(Author Note: As this is the first time I posted a Bible Study topic let me give a quick explanation on it. Every week or so I will post something separate from my daily psalm posts. These readings go into heavy detail about certain scriptures and books of the Bible in hopes to educate the significance and importance of them.)
Before I talk about John and give you the introduction of my most favorite verse in the entire bible.(Which is John ch 1 verse 1.) I wish to give a brief lesson on what the Word Gospel means. As well as why Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John are called Gospels. I also wish to talk on why we have 4 books telling the same events roughly. This is going to be a bit wordy before we even get started so please entertain my ramblings as you might learn something new and this will help when talking about the other 3 when I get to them.
Well let’s start with what Gospel is. Gospel comes from the Greek noun “euangelion” and its verb form “euangelizo.”The noun means simply “Good News”; the verb form means to “bring the Good News.” So when someone says they bring the Gospel they are saying they are bringing the Good News. The 4 Gospels Mathew, Mark, Luke and John are actually the Gospels according to Mathew or Mark or Luke or John. Which simply means for example the Gospel According to John is the Good News According to John.
So Now that we have covered what Gospel means what is the News that keeps getting stated as being Good? The Good news is Jesus came to the earth and then died for all of us so that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
The 4 Gospels are the story of His time on the earth each Gospel also covers a deferent aspect of Jesus personality or nature. This is a somewhat advanced subject that would be its own post by itself so I will go more in depth in a permanent page on the side Titled “The 4 aspects of Jesus” in the future.
So lets Start with what I personally consider the most powerful declaration in the bible.
John Chapter 1 verse 1 (kjv)
1. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word Was God.
This is in my mind the most amazing phrase ever uttered in describing the Divine nature of God. We are simply told at the start of everything was the Word. That the Word was with God and not only that but the Word is also God. That is a very big thing to try and grasp and we are not even to verse 2 yet which will add another amazing fact of the Word.
John ch 1 verse 2-3 (kjv)
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Ok, so now in verse 2 were told God was the same as the Word meaning you can take everything in verse 1 and replace the mentions of Word with God and
God with Word as it is the something. We are further told in verse 3 that all things in creation made by God were also made through the Word. Thus confirming what was stated in verse 1 and confirmed in verse 2 that the Word and God are the same. This also tells us that the Word knows everything for everything was made through the Word. We are also told in these verse with the use of him the Word is a person.
John ch 1 verse 4-5
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehended it not.
So now in verse 4 him is the Word and the Word was life. We are also told life was the light of men. Which means by extension the Word is also the light of men. Since the Word is God, God is also the light of men.
Verse 5 tells us the Light shines in the darkness but darkness can not comprehend it. This is salvation that through the Word which is God life can be found but the evil of the world can not understand it.
(Author note: This is why Jesus says you must be born again for with out being born again we can not come to truly understand the Light shining in the darkness. We can see it and it calls out for us but we can’t comprehend it tell we accept it.)
John chapter 1 verse 6-8
6 There was man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8 He was not that light but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
Now we are introduced to John not the John who wrote this Gospel but to John the baptist the voice in the wilderness crying out. We are told he was sent by God to tell us about the Light so that we may believe and be able to comprehend it and thus be saved. We are told he is not the light who is The Word that is God but simply a witness to the Light so that we may know it. Now 9 well pick up talking about the Light John is witnessing so lets go on.
John chapter 1 verse 9-11
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own and his own received him not.
In verse 9 we see that the Light, John the baptist is witnessing about is the true light, otherwise stated the only way to life which is God. Further we are told the light bring light or life to every man that comes into the world. These means the Word is to once again bring life and salvation to all of mankind that has ever lived past, present and future.
Verse 10 tells us the Word was in the world since the beginning and once again we are reminded that the Word made the world. We are also told the world does not know him.
verse 11 tells us He came to his own people. Well who is God’s people? That would be the sons of Abraham through Issac and then through Jacob the Hebrews. We are also told that the Hebrews rejected the Word when He came to them.
John chapter 1 verse 12-13
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
13 Which were born not of flesh, blood, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Here is another one of chapter 1 mind blowing statements that we all should pay attention to. Verse 12 is telling us that As many as which means who ever receives will be given the power to become son of God. I invite the reader to think for a few minutes on the statement of God saying if you believe in the Word which is him he will make you a son of God. All you have to do is believe on his name.
Verse 13 tells us the sons of God who are made this way are not born of flesh and blood, nor by their own doing but only by God. This is what is meant by the statement born again. Which is what verse 12 and 13 talk about.
Now we get verse 14 another really powerful statement to the Good news according to John.
John ch 1 verse 14
And the Word was made 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.
So now we are told something new about the Word that it became flesh. Further that it lived amongst mankind. That mankind specifically his followers which include the writer of this Gospel John. Saw his glory. Now what glory is it? Well it says the glory of being the only begotten of the Father or God. So now the Word is not only God but also the Son of God for it became flesh. The Word that became flesh we are also told was full of glory, grace and truth.
(Author’s note: here is the meaning of Glory, Grace, and Truth
Glory: meaning high renown or honor, as well as magnificence; great beauty.
Grace: the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.
Truth: that which is true or in accordance with fact or reality.)
John ch 1 verse 15-18
15 John bare witness of and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
16 And of his fullness have all received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
Now verse 15 focuses on John the baptist. It tells us what he said when referencing to Jesus Christ. That this is the person who he was speaking about. That would come after but is ranked higher then him or more preferred. He also says that Jesus Christ was before him referencing that Jesus is the Word given flesh.
Verse 16 tells us that Through him, that is Jesus, we receive grace.
Verse 17 is to remind us that the Law is given by Moses but only grace and truth can come from Jesus Christ. We are only saved and shown the true nature of God through Jesus. This is what verse 17 is saying. Truth and grace does not come from the law like many of the Hebrews believed at the time.
Verse 18 tells us that none of us have seen God at anytime only the Begotten Son which is the Word given flesh who is with God can declare the truth of God.
I should point out here a Christin who has come to know Jesus if you know Jesus then you know the Father for only by the Word given flesh who is the Christ can we know God. As was stated in John chapter 1 the Word is the only true Light of the world.
(Closing Author Note: I am going to break Chapter One of John into three sections. This is the end of part 1 The explanation of the Word.
Part 2 well cover John the Baptist and his baptizing of Jesus.
Part 3 well cover the recruiting of the first disciples. I will post links to the respective parts here at the bottom as they are made.)
Maranatha!
benedictionofandrew 