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6/01/10 The Gospel of John – chapter 1 This book was written towards the end of the first century AD, in Asia Minor, by the apostle John. The characteristics which distinguish this gospel from the others are: • an emphasis on the eternal nature of Jesus (Mark talks about “now” & actions) • an emphasis on the deity of Jesus (Matthew writes about the Shepherd King) • the titles and characteristics of Jesus • John doesn’t include the parables (unlike the other three gospels) • John writes from a philosophical perspective (rather than historical like Luke) • John shows us the heart of Jesus John is very keen to show the eternal nature of Jesus and his hand in Creation (see p.2) Read John 1v1-5 John starts from the very beginning. It reads like Genesis. Light and all creation came into being through the Word – the Lord Jesus Christ. The Word created: “Let there be ...” and there was. John skips the traditional Christmas story in favour of explaining who Jesus was. Read John 1v6-9 Introduction of John the Baptist who came first to tell people about Jesus – the Light. (He was Jesus’ cousin and only a few months older than Jesus.) John’s gospel is full of metaphors (he uses images which do not have a literal meaning). Jesus was literally the light at creation but now he has come as a light to illuminate people’s thinking and understanding and to lead them to God. Read John 1v10-14 Jesus came, as a Jew, to the Jews but they did not recognize him or receive him. But Jesus showed that God’s love is open to all, and the gospel is open to anyone to respond and become children of God. Jesus was full of grace and truth. He came as God’s Son to show us what God is like. Read John 1v15-18 (a summary of previous verses) Read John 1v19-28 John quotes from Isaiah 40v3 to show that he was fulfilling scripture, and the implication is that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah. Read John 1v29-34 This is a stunning revelation by John the Baptist. Israel, as a nation had had no prophetic words from God for 400 years. They had become self-reliant, fighting under the Maccabees to keep their land. Israel was not a Godly nation at the time. But God chose this darkest of times to send Jesus (the light) and this is the message that John the Baptist brings. The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus as a dove and John recognized that he was the Son of God. The rest of the apostle John’s Gospel goes on to prove this. 1


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