John 1:1-18: Merry Christmas

The Gospel

According to John

Chapter One, Verses 1 through 18

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. 9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who 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 became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, `He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.' "16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

Commentary

We are about to embark on one of the most simple yet complex theological journeys in the Bible and all of Christendom. It is the study of According to John. This gospel account is unlike the other three, Matthew, Mark and Luke, in that it is not an attempt to be chronologically correct. However, while holding to his intentional message, John does not throw chronological impact to the wind. In this gospel we have miracles, messages, names and relationships depicted like no other book in the Bible.

Regardless of your view of whether John actually wrote this account or whether it a compilation of his teachings by his followers, this gospel is worthy of our study for it was written after the other three gospels. And due to the late date this gospel can accurately be viewed as a gospel written by John who does not contradict the other three but simply wants to tell the story of Christ from his perspective.

With that said, I would like for us to walk together paragraph by paragraph through this incredible account of the life of Christ.

1:1-5

The first paragraph is vv. 1-5, according to the Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament, is the first paragraph of the Prologue that continues through verse 18. John, like the other gospel writers, presents the Christmas story. He gives us the origination and the incarnation of God into our world. While Matthew, Mark and Luke desire for us to know the prophecies fulfilled through Mary, Joseph, Bethlehem, Herod, Egypt etc, John wants us to know from the beginning that Jesus is part of the God-head which is further explained in this Gospel.

The origin of the Word is eternal. In the Greek, Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος , the definite article is not present. Most English translations have the definite article italicized noting the Greek language. The most correct English translation is: “In beginning was the word,” My purpose here is to present the truth and not grapple with the many available falsities. Note carefully the Word's relationship with God is eternal.

The Word is the creating aspect of God. The Word is life which is the Light of men. Verse 5 gives us the first challenge of the Word as it manifests itself as Light. The darkness does not comprehend the Light. The word κατέλαβεν translates as 'comprehend'. This means “to seize upon, to lay hold to.” The Westcott-Hort Greek English Lexicon states the Greek society as reflected in non-Biblical Greek literature would hear the katelaben and think not of binding, holding down or repressing, but of seize with the mind, comprehend. The darkness could not and cannot understand the light.

1:6-8

Verse 6 introduces John (soon to be known as the baptizer) who is not to be confused with John the writer of this Gospel and a Disciple of Jesus. John’s purpose was to communicate the Light to the darkness.

1:9-13

Verse 10 tells of the need for the incarnation of the Word/Light and the need for John to be the liaison of the Light to the Darkness. “. . .and the world did not know Him.” Let me share with you a little bit concerning this word we translate as “know.” Here, it is ἔγνω which is the 3^rd Person Singular Aorist Active Indicative of γινώσκω. Another Greek word for “know” is οἶδα which also means to know but with a heady, mindful knowledge. γινώσκω carries with it the weight of experience. It is only as the world experiences the Light will it they benefit from His kindness by receiving the right to become children of God by the will of God.

Verse 11 The Word went to the Jews but they did not receive Him. All one has to do is read the Old Testament and you will see how the nation of Israel abandoned their trust in God over and over.

Verse 12 “BUT………….” This is the most grammatically significant word in the New Testament and probably any other language. It is the watershed mark of all contradictions. It distinguishes between all that is undesirable and what is by contrast beyond our imaginations. For here, in verse 12, He gave us the right to become children of God. Children are more than pottery, vines, and servants. Children are heirs and have their Father’s name. This issue of ‘name” will be with us as a constant companion through the Gospel of John. The Apostle Paul communicates to the church in Ephesus in the first chapter of Ephesians.

1:14-18

Verse 14 gives us John’s Christmas story: the Word becomes flesh (sarx) which actual meat and skin on bones and not to be confused with “mankind” or “humanity.” Do you hear the uniqueness of the Word being the only begotten, i.e. the one of a kind of the Father? He comes full of grace and truth. Keep those two terms in mind as we walk together through the Gospel of John. Grace is “unmerited favor.” You get the good things of God but you do not deserve the good things of God. Grace is different from Mercy in that mercy is “not getting what you deserve.” You do not get the judgments of God even though you deserve them. Truth in which there is no contradiction or darkness, no deception or shiftiness. The Word is FULL of these two qualities.

Verse 15 has John (the baptizer) telling us that even though he is older and the Word, the Word existed before him.

Verse 16 We receive grace upon grace: unmerited favor upon unmerited favor.

Verse 17 The Law is distinguished from grace and truth. New Testament Jews, which we will see, were observers of the Law in varying degrees. They epitomized the contrast of the two Greek words translated in English as “know.” They knew the Law in their heads but failed to experientially know, obey the Law which would make them doers of the Word, not just hearers only.

Verse 18 John, the author of the Gospel, gives us a brilliant revelation of the relationship between God and this unique Word who is in the bosom of the Father. The Word explains God and John gives us the unique picture of the life of Christ doing that. It could be said that the purpose of Christ's life was to present us to His Father.

Conclusion:

Based on what we observed in these first three paragraphs, how would you describe John’s overall subject matter? To answer this type of question, it is important to rely on basic literature study techniques. The presence of repeated terms is one way to identify the major subject matter of the writer. Some of the most repeated words in this prologue is “word,” “light,” and “grace.” All three of these describe the babe in John’s Christmas narrative. What would Christmas be like without the “word.” The story is told. Words of greetings are exchanged. Words are presented in song telling of the uniqueness spirit of the season. However, the eternal nature of the word transcends all of our cards, stories and songs to give us a glimpse of our eternal God with the Father and the Son. Regarding “light,” not much needs to be said to explain the significance of light at the Advent season. But, He is much more than decorative lights, and the Bethlehem star. He is the true LIGHT that shines in the darkness offering to men the right to become the sons of God. Finally, we consider “grace.” We need to understand that our wellbeing, as it is related to God, is due to His ‘favor, joy, and pleasure.’ What we have in Him, the right or power to be children of God, is a gift. We do not deserve these blessings. We simply receive and experience them and are forever thankful. Have you received and experienced the glorious and truthful Word? If not, receive His bidding on your life and live a life a gratitude to Him.