Today’s Passages – John 1 – 3 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – Psalms 26 – 30; Proverbs 6)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 61:1 – 3

Read the “1106 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read a previous post from today’s reading – “Just Do It“

“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. 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. … 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.” – (John 1:1–5, 14)

“In the beginning”

As we examine these introductory verses to John’s Gospel, we immediately see that John is not interested in giving us the same earthly information regarding the birth and early life of the Lord Jesus. John starts out by going back much further than Jesus’ birth as a human baby in the manger in Bethlehem. He goes all the way back to the beginning, not the beginning of His earthly life, not the beginning of his ancestry, but the beginning of all things. Right out of the gate, John immediately presents Jesus as God.

The deity of Christ can also be seen in the many “I Am” statements in John’s Gospel. You will recall when God first appeared to Moses in the burning bush, Moses asked Him His name:

“And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” (Exodus 3:14)

The phrase “I am” when used in reference to God is known as the eternal present tense. God is never “I was” or “I will be,” He is always “I am.” God transcends time. He dwells outside of it. He is also immanent: as Christ, He entered time and lived within it. Yet as the God-man, He lives both in time and outside of time. He is the “I am.”

• I am the bread of life (6:35)
• I am the light of the world (8:12)
• I am the door (10:7, 9)
• I am the good shepherd (10:11, 14)
• I am the resurrection and the life (11:25)
• I am the way, the truth, and the life (14:6)
• I am the true vine (15:1, 5)

“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58)

Let’s consider the introductory verses of John’s Gospel and see how they teach Christ’s deity.

I. Jesus is The Word of God (vs. 1 – 2; 14)

“In the beginning was the Word (λόγος – logos), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. … 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.” (John 1:1-2, 14)

Jesus is called the Word of God. He not only wrote the Word – He is the Word.

“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” (1 John 5:7)

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;” (Hebrews 1:1-2)

A practical point that needs to be made here is the fact that God is intimately connected to His Word.

II. Jesus Does The Work of God

A. Creation

“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:3)

The phrase “in the beginning” immediately draws our minds back to the Creation:

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)

“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:13-18)

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” (Hebrews 1:1-3)

B. Salvation

“In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:4)

Jesus is life. Physical life comes from Him as the Creator, but in Him also is eternal life, which He offers to all of those who will put their faith in Him.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. … He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:16, 36)

“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:14)

“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1 John 5:12)

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24)

“Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. … And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. … Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” (John 6:27, 40, 47)

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:27-28)

C. Illumination

“And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” (John 1:5)

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19)

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:5)

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us that we are to shine His light to the world around us:

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

Conclusion

As we conclude this brief taste of John’s Gospel, let’s apply these introductory truths to our lives today.

To the lost: Jesus is Life. He offers eternal life with Him in Heaven to all who will put their faith in Him. Have you trusted Christ for eternal life?

To the believer: Jesus is the light of the world, and through Him we are also the light of the world. Are you shining the light of Christ to the people around you?