John Chapter 1

In today sermon, I expounded John 1:1-18.

Here, I would like to share with you, my own observation, interpretation, application and some background information, and a brief introduction of the book.

Observation

When I read John 1:1-18, I observed that verbs are either perfect or aorist (past) tense, except:

Verse 5 - The light shines in the darkness (φαίνει – “shines”)

Verse 9 - The light gives light to everyone (φωτίζει -- “gives light”)

Verse 18 - the only God who is at the Father's bosom

It reveals to us that

1.      The Word was operative then and is operative now: to shine in the darkness and give light to everyone. The Word  is operative in the function of “shining” and “giving light”

2.      There should be a deliberate intention of using two different verbs to describe different functions of the light: φαίνει – “shines” and φωτίζει -- “gives light”;

I also observe that the power of creativity of the Word is specified by the creation of the spiritual life from v4 onwards.

1. The metaphorical meaning of light could be two folds: a. the light is the source of life (v4); b. the light that opposes the sinful nature of the world. Anyone who rejected the light rejected the source of life.

2. In nature, we who are in the darkness would reject the light but by God’s determination and grace, we are born in the light (v12, 13).

I also observe that in verse 6-8, the brief introduction of John the Baptist is used for comparison to clarify that he is not the true light.

Interpretation

v18 “No one had ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known” is a concluding statement of the passage.

So from above observation and v18, I concluded: the purpose of the incarnation is 1. to make God known; 2. to shine to the darkness to allow the world to see the holiness of God so that they will be convicted guilty; 3. to give light/life for those who receive.

Application

If we are born-again Christian, the life and light will be activated within us, and we should be able to become an effect witnesses for Christ, imparting others with life and light. The Word is operative now!

Background Information

(ref. Encountering the New Testament by Walter A. Elwell and Robert W. Yarbrough)

The Bible consists of old and new testaments. The word “testament” means solemn declaration. The Old Testament is about how God saved the Israelite people, and through this particular salvation for the Israelites, it also foretells the readers how God going to actualize the salvation for the whole world in the NT’s era. It thus consists of many prophecies and promises concerning God’s salvation in time to come.

The NT was the testament of God’s saving work that the ancient people hoped for. So, the relationship of the two is that the New Testament tells us about the fulfillment of what the OT promised.

Jesus' Ministry
According to the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus' ministry seems lasted only one year. However, the Gospel of John mentions three Passovers (with other festivals in between). This suggests a three-year ministry.

Brief Introduction of the Gospel of John

(ref. Encountering the New Testament by Walter A. Elwell and Robert W. Yarbrough)

The purpose of the book of John is clearly stated in John 20: 30,31, “Jesus did many other miraculous sign in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

John emphasizes a number of truths about the person and work of Jesus to accomplish his purposes. However, the first and foremost distinctive feature of John is his emphasis on the divine glory of Christ. He attempts to portray Jesus as God the Son, who is the second person of the Trinity God.

Firstly, John emphasizes Jesus’ essential deity. The essence of the person Jesus in John’s writing moves from the abstract to the concrete. Jesus is or embodies life (1:4; 5:21; 6:57; 11:25; 14:6), light (1:4,5,9; 3:19; 8:12), truth(1:14; 14:6; 18:37), glory (1:14; 2:11; 11:4; 12:41; 17:5,24) and grace (1:14,17) because he is the Word of God (1:1).

Besides, all these transcendent divine attributes; Jesus is also depicted as a concrete person. He is the personal expression of God as the Son (1:34, 49; 3:116-18; 3:36; 5:25, 26; 10:36; 17:1; 19:7), or the one and only son (1:14, 18), of God himself. Though a sinful man can be God’s children by faith in Christ, only Christ is God’s eternal son. A more explicit way to describe Jesus as the Son of God is God the Son – the second person of the trinity God.

He is referred to as Lord (13:14; 20:28; 21:7) and God (1:1; 5:18; 10:30, 33, 37-39; 14:11; 20:28), nothing less than the One who existed before Abraham and revealed himself to Moses as the great “I AM” (8:57-58)

He is the one who makes the invisible Father known (1:18).

Secondly, John emphasizes Jesus as unique divine messenger

Jesus is presented as the one who finds his eternal source in God (3:31; 8:23), coming down to earth from him. As such, he is the one who qualifies as a teacher come from God, the true bread from heaven, the one who possesses all power, the one through whom the Holy Spirit speaks, the one who conquers the world, the judge who raises all up at the last day, and the one who when his earthly mission is finished returns to his true home in heaven with God above.

Thirdly, John point to Jesus as the long-waited savior who filled Israel’s and all mankind’s hopes and needs.

He is the Messiah prophesized in the OT (1:41; 4:25-26; 7:41; 10:24-25; 11:27),

He is the King of Israel (1:49; 18:37; 19:19), the Lamb of God (1:29,35),

He is the Son of Man (1:51; 3:31-14; 6:27, 53, 61; 13:31),

He is the Prophet par excellence (4:44; 6:14),

and the one to whom the OT pointed.

Israel as God’s people is exemplified and prophetic. It is the representative of humanity at large. In this sense, Jesus is depicted as

The savior of the world

The one who gives eternal life

The one who sets people free from sin

The one who is the light of the world and the light of life

He is the gate of the sheep

He is the good shepherd

He is the true vine

He is the bread of life

He is the only way to heaven

He is the resurrection