The Word Was God (Verses 1-3)

John begins his Gospel in such a way that he reminds us of the fact that, “the Word” Jesus Christ was with God in the beginning of creation. John also teaches us that “the Word” is God, not a god or that he might become God, but the Word is very God. When the world was created the divine Godhead, God in three persons was in existence and together worked in perfect harmony. John shows us that God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are co-equal and co-eternal. John is saying that God, the Son existed in eternity past. Jesus is a distinct person from the Father and the Holy Spirit yet the same God. He is equal in glory to the Father and the Spirit. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God who was sent to save his people from their sins.

John continues this thought in the second verse. In case the reader has not yet understood the fact that Christ is co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit the Apostle repeats this truth. Thus, showing the importance of Christ’s membership of the Godhead and His deity. John writes that everything that is good and righteous came not by chance, but by the wisdom, power, and glory of God. The third verse is an affirmation of the first and second verses regarding creation. He affirms the divine nature of our Lord and Saviour, “The Word was God”.

The Light of Christ (Verses 4-14)

Christ is the only source of true light and life. He is the eternal fountain of eternal life. Those who find rest in Him are never restless again, nor are they found in need of any spiritual nourishment such as mercy, grace, and peace. The opening words of John’s Gospel are beyond our reasoning, they are words of eternal life, words of divine inspiration and words of grace. Blessed is he who believes and has faith in Christ through the grace of God.

The Gospel light shone in the world and still shines bright today. The world is still in need of enlightenment, just as in days past. Men and women are still in need of the Gospel. To receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour is still the greatest need of mankind, but the great majority reject Christ and His Gospel. They reject salvation and do not understand their need of a Saviour, they are blind to that Gospel light. Their spiritual eyes are closed. John the Baptist pointed to the Messiah as the true light. The Son of God was rejected by his own meaning that the Jewish people and the nation of Israel rejected their Messiah. Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour was born a Jew and lived as a Jew.

However, those who did accept Him to them He gave the right to become the children of God, adopted into God’s spiritual family. John makes it very clear that this is a new spiritual birth. The spiritual birth of the Christian is not by blood, meaning by natural birth, nor by the will of the flesh, meaning by man’s own effort and works, nor is this new life by the family we are born into. This new birth and life are by the will of God. Salvation is a work of sovereign grace. Becoming a genuine child of God must be a work of the Godhead. May God give us eyes to see the truth of salvation in Christ.

The Word Becomes Flesh

The prophecies written about the Messiah came to pass. Thus, the Word of God became flesh and was full of grace and truth. John’s purpose, calling and ministry was to bear witness to Jesus Christ as God in the flesh and as the Messiah. These words of John are a fulfilment of Isaiah 40:3, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of Jehovah, make straight in the desert a highway for our God!” The birth of Jesus Christ came about six months after the birth of John the Baptist. The Apostle John reminds us in verses 16-17 that grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. While stating that the law came by Moses, the only one who is able to fulfil the demands of the law is Jesus Christ.

Presentation of the Son of God (Verses 15-34)

John the Baptist denies being the Christ and Elijah. It was expected that Elijah would return in the end times. John answered the question regarding who he was and continued in his calling from God. John was called, “the Baptist” as he baptised people as an outward sign of their faith. We read about the baptism of Jesus in verses 32-33. At the baptism of Christ, the Holy Spirit descended on Him like a dove. Our Lord and Saviour has no need to repent because he was sinless from the moment He was born to the day He died on the Cross, and He continues to be sinless. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “Him who knew not sin he has made sin for us, that we might become God’s righteousness in him.”

The First Disciples (Verses 35-51)

In the latter passages of John chapter 1, we read about the first of Christ’s disciples. The men that our Lord selected were very ordinary men. None of them had a position of great power or wealth. None of them were especially gifted or men of great intellect. These facts tell us that God can do great things with people of every rank and class. God takes very average individuals and turns them into great men and women of faith.

Two of John’s disciples were standing with him. One Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. The other most likely was John the Evangelist, the writer of this Gospel.

Andrew tells his brother, Simon Peter that he has found the Messiah. The term Messiah is Hebrew for “anointed one” and in Greek Messiah means Christ. We also read that Simon Peter was called, “Cephas” which means “rock” in Aramaic. In Scripture, names are changed to indicate a person’s calling. Other examples of this are Abram whose name was changed to Abraham and Jacob who became Israel.

In verse 48 Jesus declares to Nathanael that He saw him under the fig tree. Jesus displays divine knowledge that only the true Messiah could have. Nathanael answers with, “Rabbi, (meaning teacher) thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.” Jesus foretold that greater things would happen. Jesus emphasises his authority when he declares that Heaven would open, and the angels of God will ascend and descend on him.