Lesson 27 - Senior
Memory Verse
"All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:3).
Cross References
I The Word in the Beginning of the Creation
1. Before ever the world was, the Word was; for the Word is the eternal God, [JHN:1:1]; [JHN:17:5]; [1JN:1:1]; [1JN:5:7]; [REV:19:13].
2. The Word was with God in the creation of the Heaven and the earth, [JHN:1:2]; [HEB:1:1-2].
3. The Word is the Creator of all that is, visible and invisible, [JHN:1:3]; [COL:1:16]; [ROM:1:20].
II The Word the Life and the Light of Men
1. The Light of men shone in spiritual darkness, and was not comprehended, [JHN:1:4-5]; [JHN:3:19]; [1JN:1:5-6]; [2TM:1:10].
2. The mission of John the Baptist was to bear witness of the Light, [JHN:1:6-8]; [ISA:40:3-5].
3. The Word is the true Light, lighting every man coming into the world, [JHN:1:9]; [JHN:8:12]; [MAT:4:16].
III The Word Made Flesh When Jesus Was Born
1. He was in the world which He created, but unknown by even His own, [JHN:1:10-11]; [MAT:1:23; [ISA:1:3]; [EPH:4:18].
2. But those who believed on Him were born again and made the sons of God, [JHN:1:12-13]; [JHN:3:3]; [PHL:2:15]; [1JN:3:1].
3. The Word was made flesh when the angels announced His birth in Bethlehem, [JHN:1:14]; [MAT:1:23]; [LUK:2:10-11].
IV John's Witness of the Incarnate Word
1. He Who came after John was preferred before him, for He was before him, [JHN:1:15]; [JHN:3:30].
2. Moses was the lawgiver, but Jesus Christ is the Life-Giver, [JHN:1:16-17]; [JHN:11:25]; [1CO:15:45].
3. The Word is the revelation of God to man -- the express image of His person, [JHN:1:18]; [JHN:14:9]; [HEB:1:3].
V John's Testimony to the Jews
1. Their inquiries: Art thou the Christ? Elias? that Prophet? [JHN:1:19-22]; [MAL:4:5-6].
2. John's denial and confession: "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness," [JHN:1:23]; [LUK:1:17]; [LUK:16:16].
3. John's testimony that he baptises with water, but Christ baptises with the Holy Ghost, [JHN:1:24-28]; [MAT:3:11].
VI John's Testimony to Jesus' Baptism
1. His testimony when Jesus appeared: "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world," [JHN:1:29-31]; [MAT:1:21].
2. At the baptism of Jesus, John saw the Spirit descending like a dove, [JHN:1:32-33]; [ISA:61:1]; [LUK:4:18-21].
3. And having been informed ahead, John bare record that Jesus was the Son of God, [JHN:1:34]; [HEB:7:3].
Notes
John's Gospel is noted for its simplicity of language, yet here in the opening chapter this beloved disciple, who rested his head upon his Master's bosom, leads you into heights and depths in Christ that amaze the human mind.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." The Babe Who was born in Bethlehem's manger that memorable night, Who grew into manhood, and with Whom John and the other disciples walked and talked -- this Galilean, the carpenter's son -- before time began, before there was a Heaven and an earth, He was with God. He was God! He was the One Who by the word of His power spoke the worlds into existence. The flowers, the trees, the hills and the mountains, the seas and the land, are all the work of His hand. Somewhere far beyond the sun, moon, and stars He was enthroned amid the glory He had with the Father ([JHN:17:5]). But the time came when He left that throne. And why did He leave it? To come down to this world of woe for the express purpose of saving a lost humanity -- for no other reason. "The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." "Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."
The term Word in this chapter is translated from the expression Logos, which possesses a far deeper meaning than the former usually conveys. Logos means much more than the spoken or written Word. At any rate there is no mistaking John's use of this term. He means none other than Jesus Christ ([JHN:1:14]), the eternal Son of God ([JHN:17:5]), the second Person of the Trinity ([1JN:5:7]).
The prophets of old spoke God's message, but Jesus Christ came with more than a message. We are all familiar with John 3:16: "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." And a certain evangelist has said, "God's real message of love to this world is His only begotten Son." We may say that He in fact was the Message of the prophets; for they all, from Moses on down, pointed to Him. Even the patriarch Abraham may be reckoned among their number, for of him the Lord said, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad." The great, central Theme of the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms is the coming Messiah. And of His day also spoke the Apostle Paul: "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" ([HEB:1:1-2]). Jesus Christ is God's Message to this world, the Logos of Whom John wrote. And God commands us to heed His Word: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him."
Jesus Christ is also the Life. "In him was life; and the life was the light of men" ([JHN:1:4]). To doubting Thomas Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." To Martha in her bereavement He said, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." To the multitudes He said, "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."
Jesus Christ came to this earth to bring more than a religion, more than a code of teachings, more than a system of Christian living. He came above all to offer Himself a sacrifice for sin, that men through Him might have Life, and have it more abundantly. Jesus' teachings are pure and holy convincing every man's conscience of the truth. The standards of Christian living which He set are high, persuading the conscience that men ought thus to live. But no teachings, no Christian standards, no mode of life set forth, can make a man alive who is dead in trespasses and sins. What men need is Christ Who is the Resurrection and the Life, the Logos Who was with God, and Who is God.
Questions
1. To whom was John referring when he said, "In the beginning was the Word"?
2. What verse in this chapter indicates to whom he was referring?
3. In what verses of his other writings does John refer to this great truth?
4. What was the central theme of the Old Testament prophets?
5. To what do the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms point?
6. What was the difference between Moses' mission and Christ's mission to this world?
7. When John said, "The Word was made flesh," to whom did he refer? and to what great day does this statement point?
8. After revealing that Jesus Christ is the Word, what other great truths does John here reveal concerning Whom Jesus is?
9. To whom does John refer when he says, "All things were made by him"?
10. Quote two other Scriptures, which verify the fact that "all things were made by him."
11. What was the mission of John the Baptist in relation to Jesus Christ?
12. Quote a statement by John the Baptist, which indicates that Jesus came to offer Himself a sacrifice.