John 1: 1-18
Lesson mainly adapted
and paraphrased from Dr Constable’s Notes on John http://soniclight.com/constable/notes/pdf/john.pdf
So let’s begin our journey into the Gospel of John.
When I use ~ symbols, it represents my thoughts and rationalizing musings. Feel free to focus on the lesson.
An Introduction
-
The Gospel
of John stresses on Jesus’ full divinity
o
So that
readers would believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and thereby
have eternal life
-
Key word-
Believe (Appears 98 times) (Greek – pisteuo).
John wanted to emphasize the importance of active, vital trust in Jesus
-
As such,
things like Jesus’ genealogy, birth, baptism, temptation, exorcizing demons,
parables, transfiguration, agony in Gethsemane and ascension were all omitted.
-
Focused on
Jesus’ ministry in Jerusalem, Jewish feasts, Jesus’ private conversations with
individuals and His preparation of His disciples
Tuner:
The game is called Connection:
If you have a super duper big group like more than 7 people, you should split the group into half. 7 people would be the optimum number to have maximum fun. Out of the seven people, choose one person to be the catcher. The other 6 students' aim would be to "connect" their minds together without letting the catcher catch them.
1) One person would start by giving a clue to the object, person or thing he or she is thinking about.
2) When someone else thinks that they have the same object in mind, they would have to place their index finger in the middle of the group.
3) When two or more people have placed their index finger in the middle. They can count to three and shout out the object in their heads.
4) If all three are the same, the 6 student team wins.
5) The 6 student team has to start coming up with objects starting with the letter C, followed by H, R,I,S,T
The game is called Connection:
If you have a super duper big group like more than 7 people, you should split the group into half. 7 people would be the optimum number to have maximum fun. Out of the seven people, choose one person to be the catcher. The other 6 students' aim would be to "connect" their minds together without letting the catcher catch them.
1) One person would start by giving a clue to the object, person or thing he or she is thinking about.
2) When someone else thinks that they have the same object in mind, they would have to place their index finger in the middle of the group.
3) When two or more people have placed their index finger in the middle. They can count to three and shout out the object in their heads.
4) If all three are the same, the 6 student team wins.
5) The 6 student team has to start coming up with objects starting with the letter C, followed by H, R,I,S,T
Today’s Lesson – I. Prologue 1:1-18
Read through 1 – 18 then bring focus to the difference in how the different Gospels started. (No need to read, imo, but good to get them to flip and just glance through to see for themselves)
Read through 1 – 18 then bring focus to the difference in how the different Gospels started. (No need to read, imo, but good to get them to flip and just glance through to see for themselves)
Matthew- Connected
Jesus with David and Abraham
Mark- Associated Jesus with John the Baptist
Luke- Prophecies and predictions of Jesus’ birth
John- Declaration that Jesus is the eternal Son of God
Mark- Associated Jesus with John the Baptist
Luke- Prophecies and predictions of Jesus’ birth
John- Declaration that Jesus is the eternal Son of God
This prologue centers
on God’s gift of eternal life that comes to people through the Word (v12)
1:1
Jesus is coexistent with God.
Jesus is coexistent with God.
“Word” (Greek: logos,
Aramaic: memra- used to describe God in the Aramaic translations of the OT)
The Word was with God, and the Word was God
The Word was with God, and the Word was God
Why is “Word” used?
To emphasize the fact that the Word is not only God but the expression of God
A spoken or written word expresses what is in the mind of the speaker/writer
Likewise, Jesus, the Word (which was established in v14), is the expression of God to humankind. His life and ministry expressed to humankind what God wants us to know
“With God”
In some sense, this shows that Jesus is distinct from God. He is the second person of the Trinity, distinct from the Father and the Holy Spirit. Yet at the same time it is noted that Jesus is fully God (“Was God”). With this, John actually establishes the Trinity of God- Father, Son and Holy Spirit are equal, but exists as separate persons.
To emphasize the fact that the Word is not only God but the expression of God
A spoken or written word expresses what is in the mind of the speaker/writer
Likewise, Jesus, the Word (which was established in v14), is the expression of God to humankind. His life and ministry expressed to humankind what God wants us to know
“With God”
In some sense, this shows that Jesus is distinct from God. He is the second person of the Trinity, distinct from the Father and the Holy Spirit. Yet at the same time it is noted that Jesus is fully God (“Was God”). With this, John actually establishes the Trinity of God- Father, Son and Holy Spirit are equal, but exists as separate persons.
1:2
Clarifies that Jesus was not created and existed with God before the creation of the universe. A further assertion of Jesus’ deity, and that he did not become deity but was always deity.
Clarifies that Jesus was not created and existed with God before the creation of the universe. A further assertion of Jesus’ deity, and that he did not become deity but was always deity.
1:3
Here, authority is established- God the Father is above Jesus in authority, but Jesus is above everything else. Jesus was God’s agent in creating everything, and acted in accordance with the Father and not independently (“God created everything through him”) Linking back to the Word/Jesus being the expression of God to humankind- Jesus work of revealing God began with the Creation, because all of Creation reveals God (reference Psalm 19:1-6; Romans 1:19-20)
Here, authority is established- God the Father is above Jesus in authority, but Jesus is above everything else. Jesus was God’s agent in creating everything, and acted in accordance with the Father and not independently (“God created everything through him”) Linking back to the Word/Jesus being the expression of God to humankind- Jesus work of revealing God began with the Creation, because all of Creation reveals God (reference Psalm 19:1-6; Romans 1:19-20)
1:4
Jesus was/is the source of life
Jesus was/is the source of life
He could impart life
to the things He created and thus every living thing owes its life to the
Creator, Jesus. ~Interesting how Jesus in the end died instead of us when we
are the ones with the life debt~
“His Life brought Light to everyone”
Life and light can be both spiritual (wisdom, understanding), or physical (Creation) per se. ~Could be the relationship with Jesus at creation giving life to everyone or His death on the cross for us to receive eternal life. Could be that His Incarnation brought hope and salvation to the lost. Can be interpreted many ways, imo, but based on the similar theme of life and light. ~
“His Life brought Light to everyone”
Life and light can be both spiritual (wisdom, understanding), or physical (Creation) per se. ~Could be the relationship with Jesus at creation giving life to everyone or His death on the cross for us to receive eternal life. Could be that His Incarnation brought hope and salvation to the lost. Can be interpreted many ways, imo, but based on the similar theme of life and light. ~
1:5
Note the sudden change to present tense for the first time.
As light shines in the darkness, so Jesus in His Incarnation brought the revelation and salvation of God to humanity which was in its fallen and lost condition. As the word of God brought light to the chaos before Creation, in the same way, Jesus brought light to humankind.
The light that Jesus brought was far superior to darkness, spiritually and physically. John did not view the world as a stage on which two equal and opposing forces battle, but rather that Jesus was superior to the forces of darkness, much like how physically light and darkness relate. Light overcomes darkness absolutely, giving humankind hope. Also, John was anticipating the story of the cross whereby Jesus, though He died, was not overcome by it (darkness as a reference to death).
Summary:
John was clearly hinting at parallels between what Jesus did physically at Creation and what He did spiritually through the Incarnation.
Jesus is the life-giver/savior and brings hope/light and overcomes death/darkness
The relationship of the Trinity Spirit can be seen here- how they are all equal yet the Father has authority over the Son and so on.
Note the sudden change to present tense for the first time.
As light shines in the darkness, so Jesus in His Incarnation brought the revelation and salvation of God to humanity which was in its fallen and lost condition. As the word of God brought light to the chaos before Creation, in the same way, Jesus brought light to humankind.
The light that Jesus brought was far superior to darkness, spiritually and physically. John did not view the world as a stage on which two equal and opposing forces battle, but rather that Jesus was superior to the forces of darkness, much like how physically light and darkness relate. Light overcomes darkness absolutely, giving humankind hope. Also, John was anticipating the story of the cross whereby Jesus, though He died, was not overcome by it (darkness as a reference to death).
Summary:
John was clearly hinting at parallels between what Jesus did physically at Creation and what He did spiritually through the Incarnation.
Jesus is the life-giver/savior and brings hope/light and overcomes death/darkness
The relationship of the Trinity Spirit can be seen here- how they are all equal yet the Father has authority over the Son and so on.
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