The Gospel of John I

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D.       Key Shifts in the Gospel of John

1.   The coming of His hour

a.         Not yet come (John 2:4; John 7:30; John 8:20)

b.        Now come (John 12:23, 27; John 13:1; John 16:32; John 17:1)

2.   The identity of “his own”

a.         In John 1:11, “his own” are the Jews who reject Jesus.

b.        In John 13:1, “his own” are the disciples who believed in Jesus.

3.   Growing rejection of Jesus and His message

a.         First unorganized attempt to kill Him (John 5:16-18)

b.        First major departure of His disciples (John 6:66)

c.         First organized attempt to seize Him (John 7:30-32)

d.        First organized attempt to kill Him (John 11:47-51, 57)

e.         Final rejection of His miracles (John 12:37)

V.                 THE DIVISIONS OF THE BOOK

A.       Discovery

1.   Chapters 1-4

2.   He reveals Himself

a.         To the disciples of John (chapter 1)

b.        To the Jews of Galilee (chapter 2)

c.         To Nicodemus of the Pharisees (chapter 3)

d.        To the woman of Samaria (chapter 4)

B.        Division

1.   Chapters 5-10

2.   The key word division is found three times in John (John 7:43; John 9:16; John 10:19); all within this section of the book.

3.   This is the time when opposition to Jesus develops and grows.

C.       Denial

1.   Chapters 11-12

2.   Because of the resurrection of Lazarus, the Jewish council and high priest make specific plans to put Jesus to death; their rejection is final.

D.       Devotion

1.   Chapters 13-17

2.   Jesus speaks to “his own” (John 13:1), not as simple servants, but as friends (John 15:15). Many look at this section of John as the holy of holies in the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ.

E.        Death

1.   Chapters 18-19

2.   Jesus is taken in judgment and is crucified.

F.        Deliverance

1.   Chapter 20

2.   Jesus rises again from the dead in complete triumph.

G.       Direction

1.   Chapter 21

2.   After His resurrection, Jesus gives encouragement and direction to His faithful disciples.

Jesus Christ, the Word of God

John 1:1-18

I.                    THE IDENTITY OF THE WORD (John 1:1-5)

A.       Seven References to Christ as the Word

1.   In the beginning was the Word (John 1:1).

2.   The Word was with God (John 1:1).

3.   The Word was God (John 1:1).

4.   The Word was made flesh (John 1:14).

5.   The disciples saw Him who is the Word of life (1John 1:1-2).

6.   The Word is three in one with the Father and the Holy Ghost (1John 5:7).

7.   He who returns to earth in power is called The Word of God (Revelation 19:13).

8.   NOTES:

a.         All references to Christ as the Word are in the writings of John.

b.        These references to Christ as the Word are in all three types of New Testament writings: history, teaching, and prophecy.

c.         1John 5:7 is a much disputed verse. Notice that if it were removed, there would no longer be seven references to Christ as the Word, but only six.

B.        The Fourfold Work of the Word

1.   Thought

a.         A word is the most basic unit of language that expresses thought. By doing so, it declares the hidden thought of the speaker.

b.        Christ, as the Word, expresses the hidden thoughts of God. The Word declared the unseen God (John 1:18).

2.   Revelation

a.         A word opens a window to the understanding of the one speaking. It reveals his true character, personality, and intellect.

b.        Christ, as the Word, revealed the true nature of God to man. The only way for man to know the Father is for the Son to reveal Him (Matthew 11:27). In seeing the Son, we see the Father (John 14:6-9). The light of the knowledge of the glory of God is seen in the face of Jesus Christ (2Corinthians 4:6).

3.   Communication

a.         A word imparts knowledge and truth to the listener. Through words, we understand what someone is saying to us.

b.        Christ, as the Word, makes us to understand the Father and His truth for us. The words Christ spoke were not of Himself, but of the Father (John 3:34; John 8:28; John 12:49; John 14:10; John 17:8). The Father speaks to us through the Son (Hebrews 1:1-2).

4.   Transformation

a.         The active listener understands the word spoken to him and is changed by the experience. He may increase his knowledge or understanding. He may change his opinion or beliefs. But, in some way, he is changed.

b.        Christ, as the Word, transforms those who listen to Him. He may be rejected (John 1:10-11) or received (John 1:12). To receive Him as the Word is to be empowered to become the sons of God. The believer who beholds the Word will be changed into the same image they behold (2Corinthians 3:18).

C.       Seven Truths Concerning the Word (John 1:1-5)

1.   The eternity of the Word (John 1:1a)

a.         In the beginning

(1)      The beginning of creation (Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 1:10)

(2)      The beginning of God’s way (Proverbs 8:22-23)

(3)      The beginning of beginnings (John 17:5, 24)

b.        The Word already was; that is, He already existed (Micah 5:2; John 8:58).

c.         Therefore, He is co-eternal with the Father (Psalm 90:2).

2.   The personality of the Word (John 1:1b)

a.         This refers to His identity as separate from the Father. He is “with God.” That is, He is the companion of the Father, alongside the Father.

b.        Doctrinally, the Word, though equal to and in union with the Father, is distinct from the Father in His person. This allows Him to fellowship with the Father (John 17:24).

c.         This establishes the plurality of the Godhead (Genesis 1:26; Genesis 11:6-7; Isaiah 6:8; 1John 5:7).

3.   The deity of the Word (John 1:1c)

a.         The “Word was God.” He is one with the Father and the Spirit (John 10:30; 1John 5:7).

b.        This establishes the deity of Jesus Christ.

c.         This establishes the unity of the Godhead. Notice Isaiah 6:8, which asks, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” The “I” of God is equal to the “us” of the Godhead.

4.   The immutability of the Word (John 1:2)

a.         Immutability refers to the unchanging nature of God.

b.        The “same was in the beginning with God.” The same Word who  “was God” and “was with God” is now made flesh (John 1:14). Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

c.         This refutes the Mormon doctrine: “As we are, so he once was; as he is, so we may become.”

5.   The creativity of the Word (John 1:3, 10)

a.         Jesus Christ, as the Word, is the person of the Godhead who directly created all things. See Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:15-16; Hebrews 1:2; Hebrews 2:9-10.

b.        Jesus Christ created all things by His word (Genesis 1:3; Psalm 33:6, 9; Hebrews 11:3).

c.         This verse (John 1:3) refutes the doctrine that makes Christ a created being.

6.   The vitality of the Word (John 1:4)

a.         The Word is life (John 11:25; John 14:6).

b.        The Word has life in Himself (John 5:26; John 10:18).

c.         The Word gives life to man (John 3:16; John 10:10).

7.   The luminosity of the Word John 1:4-5)

a.         A light to men (John 1:4b; John 8:12; John 12:46)

b.        A light to shine in darkness (John 1:5a; John 12:35-36)

c.         A light rejected by darkness (John 1:5b; John 3:19-20) 

D.       Both Christ and Scripture as the Word of God

1.   Both are called the word of God.

a.         Christ (John 1:1-2, 14; Revelation 19:13)

b.        Scripture (1Thessalonians 2:11-13; Ephesians 6:17)

2.   Both are called wonderful.

a.         Christ (Isaiah 9:6)

b.        Scripture (Psalm 119:129)

3.   Both are called truth.

a.         Christ (John 14:6)

b.        Scripture (John 17:17)

4.   Both are called the light.

a.         Christ (John 1:6-9)

b.        Scripture (Psalm 119:105, 130)

5.   Both are called the life.

a.         Christ (John 11:25; John 14:6)

b.        Scripture (Philippians 2:14-16)

6.   Both have been tried.

a.         Christ (Isaiah 28:16)

b.        Scripture (Psalm 12:6; Psalm 18:30)

7.   Both are a stone of stumbling.

a.         Christ (1Peter 2:6-8)

b.        Scripture (1Peter 2:7-8)

8.   Both are called precious.

a.         Christ (1Peter 2:6-7)

b.        Scripture (2Peter 1:4)

9.   Both are essential to the new birth.

a.         Christ (1John 5:1)

b.        Scripture (1Peter 1:23, 25)

10.     Both are eternal.

a.         Christ (John 1:1)

b.        Scripture (Psalm 119:89; Isaiah 40:6-8)

11.     Notes:

a.         The living Word and the written word are inseparable.

b.        No one can reject the scriptures without rejecting Christ.

c.         Christ as the Word can be known only through scripture as the word of God.

E.        John Proves the Son to be Equal with the Father.

1.   Equal in creation (John 1:3; Genesis 1:1)

2.   Equal in His work (John 5:16-18)

3.   Equal in life (John 5:26)

4.   Equal in eternal existence (John 8:56-59; Exodus 3:14)

5.   Equal in power (John 10:27-33)

6.   Equal in glory (John 17:5)

7.   Equal in receiving worship (John 20:27-29)

II.                 THE INTRODUCTION OF THE WORD BY JOHN THE BAPTIST (John 1:6-9)

A.       He Was Sent from God ( John 1:6-7).

1.   The man – John (John 1:6) “There was a man.”

a.         God uses men.

(1)      He seeks for a man (Jeremiah 5:1; Ezekiel 22:30).

(2)      Opening words of Power Through Prayer by E. M. Bounds: “We are constantly on a stretch, if not on a strain, to devise new methods, new plans, new organizations to advance the Church and secure enlargement and efficiency for the gospel. This trend of the day has a tendency to lose sight of the man or sink the man in the plan of organization. God’s plan is to make much of the man, far more of him than of anything else. Men are God’s method. The Church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men. ‘There was a man sent from God whose name was John.’”

b.        God takes note of certain men.

(1)      Job (Job 1:1, 8)

(2)      Simeon (Luke 2:25)

c.        God gave a special calling to John (Luke 1:13-17; Matthew 11:7-11).