The Gospel According to
John 1
51 verses≈ 7 min5 peopleBSB
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In this chapter
The Beginning
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
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The Witness of John
There came a man who was sent from God. His name was John. He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe. He himself was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
The true Light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.
to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God
John 1:12
The Word Became Flesh
The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
The Word became flesh
John 1:14
John testified concerning Him.
John
He cried out, saying, “This is He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’”
From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.
John 1:18
Law and grace
Whiteboard
The law was a good gift, given through Moses. But in Jesus, God’s grace and truth arrived in person. No one has ever seen God, yet the Son who is at the Father’s side has shown us what He is like.
Reflect
Born of God
To everyone who received Jesus, “He gave the right to become children of God.” Not by family line, and not by effort, but “born of God.” If you believe in His name, that is who you are. What would change this week if you lived like it?
The Mission of John the Baptist
And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?”
John
He did not refuse to confess, but openly declared, “I am not the Christ.”
Priests and Levites
“Then who are you?” they inquired. “Are you Elijah?”
John
He said, “I am not.”
Priests and Levites
“Are you the Prophet?”
John
He answered, “No.”
Priests and Levites
So they said to him, “Who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet:
“I am a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”
Then the Pharisees who had been sent
The Pharisees
asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
All this happened at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Stylised map · locations approximate
Where it happened
Bethany beyond the Jordan
John was baptizing on the far side of the Jordan, traditionally placed across from Jericho, near where Israel first crossed into the land. The priests and Levites came down from Jerusalem: more than twenty miles of road, dropping some 3,700 feet through the wilderness.
Question
Quick question
A delegation from Jerusalem kept offering John titles. He kept turning them down.
How did John describe himself when they pressed him for an answer?
Jesus the Lamb of God
This is He of whom I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’ I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.”
Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him. I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him.
John 1:32
I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”
John 1:34
The First Disciples
The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus walking by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” And when the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.
Jesus turned and saw them following. “What do you want?” He asked. They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are You staying?”
“Come and see,” He replied. So they went and saw where He was staying, and spent that day with Him. It was about the tenth hour.
0:34
Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain
Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John’s testimony and followed Jesus.
Andrew
He first found his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated as Christ).
Jesus
Andrew brought him to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated as Peter).
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael
Jesus
Jesus said to him, “Do you believe just because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.”
Then He declared, “Truly, truly, I tell you, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
Pray
Come and see
Jesus asked the first two followers, “What do you want?” and then said, “Come and see.” Tell Him honestly what you are looking for, and ask to see where He is at work today. Then, like Andrew and Philip, think of one person you could bring along.
You’ve experienced
John 1
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A verse to carry with you
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1
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