John 1:1-18

John 1

¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was in the beginning with God. ³All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. ⁴In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not ^£comprehend it.

Verses one-five.

It is no accident that the first verse in John sounds like the first verse in Genesis. John is plainly stating that Jesus Christ was “In the beginning”, ei., at the creation of the world. Jesus was with God, He was God. As God he created all things. According to John, Jesus is no mere man, but God in the flesh, walking among men. It is a shame that men do not see the light or comprehend who Jesus actually is.

⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. ⁸He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

Verse six-eight

John the Baptist actually represents the first “sign” to the Jews. His wilderness preaching is a fulfillment of prophecies in Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 4:5, which they should recognize. John the Baptist was Jesus’ cousin. He was 6 months older that Jesus. Don’t confuse him with the John the Apostle. He did not see all Jesus’ ministry, but was beheaded by Herod, during Jesus’ early public ministry.

 ⁹That ^£was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.¹⁰He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. ¹¹He came to His ^£own, and His ^£own did not receive Him. ¹²But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: ¹³who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Verses nine-twelve

The most important choice a person has in their life is to recognize Jesus as the only Savior of men and to believe.

¹⁴And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Verse fourteen

God is not a far-away God sitting in the clouds, but he is intimately associated with His creation, even so much as to become flesh and live among us, feeling our pains, sorrows, and weakness.

¹⁵John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’”

Verse fifteen

A reference to the Jesus as God existing before John the Baptist was born, even though, Jesus as actually born six months after John. John points the way to Jesus as the Messiah and Savior.

^16£And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.

Verse sixteen

Or “one blessing after another”. the idea being of an unlimited supply of grace through Jesus.

¹⁷For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten ^£Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

Verse eighteen

No man hath seen God. When I read this scripture, I am reminded of the song by Michael English-”Mary, did you know?”. “Mary, did you know that when you look upon your smiling baby’s face you are looking into the face of God”. That just sends chills down my spine.