In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
- Who is John talking about in these verses? (John 1:14)
- According to these verses, what is the identity and origin of this Word?
- John also affirms that this Word became a fully human being in Jesus
( John 1:14, 1 John 4:2)
Truth #1 : the Word is both human and divine.
- What was the Word (who is Jesus) doing in the beginning, at the time of creation?
- Can anything exist without him? ( John 1:3, Hebrews 1:3)
Truth #2 : the Word was directly involved in creating us and the world, and sustains us and all creation even now.
- What did Jesus do about the darkness of human life?
- Can the darkness understand the light? (John 1:5 NKJV)
- Can the darkness overcome the light? (John 1:5 ESV)
- How does the light overcome the darkness?
Truth #3: Jesus is the light of the world
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
- What was John the Baptist’s perspective on his relationship with Jesus? (John 3:25-30)
- What can we learn from this?
Verses 9-13 The Light – rejected and received
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
- Why did some people not receive Jesus? (2 Corinthians 4:4)
- What does Jesus do in the lives of those who receive him? (John 1:12)
- By whose power are believers born again?
Verse 14 The Word takes on human form
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Consider the bold claim made in this teaching. The Word (logos, eternal life-giving truth) that was with God at the beginning, the One who made all things, the One who made us and knows us through and through – this One has come to “pitch his tent among us” (buy a home in our neighbourhood). Amazing.
Consider the author of this simple, elegant yet profound teaching.
He was a fisherman, the son of a fisherman (Mark 1:19-20). He was unschooled (Acts 4:13). Yet he had been with Jesus. He spoke from personal experience when he said We have seen his glory. He had looked on Jesus and spent time with him, and he had been changed.
Takeaway thought
By identifying Jesus with the eternal Word who was with God at the beginning, John is highlighting that Jesus is the Father’s message to His creation. He embodies all the Father’s truth, intelligence, wisdom and love. His life, laid down so that we could become children of God, is the Father’s love letter to us.
You were created and redeemed by the One who is at the Father’s right hand. He came into this world, lived and died so that you could be reborn as a child of God.
Despite all our failures He is unfailingly good. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.