The Word

John 1:1-5

Introduction• The gospel of John has a clearly stated

purpose– Jn 20:30-31

• To bring about belief in Jesus as the Christ

• To follow-up on belief so that one might be saved

• The gospel is not a complete account of all Jesus did or said– Does not even cover all time periods of His life– More events covered toward the end of His life

• Jn 7 – begins the last 6 months

• Jn 13 – begins the last day

Introduction• John does not cover most events in Matthew,

Mark, and Luke– Probably John wrote 30 years after the other

gospel writers• Those accounts were known and available

• John emphasizes belief in Jesus as the Christ– The events usually revolve around an individual

who comes to believe• Answers: Why and what did they believe?• Mixed in are some examples of those who didn’t

believe or didn’t act on their belief– The teachings of Jesus center on who He is and

how His listeners can know for sure

Prologue• John begins with a prologue (foreword)

– Jn 1:1-18– Herein John makes the claims he will set out to

prove throughout the gospel• The first group of claims, which will be our focus

in this lesson (Jn 1:1-5) . . .– That Jesus existed before He was born– That Jesus was God, the Creator– That Jesus’ work as Creator has significance for

us today

The Word• A title only used by John (in Jn 1:1-14, 1 Jn 1:1,

and Rev 19:13)– What does the title “the Word” mean?

• Either “A ‘word’ is that by which we communicate our will; by which we convey our thoughts; or by which we issue commands; the medium of communication with others.” (Barnes)

– As in Heb 1:1-3 – Jesus as the means of communication

• Or because 1st century Jews used ‘the Word’ as a title of the Messiah based on Isa 55:11 and similar passages

• Or both

The Pre-existence of the Word• “In the beginning was the Word” (Jn 1:1)

– “In the beginning” references Gen 1:1• “was” – past tense, already existing, eternal

• The OT prophets had prophesied of a pre-existent Messiah– Micah 5:2 - “from of old, from everlasting”– Isa 9:6-7 – “Everlasting Father”– Zech 2:10-11 – the Messiah’s promise to come

made 500+ years before Jesus’ birth

The Pre-existence of the Word• Jesus Himself affirmed His pre-existence

– Jn 8:56-58• More about this statement in a later lesson

• He said He existed before Abraham

– Jn 17:4-5, 24• Existed before the world

– Rev 22:13• Titles that indicate His eternal nature

• Paul also taught the pre-existence of Christ– 1 Cor 10:1-4; 2 Cor 8:9; Php 2:5-8; Col 1:16-17

• Also in Heb 1:2-3

The significance of His pre-existence• He is God

– John specifically states this fact (Jn 1:1-2)• “with God” showing a relationship with yet a

distinction from the Father• “was God” showing an equality of nature

– The eternal existence prophecies (Mic 5:2; Isa 9:6-7) show the Messiah to be God

– Zechariah’s use of the LORD as both the Messiah and the One who sends the Messiah (Zec 2:8-11; 12:10)

– Jesus made this claim by His use of “I AM”• e.g., Jn 8:58-59 – the Jews recognized the claim

being made based on Ex 3:13-14

The significance of His pre-existence• He is Life

– Jn 1:3-4• Life would not exist without Him

• Life could not continue to exist without Him

– Col 1:16-17• All things created by Him, through Him, and for Him

• In Him all things are held together (consist)

– Therefore, He is the one who can offer us eternal life (Jn 5:21, 11:25-26, 14:6)

The significance of His pre-existence• He is Light

– Jn 1:4-5• We live in a world of darkness

– Eph 4:17-19

• By bringing a way out of sin, He brought light into the world

– Jn 12:35-36» We can be “sons of light”

– Jn 8:12» We can have “the light of life”

– 1 Jn 1:5-7» We can “walk in the light”

Conclusion• Jn 3:19-20

– Many refuse the light and the life brought by Jesus• Don’t stubbornly remain in darkness

– There is only death there

– Come to the light of the world and find eternal life