John 1:1-5 (King James Version)
Before we look at the scripture itself, we need to realize that, from the context, any time in it that the writer refers to “John” he means John the Baptist, and that he never refers to himself as John. We know, however, that it was written by John, the brother of Jesus.
This portion of the book of John, including the few verses in the middle that I have not had space to include, is called the prologue of the book. This portion is very rich in material starting, as in Genesis, “In the beginning.” The very first words introduce the fact that Jesus, is more than being just a man, he was from the very beginning, before the creation. In fact he was part of the trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Verse three tells us that nothing was created without him. We can expect that John is going to reveal overwhelming evidence that Jesus is the Christ, the only begotten Son of God It is not his purpose to give us a biography of Jesus’ life. The other Gospels do that. There are several key words of description used throughout the book. The first of these is used three times in the first verse. Jesus is the word.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (Genesis 1:1, Colossians 1:12, 1 John 1:1, John 1:14, Revelation 19:13, John 17:5, 1 John 1:2, Philippians 2:6)
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
We have learned that the creation was brought about by the entire Godhead. In Genesis 1:26, we read, “Let us make man in our own image.” God first prepared a suitable home for man. He was not the product of a “big-bang,” nor of thousands of years of gradual changes. From the beginning he was, and is, different than the animal life, sin may make him more like them, but they are different from the beginning. In my lifetime, I have had two pets that stand out to me. Our dog Ted, loved to “shake hands.”
And years later “Peaches” loved to “pray” but both were still only much loved dogs, and neither was in the image of God. See the attached photo of Peaches.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. (John 3:1-10, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Colossians 1:16, Hebrews 1:2)
We may manipulate, or breed, but we do not “make” anything. It is still true that without God “not anything” is made. I am reminded of the “sourdough bread’ my mother made in my childhood. Often made it, and saved a “start” each time, but occasionally, she had to go back to the bakery and buy a new start of yeast. The old died and she had to go back to the source. God is our source. Jesus said, “No man cometh unto the Father but by me.” Go to the Word. In Him is light and life.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (John 5:26, John 11:25, John 14:6, John 8:12, John 9:5, John 12:46)
And that light makes all the difference. Where there is light, is no darkness. The darkness is driven away.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (John 3:19)
That Word became flesh. That portion of the Godhead became flesh. Why? Because of love, His love for that which He had made, mankind. (John 3:16)
John 1:14-18
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. (Revelation 19:13, Romans 1:1, Galatians 4:4, Philippians 2:7, 2 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 2:14, 1 John 1:1, 1 John 4:2, 2 John 7. Revelation 21:3, Luke 9:32, John 2:11, John 17:22, John 17:24, 2 Peter 1:16, 1 John 1:1, John 1:16, Romans 5:21, Romans 6:14, John 8:32, John 14:6, John 18:37)
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. (John 1:7, Matthew 3:11, John 1:27, John 1:30)
Note: here that the writer refers to John the Baptist simply as “John”. The context, identifies which john. Here, he introduces a new word, “grace” The Law given to Moses, and modified and manipulated by the Sanhedrin knew nothing about grace. It took the love of God through Jesus to introduce to us this whole new concept. We can’t earn salvation, it is given by a loving God, to his children, through His Son.
16 And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. (Ephesians 1:23, Ephesians 3:19, Colossians 1:19, Colossians 2:9)
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 7:19, John 1:14, Romans 5:21, Romans 6:14, John 8:32, John 14:6, John 18:37),
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. (Exodus 33:20, John 6:46, Colossians 1:15, 1 Timothy 6:16, 2 John 4:12, John 3:16, John 3:18, 1 John 4:9, Luke 16:22, John 13:23, John 3:11)
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READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2011
MAY
8th. Sunday – Judges 12, 13, John 5:24-47, Proverbs 11:13-21
9th. Monday – Judges 14, 15, John 6:1-38, Psalm 58:1-6
10th. Tuesday – Judges 16, 17, John 6:39-71, Psalm 58:7-11
11th. Wednesday - Judges 18, 19, John 7:1-31, Psalm 59:1-8
12th. Thursday - Judges 20, 21, John 7:32-53, Proverbs 11:22-31
13th. Friday – Ruth 1, 2, John 8:1-32, Psalm 59:9-17
14th. Saturday - Ruth 3, 4, John 8:33-59, Psalm 60
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THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that through him the world might be saved.” John 3:17
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SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS ! – Forward this along to all your friends. The saved will rejoice and the unsaved need its message the most, so everyone is blessed: YOU FOR SHARING, AND ALL FOR READING.
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A man jumps out of an airplane with a parachute on his back. As he's falling, he realizes hiss chute is broken. He doesn't know anything about parachutes, but as the earth rapidly approaches, he realizes his options are limited; he takes off the parachute and tries to fix it himself on the way down. The wind is ripping past his face, he's dropping like a rock, and at 5000 feet, another man goes shooting up past him. In desperation, the man with the chute looks up and yells, "Hey do you know anything about parachutes?!"
The guy flying up looks down and yells, "No, do you know anything about gas stoves?!"
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