2009 Sep. 14, John 1, 1~8

John 1, 1~8

The Word Became Flesh

¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was with God in the beginning.

³Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴In him was life, and that life was the light of men. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

⁶There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. ⁷He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. ⁸He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.


Footnotes: John 1:5 Or darkness, and the darkness has not overcome

I. Message:

Content:

1. Word (Jesus Christ) relationship with God (v1-2)
2. Word (Jesus Christ) relationship with creation/universe (v3)
3. Word (Jesus Christ) relationship with fellow human beings (v4-5)
4. Witness of the Word (Jesus Christ), John (v6-8)

Theme:

1. In the beginning was the Word.
2. Light of the world

II. Who is God? Who is Jesus? Who is Holy Spirit?

1. Jesus Christ was before creation (v.1)
2. Jesus Christ was with God (v.1)
3. Being one with God, Jesus Christ is the concrete manifestation of God (v.1)--- The Word is God’s true form (supplementary translation of the pastor)
4. Jesus Christ as creator of all things (v.3)
5. Jesus Christ becoming the source of all life (v.4)
6. Jesus Christ as light to all men (v.4, v.8)
7. Jesus Christ who has overcame the darkness (v.5)
8. God who sent John the Baptist (v.6)

III. What is God teaching me (command, promise, model, rebuke, warning)?

Background:

1. Apostle John in his old age wrote the Gospel of John around 90 years A.D. During this time the church, confronted by Gnosticism, which advocates the duality of the spirit being good and the material being evil, had found the notion of ‘the Word becoming Flesh’ problematic and questionable.
2. It is with the authority of the last living Apostle who had himself witnessed the true light of Jesus Christ that John testified to Christ possessing the glory of God’s only begotten son and is also human. Christ died on the cross for us, thus accomplished the salvation giving life to all.
3. Based on the Old Testament revelation, God created the world and all that is in it with the Word and wisdom. Greek philosophy shared this idea of the word as foundational to the world. This is why John used the idea of the Word to explain the identity of Jesus Christ and his position and mission.

1. The Word and its relationship to God (v.1-2)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (v.1-2)

Apostle John, the author of the Gospel, begins by stating the nature of the Word and its relationship to God. He presents three points:

1. The word exists: in the beginning means before creation. I.e. Before God’s creation, the Word already existed.
2. The Word was with God: not only did the Word already existed it was with God. This shows the Word was not created but rather was.
3. The Word is God: the Word shares the same nature, identity, status because the Word is God.

2. The Word and its relationship to the world (v.3)

Through him all things are made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

In order to better explain the Word, Apostle John talks about its relationship to the world. He said: through him all things are made; without him nothing was made that has not been made. This shows that the Word participated in the process of creation. All that is in the heaven and on earth; all that is seen and unseen are all created through him. Thus, he is the creator.

3.The Word and its relationship to men (v.4-5)

In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

1. The Word is the source of life: life is in the Word.
2. The Word is the law of life: this life is the light of men.
3. Men rejected the Word: the light shines in darkness, but the darkness rejects it.
4. The Word overcame the power of darkness: the light shines in darkness, but the darkness rejects it.

Reflection: Jesus Christ is the light to the world. If I had accepted Him to be my savior and Lord, do I continue to live in the darkness of sins? Do I always abide in His light?

4. John, a witness to Christ (v.6-8)

There came a man who was sent by God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. (v. 7-8) Apostle John introduces a special character, John the Baptist. He said John the Baptist was not the light itself but rather he is a man sent by God to witness the light. John the Baptist is a witness to Christ Jesus so that all men may believe. He is also the one who prepares the way for the Lord, as is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “
a voice of one calling in the desert, 
prepare the way for the Lord, 
make straight paths for him.”(Luke 3:4)

Reflection: John the Baptist was a witness to Christ, am I a witness to Jesus today?

IV. My prayers/ Life Application

May God help me, so that not only I know the light but will also be a witness to the light, and moreover become a light to the world.



Translate by: Daisy Tsai