The Search for the Biblical Jesus

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

CHAPTER 1

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.

The gospel of John opens with what is considered to be the definitive statement about who Jesus is and was and will always be: deity. The Word was a concept used in Greek philosophy. The Greek translated Word is Logos, the Infinite Idea, the consciousness that brought all consciousness into being.

John is writing to an audience who immediately understood those concepts. This opening statement parallels the introduction in the book of Genesis and the creation story. John describes Jesus as being the one who created all things, the original active idea. He is not a separate entity but uniquely the deity we call God. John hints here at the Trinity also. Jesus is revealed to be the creative part of the Trinity, the one who spoke and the heavens and earth were created.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

This section describes Jesus’ mission to come to the earth and to bring spiritual light to a dark and fallen world. This passage is another reference to the divine nature of Jesus, calling him the true Light. Jesus is the only one who can give illumination and understanding to people. This concept of Jesus coming to bring light and redemption was not an idea invented by John the Apostle. John the Baptist was giving this same witness of Jesus’ coming before he had officially met him in the gospel record.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

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.

This is a very clear statement that Jesus is the Redeemer and Messiah, and that salvation is only through him. While this passage asserts that Jesus was rejected by the Jewish nation of his time, the offer of forgiveness and salvation is granted now to anyone who believes in him.

In this passage John reemphasizes that Jesus is the Logos, and that he was recognized by his disciples as being God in the flesh. He is the only begotten of the Father. No other person in history is entitled to be called by that name.

15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

The message of John the Baptist to the people is a testimony to the deity of the Messiah. While the Messiah would physically arrive on the scene after John had started his ministry, this person would have existed before John was ever born. Jesus is again called the only begotten Son, who lives in the bosom of the Father, signifying that he is uniquely God.

19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?

20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.

25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?

26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;

27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

John the Baptist clearly knew what his mission was: to proclaim the coming of the Messiah. He reemphasizes that the person who will follow after him will be of higher status that himself. The reference to not being worthy to unloose this person’s shoe shows John’s opinion of the vast difference in status and worth between himself and the one who was to come. John understood that he was the forerunner of the Messiah. This understanding is disclosed by his identifying himself as the fulfillment of Isaiah 40:3:

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

That prophet is a reference to a prediction made by Moses. Moses predicted that God would send another prophet like himself who would lead Israel. The identity of this prophet is Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah. Moses’ pronouncement about this future prophet is found in Deuteronomy 18:15-19:

15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall harken;

16 According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.

17 And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.

18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

19 And it shall come to pass, that whomsoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

When John finally does meet Jesus, he immediately recognizes him and gives public recognition to Jesus as the coming Messiah. John points directly at Jesus and speaks in metaphors that would not be lost on the people. By calling Jesus the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world, John identified Jesus with the peace-offering given on the people’s behalf. John is clearly identifying Jesus as the Redeemer of humanity, the one who will bring peace and reconciliation between sinful man and righteous God.

John the Baptist’s vision of the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus was a fulfillment of a previous message given to him by God. John was told that the person who would receive the Holy Spirit would be the one he was preparing the way for. This person would baptize with the Holy Spirit, an attribute that identifies the person as deity because only God can give His Spirit.

35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;

36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

In this passage, John the Baptist again states that Jesus is the peace-offering lamb foreshadowed in Leviticus Chapter Three. This comment is not lost