1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not. 6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light. 9 There was the true light, even the light which lighteth every man, coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and they that were his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth. 15 John beareth witness of him, and crieth, saying, This was he of whom I said, He that cometh after me is become before me: for he was before me. 16 For of his fulness we all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
The opening of John’s Gospel has a profound impact on our understanding of Jesus and his ministry. In this brief portion, John lays out key themes of his book and introduces them to his readers in terms they already understand: the identity of the Word (Logos), life, light, regeneration, grace, truth, and the revelation of God the Father in Jesus the Son.
1. Identity of the Word (Logos):
The first thing John does is remind his readers of Genesis chapter one and what God did in the beginning. The Eternal Word is the one who created all things in this passage and in many other places in Scripture.
2. He was in the beginning with God:
In the verses following this, John is going back to the very beginning of creation and saying that everything came into existence through the Eternal Word. The very first thing that God did was create a world filled with life!
3. He was with God:
In verses 3 and 4, John is introducing the idea that the Eternal Word was in a face-to-face relationship with the God of the universe. This is a very important idea and it brings the reader right into a familiar place in their mind: the first day of creation!
4. He was the Life:
In this passage, John is pointing out that the eternal Word became human in order to bring life to those who were dead in their sins and spiritual light to those who lived in darkness. This is a very powerful idea and it’s a key part of what Jesus’s life and ministry teaches about how we can experience the fullness of life!
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