John 1
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 by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Doctrine of Christ: Jesus Christ was named the ‘Word’ (i.e. logos); He is the Word of God (i.e. the Bible’s contents are
dictated from Him…through the Spirit); He is the creative word as God. Jesus Christ was present ‘in the beginning’ of
time…i.e., at the creation (Genesis 1). At creation, Jesus Christ was with God (the Father, and the Spirit); ‘with’ here
means ‘face to face’. He was also identified then as ‘God’…that is, deity, part of the Godhead, equal with the Father.
Thus, Jesus Christ was not a created being; and, He was not something less than God. The Jehovah (false) Witnesses’
New World Translation Bible reads “…and the Word was ‘a’ God.” Jesus Christ made everything that there would
ever be; it might be correct in stating that He Himself created everthing without the help of anyone else (including the
Father and the Spirit; though, the Spirit seemed active in creation in Gen 1:2; and, the Father definitely oversaw it all
and had previously ordained it all).
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.
Doctrine of Christ: This ‘life’ is both physical and spiritual (i.e., resurrection life and eternal life). The Greek word for
‘life’ here is “zoe” (i.e. eternal life). Life is a metaphor for the truth and the knowledge of God. Life (either zoe or
bios) is solely found in Jesus Christ; He is the source for all life.
Doctrine of the Bible: ‘Darkness’ typifies error, Satanic deception, and death. The truth of Jesus Christ shines in this
world of Satanic error, but those who have been deceived do not comprehend it; they cannot understand it for natural
man cannot discern that which is spiritual. We must pray for those in darkness to break through the deceptive darkness
of the devil and see the light of God’s word!
6 There was a 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. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
Doctrine of John the Baptist: John (not the apostle) was directly sent from God; he thus had significant authority. No
other man was ‘sent from God’. His main purpose was to be a witness that Jesus Christ was indeed from God, so that
all men might believe it. The word ‘believe’ is used 78 times in this Gospel book; and, it is always in the ‘verb’ form,
and not the noun form. Some thought that John was the Messiah.
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. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which 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 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.
Doctrine of Christ: How ironic that the creation does not know their Creator. “His own” refers to the Jewish people.
Doctrine of Salvation: When one ‘receives’ the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ by ‘believing on His name’
(i.e., who the Bible says He is) they immediately become the ‘son of God’; they are adopted into the family of God;
they become a child of God. These ‘believers’ are ‘born-again’ (i.e. spiritually born, made alive) by God Himself (the
Spirit).
Doctrine of Christ: Coupling verse 14 with verse 1 solidly supports the deity of Jesus Christ: verse one states that
the ‘Word’ ‘was God’; and verse 14 explains that the ‘Word’ was none other than Jesus Christ; thus, Jesus Christ is the
Word, who was/is God! The Creative Word (Jesus Christ, the Son of God) was made flesh (incarnation). He was
100% God and 100% man (though, minus the sin nature). He ‘dwelt’ (i.e. ‘tabernacled) amongst those disciples.
Peter, James, and John beheld His glory on the Mount of Transfiguration. The term “only begotten Son” declares the
intimate, eternal relationship between the Father and The Son. Psalm 2:7 and John 3:16 explain that Jesus was
‘begotten’ prior to His incarnation; thus, supporting the ‘eternal Sonship’ of Jesus Christ.
15 John bare witness of him, 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 fulness have all we 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.
Doctrine of Christ: John the Baptist is stating that Jesus Christ existed before He did (though, he was 6 months older
than Jesus). It is true that no mere mortal can ‘see God at any time’ (or they would die; also, it would be impossible
due to the holy nature of God). They could see Jesus Christ, though; He held back His glory, though was still God.
Jesus ‘declared’ God by who He was, not so much by what He said. Jesus is the revelation of the invisible God.
19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. 22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
Doctrine of Christ: ‘The Christ’ was the ‘Messiah’, the ‘annointed One’, the promised Redeemer. ‘Elias’ is Elijah, who
was taken up alive in the whirlwind. John’s ministry was very similar to that of Elijah’s. ‘That prophet’ is most likely
referring to ‘The Prophet’ that Moses spoke of in Deut 18:15,18 (i.e. Jesus Christ). Verse 23 is quoted from Isaiah
40:3.
24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. 28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Doctrine of Baptism: These were concerned about John’s authority (right) to be baptizing; they recognized that
authority was needed in order to baptize. “Proselyte baptism was normative in ancient Judaism for those Gentiles
wishing to become converts, but it was highly unusual for Jews themselves to be baptized” (Bob Utley). “Hebrews
9:10 indicates that Judaism included among other things, various baptisms as a part of its heritage. The Mosaic Law
ceremonies had many baptismal rites which had been practiced for 1500 years before John came on the scene” (Charles
Baker). “The rite of baptism had been practiced by Jews for centuries prior to John’s baptism and it had nothing to do
with personal salvation” (Merril Unger). Baptism means ‘to submerge’ or ‘immerse’; it normally implies water
immersion. John baptized in the Jordan River.
29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
Doctrine of Christ: Jesus is finishing His 60 mile journey to be baptized by none other than John the Baptist. Jesus is
the Lamb of God (referring to the sacrificial lamb). Jesus came specifically to take away the judgment of sin on the
world. This is John’s introduction of Jesus to the Jews as Messiah, the Saviour, the Redeemer! Praise God! John was
able to verify who the Son of God, the Messiah, was…via the Spirit descending upon Jesus. This didn’t empower
Jesus, but rather identified Jesus.
Doctrine of Baptism: John was sent by God to baptize with water.
Doctrine of the Holy Ghost: It is a baptism ‘with’ the Holy Ghost, not ‘by’. The Day of Pentecost would be when that
first church was immersed in the power and guidance of the Holy Ghost. This would be a most impressive and
important event, indeed. The Holy Ghost is represented as a dove.
35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! 37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? 39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.
Doctrine of the Church: John was preparing people to follow Jesus Christ; he was preparing future disciples, church members, for that first church that Jesus would start. And, this might very well be the place where that first church began! John had ‘disciples’; but many of these would become Jesus’ disciples (but apparently not all would).
This section of the Gospels is a totally different time period than the other ‘callings’ of the disciples in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. This is not when James, John, Andrew, and Peter left their fishing careers and followed Jesus. This is not at the Sea of Galilee, but rather by the Jordan River in Bethabara, which was about 10 miles from the Sea.
40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. 43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. 44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! 48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. 49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. 50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. 51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
Doctrine of the Church: Here, it is Andrew and John who are first called by Jesus (it is John by the process of
elimination and that John never names himself). Peter was also known as Simon and Cephas (a small stone,
pebble…kephas). Nathanael is most likely Bartholomew. These are the first members of that first church: Andrew,
John, Peter, Philip, and Nathanael.
Doctrine of Christ: Jesus was raised in the city of Nazareth (but born in Bethlehem). He was understood by ‘men’ to be
the son of Joseph, but these men were ignorant at that time of who Jesus fully was (Joseph was not Jesus’ biological
father, but did function as his father, nonetheless). Other titles for Jesus are: Rabbi (Master), the Son of God, and the
King of Israel.
“Jesus alludes to Jacob’s vision of angels ascending and descending a ladder from heaven (Ge 28:10-17) – probably a
vision that relates to the future Messianic kingdom of God on earth that is ruled from the New Jerusalem. It is possible
that Jesus used this wording because this scene was what Nathanael had been meditating prior to Philip’s call to him.”
(Church of the Servant King)