JOHN 1

John, the one that Jesus loved, meaning they were best friends, will present Jesus Christ as God. In today’s study our titles are; Verses 1-18 The Deity of Jesus Christ. Verses 19-34 The testimony of John the Baptist. Verses 35-39 The first disciples. Verses 40-51 The Approach. John 1 and verse 1 reads.

John 1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Let’s look at this word, Word. G3056 logos and means; specifically (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (that is Christ). 2. the sayings of God. 4. of the moral precepts given by God. 5. Old Testament prophecy given by the prophets. d. doctrine, teaching. 3. In John, denotes the essential Word of God, Jesus Christ, the personal wisdom and power in union with God, his minister in creation and government of the universe, the cause of all the world’s life both physical and ethical, which for the procurement of man’s salvation put on human nature in the person of Jesus the Messiah, the second person in the Godhead, and shone forth conspicuously from His words and deeds. A Greek philosopher named Heraclitus first used the term Logos around 600 B.C. to designate the divine reason or plan which coordinates a changing universe. This word was well suited to John’s purpose in John 1:1. Let’s go to Revelation 19 and verse 13 reads.

Rev.19:13] And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

The first three words in John follow the first three words in Genesis, In the beginning. If you do not understand the beginning, you will never understand the end. I strongly suggest that you find time to study Genesis 1:1-2 with me for a complete understanding as this is the most important thing one could learn from God’s Word. Also, above we learned that the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit are One. Whether you call it the Triune Godhead or Trinity, they are one and the same. Back to John 1 and verse 2 reads.

John 1:2] The same was in the beginning with God.

Find time to read Proverbs 8. We find in Proverbs 8 that we have Wisdom, the Holy Spirit also in the beginning with God and the Word, Jesus Christ.

John 1:3] All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Let’s go to Psalms 33 and verse 6 reads.

Psa.33:6] By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

Now, Colossians 1 and verse 16 reads.

Col.1:16] For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

Now, Ephesians 3 and verse 9 reads.

Eph.3:9] And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

The Trinity, the three are One. All things were made by God, the Word and the Holy Spirit. Back to John 1 and verse 4 reads.

John 1:4] In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Let’s go to Genesis 1 and verse 3 reads.

Gen.1:3] And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
[4] And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
[5] And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

We have the first day of creation for the second earth age. Age; Ion in the Greek and means a length of time. God created Light, Jesus Christ for Salvation. The Night (uppercase) for the other choice of man, which is Satan. Let’s go to 1John 5 and verse 11 reads.

1John 5:11] And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
[12] He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Now let’s go to Revelation 21 and verse 22 reads.

Rev.21:22] And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
[23] And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

Back to John 1 and verse 5 reads.

John 1:5] And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Let’s go to John 3 and verse 17 reads.

John 3:17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
[18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
[19] And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
[20] For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
[21] But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Evil will not repent of their sins. But because of Jesus Christ dying on the cross for our sins, on repentance our sins are forgiven. Back to John 1 and verse 6 reads.

John 1:6] There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

John, the writer of this gospel, is not John the Baptist. This John the Baptist is born of Zacharias and Elisabeth. Luke 1:5. Let’s go to Isaiah 40 and verse 3 reads.

Isa.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.

The reason why John started off this chapter with Logos, the Word is Jesus Christ. Remember G3056 Logos above 5. Old Testament prophecy given by the prophets. Jesus is the Living Word, from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:20. Back to John 1 and verse 7 reads.

John 1:7] 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.

Let’s go to Isaiah 9 and verse 2 reads.

Isa.9:2] The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

We have been speaking of the Word and Light, now let’s drop down to verse 6 and it reads.

Isa.9:6] For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Did you catch that, Jesus will be called the mighty God, the everlasting Father.

Isa.9:7] Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
[8] The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.

Never study with any man who denies the Old Testament, they are antichrist and have no knowledge of God’s Word. Back to John 1 and verse 9 reads.

John 1:9] That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
[10] He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

Let’s go to Hebrews 1 and verse 1 reads.

Heb.1] God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
[2] 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;

By whom also he made the worlds, plural. There are three heaven and earth ages.

Heb.1:3] Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Let’s break down this last verse. The brightness of his glory, that Shekinah Glory which means; God dwells there. And the express image of his person. The Son of God is God with us, Emmanuel. Upholding all things by the Word of his power, His power is Jesus because; by his stripes we are healed. His crucifixion was a selfless sacrifice that only he could make, The Lamb of God. Let’s go back to Revelation 21 and verse 22 reads.

Rev.21:22] And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

Back to John 1 and verse 11 reads.

John 1:11] He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

Let’s go to Isaiah 53 and verse 3 reads.

Isa.53:3] He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
[4] Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
[5] But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

From the beginning God’s plan was Salvation for his children that believed on his Son, his only Son that was promised to Abraham in Gen.22:1-14. Back to John 1 and verse 12 reads.

John 1:12] 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:

Let’s go to Isaiah 56 and verse 5 reads.

Isa.56:5] Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.

Notice both sons and daughters, to those that believe on his name. That name is Jesus Christ, The Living Word, The Light of the world. Back to John 1 and verse 13 reads.

John 1:13] Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

This is the law of God, that all spirits must be born of flesh in this earth age. Let’s go to 1Peter 1 and verse 21 reads.

1Pet.1:21] Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
[22] Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
[23] Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

This is not talking about being “Born again” that is nonsense, born again simply means from above. Meaning; in the Spirit of God our spirits must love God. Let’s go to 1John 5 and verse 1 reads.

1John 5:1] Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
[2] By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
[3] For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
[4] For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

It is the spirit that needs Salvation, not the flesh. Now, we come to my favorite verse in John 1 and verse 14 reads.

John 1:14] 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.

I love to read this verse after the first verse, as it should read; John 1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14] 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.

Now the promise in Isaiah 7 and verse 14 reads.

Isa.7:14] Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

And the promise fulfilled in Matthew 1 and verse 22 reads.

Mat.1:22] Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
[23] Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Let there be no question about the Trinity, the three are One. The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit. Back to John 1 and verse 15 reads.

John 1:15] 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.

John has just explained the differences between law and grace. Let’s go to John 8 and verse 32 reads.

John 8:32] And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

And John 14 and verse 6 reads.

John 14:6] Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

When Pilate questioned Jesus after the Pharisees brought him to be crucified, he said this in John 18 and verse 37 reads.

John 18:37] Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
[38] Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

Jesus states he is the Truth. We have Jesus Christ is the Living Word, The Light of the world and now the Truth. John the Baptist gives his testimony of Jesus Christ. Back to John 1 and verse 19 reads.

John 1:19] 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.

They asked John the Baptist if he were the Messiah, the Christ. He says No he was not the Christ. Notice these priests and Levites are the Pharisees and scribes from the temple in Jerusalem. This is spoken of in Acts 13 and verse 24 reads.

Acts 13:24] When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
[25] And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.

Back to John 1 and verse 21 reads.

John 1:21] And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

They asked if he were Elijah. They know some scriptures and should have been waiting for the prophecies to be fulfilled. Let’s go to Malachi 4 and verse 4 reads.

Mal.4:4] Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.
[5] Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

They couldn’t understand the two advents. The first advent Jesus would come on a colt of an ass. The second advent he will come for vengeance. And Elijah will come with Moses as the two witnesses that are killed in the streets by Satan just three days before the coming of Jesus at the seventh trump. Now, the promise of his first advent that was given to Moses. Deuteronomy 18 and verse 15 reads.

Deu.18:15] 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 hearken;

Back to John 1 and verse 22 reads.

John 1:22] Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

The high priest Caiaphas must have sent them.

John 1:23] He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

Esaias is Greek for Isaiah. What was it that he cried? Let’s go back to Isaiah 40 and verse 1 reads.

Isa.40:1] Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
[2] Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.

The place of the prophecy was to happen in Jerusalem.

Isa.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.

Prepare the way for the Messiah. And here is what he cries.

Isa.40:4] Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
[5] And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
[6] The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
[7] The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
[8] The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

All have sinned. This means that the spirit goes back to the Father who gave it but the flesh dies and goes to dust. The One that follows the one that cries in the wilderness will be their Savior, the Word of God. Let’s go back to Malachi 3 and verse 1 reads.

Mal.3:1] Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to this temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

Both the messenger and the Messiah will come to the temple, Jerusalem. Always confirm the Word from the Old Testament when it is brought up, it gives more information. Back to John 1 and verse 24 reads.

John 1:24] 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?

They questioned him about his baptizing, if he wasn’t Christ or Elijah or even the prophet Isaiah. Why do you think they questioned him? Did they think that scripture said baptism was coming? I cannot find baptism anywhere in the Old Testament. But, what does it represent? Washing of our sins away, so that on repentance our sins may be forgiven. Jesus is that Living Water. Let’s go to Numbers 8 and verse 5 reads.

Num.8:5] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[6] Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them.
[7] And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean.

Here is where some churches get it wrong, God bless them. here it says to sprinkle the Levitical priests, but baptism means to fully submerge under water. It represents Christ going into the tomb (the going under water), and being resurrected (the coming out of the water). Back to John 1 and verse 26 reads.

John 1:26] 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.

This is where the river Jordan had a certain ford where one could cross the river by foot. Shallow enough to cross, deep enough to baptize. Now, comes the baptism of Jesus Christ.

John 1:29] The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

The promise given to Abraham in Genesis 22 when he went up to Mount Moriah to sacrifice his only son Isaac. The LORD promised him on that very mount, called Golgotha at the time of Jesus, He would sacrifice his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ in his stead for the Salvation of the world. That whosoever would believe on him would have Everlasting Life. This Lamb of God promised in the Old Testament in Isaiah 53 and verse 11 reads.

Isa.53:11] He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

Acknowledged in 1Peter 1 and verse 19 reads.

1Pet.1:19] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
[20] Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
[21] Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

Praise the LORD for the promise of the Lamb. Back to John 1 and verse 30 reads.

John 1:30] This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

Let’s go back to Colossians 1 and verse 17 reads.

Col.1:17] And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
[18] And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Preferred before me, because he was before all. Back to John 1 and verse 31 reads.

John 1:31] And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

Let’s go back to Malachi 3 and verse 1 reads.

Mal.3:1] Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to this temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

Now we can understand better the saying; Whom ye delight in; behold, he shall come. Back to John 1 and verse 32 reads.

John 1:32] 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.

John the Baptist shows us here that God had given him a sign to look for. Telling me that only John could have seen this vision. Remember in Luke 1 John had received the Holy Spirit while he was still in the womb of his mother Elisabeth.

John 1:34] And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

The sign to John the Baptist was; whoever you see this vision of the dove landing on is the Son of God.

John 1:35] 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!

John the Baptist spoke boldly, this is the Son of God that takes away the sins of the world. Meaning; This is the Messiah, the Christ.

John 1:37] 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.

It was about 4pm.

John 1:40] One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

Andrew was the first of the twelve to find Jesus, the Christ.

John 1:41] He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

We have found the Messiah, the Christ. Andrew found his brother Peter, they have been waiting for the Christ, they were chosen.

John 1:42] And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

Simon means; A hearing. And Peter means; A rock. Jesus would build his church on Peter, meaning he uses Peter for his foundation. Peter will be great in the sight of the Lord.

John 1:43] The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

No altar call, simply says follow me.

John 1:44] Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
[45] Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

First Jesus was not the son of Joseph, but that others would only know him in that way. Nathanael would know by the Word of Jesus.

John 1:46] And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

It was a common saying in the area about the city of Nazareth. Notice these disciples have been waiting for the prophecies to come to pass, just like we are waiting for the second advent, they knew it was the season.

John 1:47] Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

Jesus knew no one could say anything bad about Nathanael because he had a good reputation.

John 1:48] Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

It is not written what Nathanael had been praying for but that Jesus knew his prayer was enough for Nathanael.

John 1:49] Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

Right away Nathanael says who Jesus was, the Son of God, the King of Israel. He knows Jesus knew his prayer and has been waiting for this time to come.

John 1:50] Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
[51] And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

Truly, truly, Jesus said. Nathanael would see and witness the whole ministry of Jesus. From this point on, all the miracles and to Jesus being crucified and resurrected and ascend into heaven. This is what separates his disciples from the twelve. Jesus’s ministry has begun. Let’s go to his throne.

Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.

KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible