sports the letter W.W.J.D. The letters stand for “What Would Jesus Do” This is not new at all. A whole wave rushed through the church years ago generated from the book “In His Steps” whose whole focus was doing what Jesus did. The problem in our culture today is that many have no clue what Jesus would do because they don’t know who Jesus really is let a lone what Jesus did. The only reliable source of information concerning who Jesus is and what Jesus did that would enable us to do today what Jesus would do today is found in the written record of his time on earth. I have not taught through a gospel since I have been here and have sensed the Lord’s direction that it is time to focus on the person of Christ as presented in the gospel of John. God’s vision for Chico is that we become a family who powerfully speak the words and passionately work the works of Jesus. It is my desire that by exploring John’s record of the words and works of Jesus we once again gain a new appreciation for the person who spoke those words and did those works and stir within our hearts a desire to become more and more like Him. Before we tackle the text, it might prove helpful to deal with a few introductory issues related to the Gospel of John.
Comparison
John is one of four, what we call gospels. The name gospel comes from an old Anglo word meaning godspell or good story. The Greek word was understood as “good news”. The story of the most central figure and culmination of every Old Testament prophecy certainly stands as not just good news but great news. God chose to record the events of this point in history through four specific individuals who each approach the presentation of Christ to a different audience focusing on a specific view of Christ.
Matthew written to Jews with a focus on Jesus as the King of Israel.
Mark written to Romans with a focus on Jesus the effective servant.
Luke written to Greeks presenting Christ as the perfect or ideal man.
John writing to the general Christian world pointing to Christ as the divine Son of God.
The gospels contain at least half of the content of the New Testament. Much debate has raged over the years concerning the source material for the gospels. Even an attempt to color code the “actual” words of Jesus in contrast to made up stuff. After all the debate fades and theories formulate I come to rest on the testimony of the text itself.
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. John 14:26
I bank on the fact that God fulfilled His promise and so what the writers of the gospels recorded as their account of the works and words of Jesus is what the Holy Spirit brought to their remembrance as important for all to know.
Author
So who wrote John? Sources outside of the writing itself point to John the apostle. Church Tradition points to John the apostle. Although the author is not named in the book, the fact that it is the apostle John seems clear.
Writer was a Jew
Writer was a Jew from Palestine
Writer was an eyewitness
Writer was an apostle
Writer was one of the inner circle of Peter, James and John
Writer must be the apostle John
So what is so important about knowing the author. Which do you think would warrant more credibility, an eyewitness account of the events or something written hundreds of years later by someone who want there.
John was an eyewitness. John was in the inner circle. John continually calls our attention to the fact that he touched, heard and saw Jesus and bore witness that Jesus was who he said He was.
Time and place
Probably written sometime in the later part of the century 85-90 AD from Ephesus.
Purpose
Unlike many of the writer of the New Testament, John clearly proclaim the purpose for writing the book.
Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written that you may (continue to) believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name. John 20:30-31
• The things in John are only a limited representation of actual events and teachings
John only cites 8 of the 35 signs recorded in the gospels. Why? Purpose
• The events and teachings were witnessed by the other disciples as eyewitnesses.
• Implies other things were written in other books but this was intended as supplementary.
• The purpose of the book is to illicit belief and encourage continued belief that facilitates the personal appropriation of eternal life.
• The foundational belief in the claims of Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of God.
There are really two treads of truth that intricately wind through every chapter.
The person of Christ as the Son of God
The eternal life available to everyone who believes.
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6
Intended audience
In light of John’s explicit purpose we might ascertain his intended audience.
He writes to believers to confirm belief concerning the person and life of Christ.
He writes that unbelievers may come to believe and continue to believe the truth of the person of Christ and in believing experience life in His name.
Characteristics and Style
• Focuses on Christ’s work in Judea
• Has a greater emphasis on time, place of events.
• Omits much of the synoptic material but does not conflict but hamonizes
• No parables but concentrates on extended record of discourses.
• Topic is not the kingdom but the King and His deity.
• The seven “I Am’s”
• Most complete account of a 24 hour period (17-19)
• Greater focus on the ministry of the Holy Spirit
• Style differs from Revelation but also indicates much similarity
• Style is simple yet sublime
John is wonderfully unique. He employs very simple language. Short sentences, simple grammar, simple vocabulary. Yet in that simplicity we find some of the loftiest and deep truths found anywhere in the Bible.
He makes masterful use of the negative and positive.
All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. John 1:3
He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light. John 1:8
And he confessed, and did not deny, and he confessed, "I am not the Christ." John 1:20
"For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him. John 3:17
John cites no parable of Jesus but employs graphic imagery all throughout his writing.
He manifests his Hebrew background through ruse of graphic parallelism.
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. John 14:27
"Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master; neither is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. John 13:16
Jerome said, “John excels in the depths of divine mysteries.”
Culross: “I believe the writings of Joh have been blotted by more penitent’s tears and have won more hearts for the Redeemer, than all the rest put together.”
Dr AT Pierson “It touches the heart of Christ. If Matthew corresponds to the court of Israel, Mark to the court of the Priests, and Luke to the court of the Gentiles, John leads us past the veil into the Holy of Holies.”
DA Hayes “As we read we are assured that here at last is the worthy and adequate picture of the life of Jesus among men.”
General Outline
An outline is only a device to aid our thinking and our memory. Aid to the Western mind. Not always able to logically outline a letter. Each Gospel writer had a different purpose and thus approached the data differently. Anyone who has ever studies the book come up with a different outline. Our intent is to discover some kind of progression or logic to the presentation or arrangement of the data. We must be resist the temptation to impose some kind of arrangement just because it fits OUR logic or out neat little categories. My encouragement to you is to concentrate first on the individual sections and then try to arrange them or discover some kind of arrangement.
Two Part Outline
I. Public ministry
II. Private ministry
Five Part Outline
I. Initial Presentation or introduction to the Word and his witnesses 1
II. Public ministry and teaching of the word 2-12
III. Private ministry and teaching to the disciples 13-17
IV. Public rejection, humiliation and resurrection of the Word 18-20
V. Personal epilogue 21
My purpose for this series.
• That you may come to believe and in believing experience His eternal life.
• That you may continue to believe and continue to lay hold of His eternal life.
• Come to know Jesus more deeply.
• Reaffirm the truths concerning Him.
• Restore your first love for Him.
• Remind concerning His teaching.
• Encourage us to powerfully speak the words and passionately work the works of Jesus.
I. Initial presentation of the Word and His witness 1:1-34
John beginning passage in John functions as does an overture to a musical.
The overture of a musical generally contains bits and themes of music from the entire production. giving the listeners a taste of what is to come.
This is precisely what John does in the first chapter of his gospel.
A. Introduction of the Eternal Word, Jesus 1:1-5
1. He already existed at the beginning 1:1a
John does not immediately use the name Jesus but leads up to that common designation by tying it in with several other names and concepts. He begins with “the Word” used only 4 places in John’s writings What does the designation “word” communicate concerning the person and ministry of Jesus? Words are a tangible expression of God’s thought and very essence. Jesus entered this world as a tangible, touchable expression of the invisible God.
John makes it clear that Jesus did not come into being at Bethlehem. He existed at the beginning. The verb used here indicates preexistence. “when the beginning began, He was already there.” To what beginning does John refer? This verse indicates that the subject, this Jesus to which John bears witness, existed at the beginning of time. He is not a created being. Why do you think we do not find a birth narrative in John? Because John focuses on the deity of Christ. Deity has no birth.
2. He enjoyed relationship with God from the beginning 1b, 2
“The Word was with God” John uses the Greek word “pros”.
the word indicates a plane of equality and intimacy, face to face with each other.
The Word enjoyed intimate relationship with God.
Before anything else existed…
Before there was a world and stars and universe to stretch our imagination…
…the Word and God existed in perfect unity and satisfying intimacy.
Later we learn the Holy Spirit enjoyed the same relationship. Through this phrase John communicates equality, distinction and closeness. What was it like? How did Jesus feel about that relationship?
"I glorified Thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which Thou hast given Me to do. "And now, glorify Thou Me together with Thyself, Father, with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was. John 17:4-5
The Father answered that prayer and he has returned to a glorious existence with the father were he intercedes for us.
My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 1 John 2:1
John uses the same preposition. “We have and advocate “pros” the Father. In intimate relationship with the Father. We have someone who enjoys perfect unity and satisfying intimacy with the Father dedicated to plead our cause. He has always existed. He has enjoyed intimate relationship with the Father from the beginning.
3. He Himself was God 1c
John describes the Word as being Deity. The Jehovah witness claim that the absence of a definite article in this phrase frees them to assume that the Word was “a” God. John uses a grammar that actually emphasized the opposite of what they assert.
Use of an article emphasizes the whole “the apple pie” drawing attention to a particular apple pie.
The absence of the article emphasizes the character to the subject discussed “apple pie” drawing attention the character of the pie. John draws attention to the fact that the word was GOD. He again uses the imperfect verb tense to draw attention to continuous existence. Not became but always existed. This Word was God Himself. He bore all the attributes of the almighty.
His Greatness
Self Existent - Self sufficient – Eternal - Infinite (incomprehensible) – Unchangeable –Omniscient – Omnipresent - Omnipotent
His Goodness
Grace, faithful, merciful, good, loving, kind
His Purity
Holy, Righteous, truth, sovereign, wrath.
“the Word was God!”
Characteristic of John, he repeats the concept of eternal existence and intimacy in the Godhead in Verse 2. He was in the beginning with God. John 1:2
4. He was the agent of creation 3
All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. John 1:3
Probably the most common activity associated with Deity would be creation. John now demonstrates just how Divine the Word is by attributing to Him the very act of Creation. As every Old Testament reader would have known, “in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” John now ties that well known concept with the Jesus who had walked among them. John uses a negative positive approach to hammer his point.
“All thing came into being by Him”
“Apart from Him, not one thing came into being that has come into being.”
John uses a different word here “came into being” to refer to creation that he used for the Word who “was” already at creation.
And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. Col. 1:15-17
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high; Hebrews 1:1-3
Expand your view.
The same Jesus that walked from town to town created the dirt on which he walked.
The same Jesus that sat in the boat made the water on which it sailed.
The same Jesus that cooked fish on an open fire made both the fish and the fire.
The same Jesus who ate grapes made the plants, the water, the dirt and the sun that produced the grapes.
He is God!
5. He is the source of all life and light in a world of darkness 4-5
Beyond being the creator of all things physical, John adds another dimension to his argument through the use of two more simple but profound terms. Not only word, but He is life and light. He Himself is the source of what we consider the very essence of life. Genesis treats us to some divine conversation at the beginning.
“Let us make man in our own image.”
That divine essence shared with man at the beginning came from Jesus. Just as in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth Just as God breathe into man the breath of life Jesus created the heavens and earth. Jesus is the life breathed into Adam at the beginning and part of which Adam marred and forfeited by rebellion against God. John resounds his theme. In Jesus is life. Apart from Him there is no life. He will return to this theme again and again.
“he who has the son has life and he who has not the son does not have life.”
This is not the first mention of God as our life and light.
For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light. Psalm 36:9
We so often get so enraptured at the creation that we miss the essential connection with the Creator. We lose the sense of awe that the one who created all things that we see around us or at least is the source of all the raw materials for the things we see around us is Jesus. In a culture of celebrity worship, we get sidetracked into identifying with those who rise to prominence in the world of entertainment and athletics. These people generally contribute the least. We find some satisfaction in the fact that our ancestor made such and such or invented such and such. God grants us to know the one who marvelously created the mountains the intricacy of the ecosystem, the universe, the microscopic world.
"And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3
John comments on the dark condition of the soul and world that blocked this life and light from recognizing the coming of the creator. A darkness descended upon the human soul. The verb used here by John can be translated two different ways.
To comprehend or apprehend something in order to possess and retain it.
To overcome or pounce upon something in order to bring it into one’s power sot that it shall not escape or assert itself.
The thoughts here then could be:
The darkness in the world and in the soul could not comprehend or apprehend this life and light now tangibly and visibly entering the world in order to possess it.
Or
The darkness was unable to overcome or stop the light from enlightening men.
I would opt for the second thought in that it better fits the context of the passage. Jesus came as the life and light of men. The Darkness which had descended open our world and the human should due to sin was unable to prevent the Word from enlightening men and restoring them to the life originally intended by God.
Conclusion
Know
Right form the very first verse it is not hard to pick up on John’s theme.
He want believers to continue to belief and experience the life Christ brings in believing.
Jesus already existed at the beginning of time
He enjoyed face to face relationship with the Father from the beginning.
He Himself was and is God.
He was the active agent of all creation.
He is the source of all life and light in this world of death and darkness.
Feel
Feel a sense of awe in knowing him.
Feel a desire to know him better.
Do
Draw near to Him.
Glory in His presence.
Rejoice.
Receive Him into your life.
Trust in Him for life and light in your time of need.
What does God want you to do as a result of hearing these truths?
