The Gospel of John presents the words and actions of Jesus and includes an interpretative meaning or theological significance of all that Jesus did and said. John is very clear about why he wrote the gospel: “that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.” John 20:30.
John’s Gospel is almost evenly divided. The first twelve chapters include a series of six signs that are written so “that you may continue to believe.” Chapters twelve through twenty-one present Jesus’ last days in Jerusalem that led to the seventh sign; the crucifixion and resurrection of The Messiah.
John gets our attention immediately as he uses the same words to begin his gospel as did the writer of the Book of Genesis: “In the beginning.” John describes the very creative energy that God used to create the universe as God’s Word. Word is not just words like we read in a book or hear a person speak. Word is the very essence of God. John tells us Jesus is God’s Word. He then concludes this opening passage by telling us that Jesus is God and that Jesus has revealed God to us. WOW! John has us jumping into the deep end of the pool. Interestingly, someone characterized John’s Gospel as safe enough to be a ‘kiddie pool’ yet deep enough for an elephant to swim.
The crowning achievement of the creation story in Genesis is God’s creation of humankind. As John opens his Gospel, he tells us God’s crowning achievement continues to be His care and love for people. John writes that when we believe in Jesus and accept Jesus we are given the right to become children of God. We are reborn with a birth that comes from God.
“From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.” Grace upon Grace. Yes and Amen.
What word or phrase in these verses
attracts your attention?
Reflect on that word or phrase.
What insights come to you?
How does this passage touch your life today?
2-Mar-12 John 1:19-28
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