The Word Was God
John 1:1-18

Differences amongst the four Gospels
• Matthew – Written for the Jews, Jesus is presented as a Messiah, who fulfills the OT Promises
• Mark – Written for the Gentiles, brief and concise, focus on the core message of the Gospel
• Luke – Written to keep an orderly account of Jesus’ life, Jesus is presented as a hope for the poor and helpless
• John – Jesus is the Son of God, but also is God himself

Today’s text – John presents Jesus as God to both the Jews and the Greeks (Gentiles)

vv. 1-2
In the beginning – This reminds the Jews of Genesis. Who was in the beginning? No one but God. We will go over this more in the Bible Study.

John says Word was also there in the beginning.
Word = logos
To the Jews, the Word was…
• Through which the Creation happened
• God’s message, revealed through the prophets
• God’s laws
To the Greeks, the Word was…
• The “reason” that controls the universe.

John says that Jesus, who walked around the earth with others and lived with others, is this Word.
The One who created the world and the One who sustains the world is Jesus Christ.
That the “Word was God” is blasphemous to the Jews and this is unthinkable for the Greeks.
But John says this is the Gospel, and the Good News of Jesus.

Today’s text helps us see Jesus in the midst of God’s history.
When you listen to a grand symphony, it opens with a theme that will be carried out through the entire work. Likewise, today’s lesson will help us see, not only what is to come in the Gospel of John, but also what is going on in the entire history of God. We can see how God worked and how God will work through today’s text.

John is dealing with important themes of the Bible here: Creation, Fall, Redemption, and how all of this culminates with Jesus Christ.

Jesus is with God, and Jesus is God (vv. 1-2)
• Step Method
• Chiastic Structure

Jesus is God the Creator (vv. 3-4)
• God spoke the world into being. Let there be light, and there was light.
• Before the creation, the world was dark and chaotic place.
• Jesus came as light into this chaotic world, and gave life to the lifeless world. (v. 4)
• The fact that God is the Creator has several significances for us.
o We can only be humble
♣ Because I was nothing before God created me.
♣ Everything I have is not my own, but given to me by God.
o God understands our problems
♣ I may think my problems are too big and complicated, but God is the one who created me.
♣ Everything in this world is God’s, and there is no problem that is bigger than God’s love for us.

But human beings fell (vv. 5, 10-11)
• Rather than giving glory to God the Creator, human beings started worshipping idols.
• They were in darkness, and the darkness did not understand the light.
• Sin hates light
o As dirty bugs hates light
• Darkness vs. Light – the force of darkness is strong
o Unless someone comes and smashes our heart of stone, we will reject the light.
o Tim Keller’s message on Lazarus and the Rich Man – even though the Rich Man was in hell, there is no indication that they want out of it.

Jesus came as God the Redeemer (v. 12)
• As the light came into darkness in Creator, so the light of Redemption came into darkness.
• Those who trust in the name of the Lord and accept him will be saved – by grace, through faith.

Jesus came to save us – John presents Jesus as fully divine, but also presents Jesus as fully human. (v. 14)
• Jesus was fully human, but never ceased to be fully God.
• Jesus came to us as greater Moses.
o Moses came to Israel to deliver them from Egypt.
o Moses gave us the Law and the Tabernacle.
o Jesus came for greater Exodus.
o Jesus also became the true Tabernacle.
♣ The Word…made dwelling among us = The Word…tabernacled with us.
♣ Tabernacle = where you meet God, have relationship with God, have your sins forgiven by God.
♣ This Tabernacle is Jesus.
o The Law necessitates the grace and truth.
♣ One cannot be saved by the Law
♣ The Law helps us see that we are sinners and are in need of a Savior.
♣ The Law drives us to Jesus, full of grace and truth.
o Moses also hid his face from God.
o Jesus “exegetes” (reveals) God to us (v. 18).

All this happened before the Creator, by the providence of God. Let us be humble and thankful before this God. Let us get closer to God as we continue in our study of John.

Let us live by faith in Jesus Christ, God the Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer.