The Gospel Of John (Lesson 1): The Word And The Witness Series

Isaiah 55:11 NKJV

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

The Greek word translated Word is logos. "Logos can signify reason, communication, utterance, spoken word, speech, discourse, articulated plan, or self-expression" (Apostolic Study Bible, p. 1648).

This Word is the plan upon which everything in creation hinges (Colossians 1:15-17). John writes in the Revelation that Jesus is the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8). In his high-priestly prayer in John 17, Jesus speaks of the glory that He had with God before the world began. As we said, "glory" in the Gospel of John has to do with Jesus's death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. All things were made with the Incarnation in view. Nothing could exist if the Incarnation was not foreordained. It is the central Word, reason, or Logos upon which the entirety of creation is built. This is the miracle that verse 14 will talk about.

Have you ever thought about the fact that you live in a miracle every single day?

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

In the creation account in Genesis 1, the creation of light is a theme. God separates light from darkness and creates light-bearers that rule the day and night (Genesis 1:3-5, 15-18). He is the Father of lights in whom there is no variation or shadow of turning (James 1:17). John picks up on this theme and uses it here in the prologue to foreshadow the conflict between Light and darkness that will happen in the Gospel. Ultimately, Light prevails, and the prince of darkness is cast out.

Light is life-giving. Beautiful things grow in the light. The energy of the light of the sun is absorbed by plants through photosynthesis. We, along with other creatures, eat plants and absorb that life-giving energy. The ultimate Source of all life and light is the Creative Word. As it is in the natural, so it is in the spiritual. Real spiritual life can only come from the belief in the Creative Word, Who is Jesus.

The Witness

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same 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.

John the Baptist appears in the Gospel of John as a "witness" who points others to the Light with the purpose that they might believe and receive eternal life. This eternal life has to do with receiving the Spirit. John's consistent message in all four Gospels is that Jesus is the One "who baptizes with the Holy Spirit" (v. 33).

9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.