Foundations 8 : Who is Jesus? John 1

1. Background:

John, the apostle tells us more of what Jesus said in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Apostle John was the disciple of Jesus who witnessed all He said and did. His version of the Gospel was the last to be written. The other Gospels focus much on what Jesus did.  

As John presents the Gospel to his readers, he wants us to know that Jesus is God that came in human flesh. A person must know and believe this to be saved.

Nearly all cults that I know of all attack this doctrine by denying that Jesus is Jehovah of the Old Testament.  

Let’s listen to God’s word and let it change us and our hearts. John tells us why he wrote this book:

But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

John 20:31

2. What Can we observe about God?

God’s Word is Jesus Christ, and He existed before God created anything.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.

Verses 1-2

No one created Jesus. In Genesis 1:1, when God created the universe, “The Word,” or Jesus Christ, was already there with God. Verse two emphasizes that Jesus already enjoyed a relationship with God from eternity.

Later, John heard Jesus praying one day, and this is what he recorded:

“And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”

John 17:5

The Word, Jesus Christ, is God.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Verse 1

An illustration might be able to help some understand the relationship with Jesus to God.  

• Jesus is God.  

• The Father is God. 

• But Jesus is not the Father.  

• The Father is not Jesus.  

Before God created the world, Jesus was with the Father eternally. But we do not speak of Jesus and the Father as two separate Gods.  

• The Father is His own separate “person.”

• Jesus is His own separate “person.”

• God is one being, not multiple gods together.

This concept would undoubtedly raise other questions. But John does answer them right away. John will answer much as his readers continue through the Gospel. But first, John would have us consider more about Jesus Christ.

Jesus Created all things.

“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

Verse 3

This verse means Jesus Christ performed all the creating acts we read in Genesis one. What did God use to create the worlds? He used His “Word.” And that must be why John is referring to Jesus as the “Word” of God.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Verse 1

Jesus is the source of all life.

“In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”

Verse 4

Jesus’ own life is not dependent on something greater than He. His own life was not created, but he created all the life we see. Jesus is life.

Jesus is Truth.

“In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. “

Verses 4-5

How do you respond to the truth? The truth Jesus brings to us is not merely facts you can read in a textbook. The truth shows the darkness in our lives. Many times what we think is good isn’t good at all. Because says we live in darkness, so sometimes we are utterly ignorant of what is right and wrong. John uses the term “light ” to refer to the truth that Jesus brings to our lives. His light shines and exposes the darkness.

• What is the purpose of life?

• What happens when we die?

• Who should decide what is right and wrong?

Jesus answers all these questions. He is the light we need to see in the darkness and see ourselves.  

• He created us.  

• He is all-powerful.  

• He is all-knowing.  

His Word is the reason why we are here. We need to know what He says. But what will most people do when they hear it? (v5) Most will reject the truth because they think it is offensive, or they will simply refuse to understand it.

People do not like to admit we have pervasive moral corruption. Most of us do not want people to know what we do in private because people would know about our sin. We would not be willing to let others know what goes on in our hearts and minds because it would be embarrassing if people found out.  

But Jesus is the light of men. To be near Him means to be exposed. So most people rejected or avoided Him. It is like turning on the light in a room full of cockroaches. Because the light is uncomfortable, they scatter and hide.

“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.”

Verse 10

Jesus came to the world and revealed our sin and corruption. People did not recognize their Creator, and even His covenant people rejected Him. Even Jesus’ disciples struggled to believe who He is and why He came. After spending three years together, Philip still did not understand who Jesus was: 

“Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?” 

john 14:8-9

But when people could no longer avoid Him, they crucified Him in an attempt to rid themselves of Him. After Jesus was crucified, many of the disciples went fishing. When some of the disciples saw Jesus’ resurrection body, Thomas doubted and would not believe:

“The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 

john 20:25

How Does this Passage Point to the Gospel?

But some do receive Him, His truth, and His salvation. Here is how you can receive Him:

“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: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Verses 12-13

The Bible doesn’t ask people if they want to go to heaven. No one goes to heaven only by wanting to go there. The Bible asks you if you’re going to receive Him, Jesus Christ.  

• Will you receive the truth in Jesus Christ?

• Will you believe He is God?

• Will you believe He created you?

• Will you believe He is the source of life?

• Will you believe He will use the truth to judge all men?

• Will you receive Him as your Lord and Savior?

If you believe on His name, He will give you the authority to become the sons and daughters of God. No one can earn that identity. Jesus has to give it to you. If you are going to be His child, it is something He must do for you. (v13).

• You cannot become a Christian because of your parents.

• You aren’t a Christian just because you say you are and everyone thinks you are.

• You can’t become a Christian because you were baptized.

Salvation is from God alone; it is born of Him, not man. 

• We are the sinners.  

• He is the Savior.  

• We believe His Word as Truth.

• We are helpless without Him.

• We believe on Him, and He saves us through His power.

• We see His power through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

• There are Christians all over the world today because that happened.

If you not a believer, then you must believe on the name of Jesus Christ. You do not need to go to seminary or understand the entire Bible to be saved. Just believe you are what He says you are, and believe He is who He says He is.