BIBLE STUDY CURRICULUMWINTER 2012

Lesson 17 – In the Beginning was the Tao

IntroductionThis book was written by John, the disciple that was closest to JesusWhereas Matthew emphasizes the prophecies that Jesus fulfilled, Mark emphasizes his miracles, and Luke emphasizes his parables, John focuses on Jesus' teaching to his disciples. John 1:1-18 is called the prologue and lays out the direction for the entire book of John

Read John 1:1-5It is not an accident that John begins with the same words with which Genesis begins: “In the beginning. . . .”◦one introduces the old beginning – the old creation◦the other introduces the new beginning – the new creation“In the beginning was the Tao. . . . (Logos/word)” ◦what is the Tao? Is the Tao knowable? Can you have a relationship with the Tao? ◦Describe the Tao according to what John says here in verses 1-5.▪The Tao was with God at the creation of the universe.▪Everything was made through the Tao.▪Life could be found through the Tao.▪The Tao was light.▪The darkness could not & cannot understand the Tao.◦John says the Tao the Tao was God.▪The Tao was knowable because the Tao was God and all through history, God had repeatedly reminded people about his great love for them; his desire to have a relationship with them.◦In a few minutes we will discuss more about who the Tao is.

Read John 1:6-8Who is this man that John is talking about? (the prophet John, Jesus' cousin)What was the purpose of his life?◦To tell people about the light; to be a witness to the light.◦Why? So that everyone might believe in the light.◦Was he the light? No.

Read John 1:9-14The light had not come yet. The prophet John was telling people about the light that was going to come into the world.

The entire world was made through him but people in the world did not recognize him. Instead they worshipped other gods.His own people—the Jewish people in Israel—did not recognize him. Instead they rejected him.But some did recognize him and accept him. What did they receive for believing in him?◦The right to be called God's children, to be members of God's family.▪Not human children but spiritual children.The Tao became human and lived for a while among us humans. John says that some even saw him.

Read John 1:15Here the disciple John turns back to the prophet John.What does John mean here?◦The one who will come after me is greater than me. Why? Because actually he existed before me.◦What does that mean? Is it some kind of riddle?

SummaryHow is John's description of the Tao different from the understanding of the Tao in Chinese philosophy? ◦Is the Tao in Chinese philosophy personal and knowable? ◦What do you think about John's description of the Tao as we've read here?◦Is the Tao a principle; an idea; a philosophy? ◦Is the Tao a person? Who is the Tao? Who is this light? ▪Jesus – the one whose birth we just celebrated at Christmas; the one whom we are learning about each week in our small groups; the one who loves us and wants us to know him personally. The Tao is Jesus.