Introduction to John:
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John all describe the life of Jesus from different eyewitness accounts. Matthew, Mark & Luke are often called the “synoptic” gospels because of their “common view.” The Gospel of John differs quite a bit in content as it focuses on Jesus being God from the very beginning. John’s purpose for this book is clearly defined in 20:31: “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
This book was written by the apostle John in approximately 85-90 AD and is one of the last books written in the Bible. The author does not mention himself by name, but instead refers to himself as the disciple “whom Jesus loved.” Love is a key theme in all of John’s writings. “Signs”, “Believe” and “Life” are three additional key words as well. John’s Gospel is an excellent book for a new believer to read to get a grip on who Jesus is and what new life in Christ is like.
John 1: Jesus – THE WORD
This chapter totally rocks! As a new believer, I was challenged to memorize it and I can’t tell you how many times God has brought these verses up as I’ve shared Jesus with others since October of 1982!
The first five verses explain that Jesus is God (deity). “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Only God has been around since the beginning, so “the Word” has to be God. This is confirmed by saying that “the Word” created all things and is the source of life and light.
Next comes two amazing statements. The first is a sobering one: “He (Jesus) came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” The Jews in Jesus day rejected Him and many still do that today. The second statement offers incredible hope: “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” How amazing is that? ALL who believe & receive now enter into God’s family!!! Then comes “the Christmas verse” (14): “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” This is exactly what we celebrate at Christmas – that God became a man in the form of Jesus! So when you include verse 14, the mathematical solution goes something like this:
The Word is God.
Jesus is the Word.
Therefore, Jesus is God!
The rest of the chapter has to do with John the Baptizer. (He wasn’t “Baptist” or “Methodist”, etc…he baptized people) Basically, he denies being Jesus (because people were wanting to follow him) and instead points people TO Jesus!
Finally, I love Andrew’s response when finding Jesus: “Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, '"We have found the Messiah"' (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.
SO WHAT?!
*Either Jesus IS God or he’s a liar or a lunatic, because He claimed to be God. How should this truth impact you & me? It should lead us to both Know Jesus & Make Him Known to others!
*Have you believed in and received Jesus yet? If so, then you are the King’s kid – Royalty! WOW - to think that God would adopt us into His family – whoohoo!!! Are we privileged or what?! Take some time to thank Him today!
*Finally, when was the last time you “brought someone to Jesus?” You don’t have to know much, you just have to WANT others to know Jesus. Bring people to Jesus by sharing the Gospel, by living the Gospel, by bringing them to church or student ministry, etc….
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