John 1
The Light Has Come Near
John opens by showing us who Jesus is: the eternal Word, the source of life, and the Son who makes God known. Then we meet witnesses and early followers who begin to discover that the promised Savior has come.
Walking Through John 1
Before Everything, the Word (John 1:1-5)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. 2 The Word was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. 5 And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it.John 1:1-5 · NET Bible
John begins where Genesis begins: with creation. But the Word did not begin there. He already existed. As the chapter unfolds, John makes clear that this Word is Jesus. He was with God, showing a real relationship, and He was God, sharing God’s nature. Jesus is not one of the things God made. Everything that was made came into being through Him. John then connects life with light. Jesus gives life and reveals the truth about God in a world darkened by sin. That darkness cannot overcome His light. I want us to notice where John starts our understanding of Jesus. Before we see a teacher walking through Galilee, we meet the eternal One through whom Galilee itself was made.
God Came to Live Among Us (John 1:6-18)
6 A man came, sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that everyone might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. 9 The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was created by him, but the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to what was his own, but his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who have received him—those who believe in his name—he has given the right to become God’s children— 13 children not born by human parents or by human desire or a husband’s decision, but by God. 14 Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory—the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father. 15 John testified about him and shouted out, “This one was the one about whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’” 16 For we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known.John 1:6-18 · NET Bible
God sent John the Baptist to point people toward the light, not to become the center of attention himself. The true light entered the world He had made, yet the world did not recognize Him. Even His own people largely rejected Him. Still, those who received Him through faith were welcomed as God’s children. This new life comes from God, not family background or human effort. Then John gives us the great wonder: the Word became truly human and lived among us. The witnesses saw His glory, filled with grace and truth. John the Baptist says Jesus ranks above him because Jesus existed before him. Through Jesus, we receive gift upon gift from God’s fullness. Moses brought God’s law, a good gift that showed His ways. Jesus brings the fullness of God’s grace and truth in person. The unseen God is made known by His unique Son. God has not left us to guess what He is like.
A Voice, Not the Savior (John 1:19-28)
19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed—he did not deny but confessed—“I am not the Christ!” 21 So they asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not!” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No!” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you? Tell us so that we can give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 John said, “I am the voice of one shouting in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” 24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 So they asked John, “Why then are you baptizing if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not recognize, 27 who is coming after me. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal!” 28 These things happened in Bethany across the Jordan River where John was baptizing.John 1:19-28 · NET Bible
Religious leaders in Jerusalem send priests and Levites to question John. He plainly denies being the Messiah, God’s promised King. He also denies being Elijah or the expected Prophet associated with Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15). John is not claiming to be Elijah returned in person. Instead, he identifies himself through Isaiah 40:3 as a voice preparing the Lord’s way. Those sent by the Pharisees then ask what gives him the right to baptize. John turns their attention toward someone already among them whom they do not know. He considers himself unworthy even to untie that person’s sandal, a lowly servant’s task. I see a quiet strength here: John knows his place without needing to make his place bigger.
The Lamb Who Takes Away Sin (John 1:29-34)
29 On the next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one about whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’ 31 I did not recognize him, but I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel.” 32 Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending like a dove from heaven, and it remained on him. 33 And I did not recognize him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining—this is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have both seen and testified that this man is the Chosen One of God.”John 1:29-34 · NET Bible
When Jesus approaches, John identifies Him as God’s Lamb who takes away the world’s sin. The picture points toward sacrifice: Jesus will deal with sin at the cost of His own life. His mission reaches beyond one people or nation. John again explains that Jesus holds the higher place because He existed before him. John’s water baptism served to reveal Jesus to Israel. John had received a sign from God: the Spirit would descend and remain on the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. He testifies that he saw this happen to Jesus. Water was an outward sign; Jesus would give the Spirit Himself. John’s witness rests on what God revealed, not on a guess about an impressive man.
An Invitation to Come Closer (John 1:35-42)
35 Again the next day John was standing there with two of his disciples. 36 Gazing at Jesus as he walked by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 37 When John’s two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned around and saw them following and said to them, “What do you want?” So they said to him, “Rabbi” (which is translated Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 Jesus answered, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. Now it was about four o’clock in the afternoon. 40 Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two disciples who heard what John said and followed Jesus. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which is translated Christ). 42 Andrew brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon, the son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).John 1:35-42 · NET Bible
The next day, John again points to Jesus as God’s Lamb. Two of John’s disciples hear him and begin following Jesus. This is not a loss for John; it is the purpose of his work. Jesus turns toward them and asks what they are seeking. When they ask where He is staying, He welcomes them to come and see. They spend time with Him, and Andrew soon finds his brother Simon. Andrew announces that they have found the Messiah, a title meaning God’s Anointed One, or Christ. He brings Simon to Jesus, who gives Simon the name Cephas, also called Peter, meaning rock. Their understanding is still growing, but their relationship with Jesus has begun. Faith here includes both coming near and bringing someone else.
Known Before the Meeting (John 1:43-51)
43 On the next day Jesus wanted to set out for Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 (Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter.) 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law, and the prophets also wrote about—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael replied, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip replied, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and exclaimed, “Look, a true Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael asked him, “How do you know me?” Jesus replied, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel!” 50 Jesus said to him, “Because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 He continued, “I tell all of you the solemn truth—you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”John 1:43-51 · NET Bible
Jesus calls Philip to follow Him. Philip then tells Nathanael that Jesus is the One Moses and the prophets wrote about. Nathanael doubts that anything good can come from Nazareth, but Philip invites him to see for himself. Jesus recognizes Nathanael as an Israelite without deceit. He also reveals that He saw Nathanael under the fig tree before Philip called him. John does not explain what happened beneath that tree, so we should not invent a hidden story. Nathanael responds by calling Jesus God’s Son and Israel’s King. Jesus promises greater things and recalls Jacob’s vision of heaven opened (Genesis 28:12). Now the angels are pictured ascending and descending upon the Son of Man, Jesus Himself. He is the meeting place between heaven and earth.
- Word — John’s name for Jesus as the eternal One who makes God known.
- Witness — Someone who tells others what they have seen or know to be true.
Which part of John’s picture of Jesus most changes how you see Him?
Father, thank You for making Yourself known through Jesus. Help us receive Your grace and trust Your Son more deeply. Let our words and lives point others toward Him. Amen.