John 4:43-54 Faith to Believe

43 After the two days he departed for Galilee 44 (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) 45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast.

46 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”

49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. 51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. 54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.

John 4:43-54

Following Jesus’ two-day ministry in Samaria, He went on to Galilee. He wasn’t honored in Nazareth, but the Galileans welcomed Him because they had seen everything He had done in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration.

As He traveled through Galilee, He came to Cana where He had turned water into wine. There was a government official in nearby Capernaum whose son was very sick. This implies that the official worked for Herod and was either in the bloodline or held an office in Herod’s government. Herod was not a Jew, so we believe the official was not either. When He heard Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son, who was about to die.

Jesus asked the crowd around Him if they would believe only if they could see Him perform miracles. A faith built on signs and wonders is not a complete faith. Faith in Jesus alone is absolutely necessary.

The official pleaded with Jesus to heal his son, and Jesus told him it would be done. The man believed what Jesus said and started home. Did the father really believe? Notice in verse 52 he did not even go home until the following day. Now that is faith! If we compare this to the Centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:5-13), it is interesting how Jesus answered these two Gentile officials’ requests from a distance. They apparently believed Jesus much easier than the Jews did because they had no preconceived notions of Jesus.

Twice in this chapter we read about the testimony of a believer – the Samaritan woman and the Gentile official – bringing others to Jesus. Both of these signs demonstrated that Jesus was the promised Messiah and Son of God.

*When you have testified of what Jesus has done for you, what happened?

John 4:21-42. Worshipping God in Spirit and Truth

21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

27 Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” 28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” 30 They went out of the town and were coming to him.

31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. 36 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”

39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

John 4:21-42

Jesus used His God-appointment with this woman of Samaria to reveal an incredible secret to the world – the truth about real worship of God. In all of history to this point, worship of God had been limited to a place: an altar, a tabernacle, a special temple, a specific city, or a holy mountain. 

Jesus revealed to her how God would now be worshiped anywhere and any time. The only requirement for true worship would be the person’s heart – they must worship in spirit and in truth. Worshiping in spirit meant all their heart and soul and mind must be committed to this worship. Worshiping in truth meant the person must worship the God who is Truth – Jesus (John 14:6).

*When you worship God, how are you worshiping Him in spirit and in truth?

John 4:1-20. - A God-Appointment

1 Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), 3 he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. 4 And he had to pass through Samaria.

5 So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar (Shechem), near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.)

9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.”

13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.”

John 4:1-20

*As you look back over your life so far, can you see a God-appointment? What did you learn from this encounter with Him?

Jesus, being God, had a very special appointment with a woman most people of the Jewish nation would never have talked to. Not only did self-respecting Jews not speak with her, even her own neighbors probably ridiculed and hated her – the only reason a woman would come to draw water in the middle of the day when it was so hot. Jesus knew where and when He needed to be there to meet her and give her the good news of sin forgiven and new life of hope begun.

*When God meets you with one of His divine appointments, you will find He knows you, just as He knew this woman. Will you be willing to hear what He has to say to you?

John 3:22-36 He Must Increase and I Must Decrease

 

22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for John had not yet been put in prison).

25 Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.

28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”

31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

John 3:22-26

After Nicodemus’ visit Jesus returned to the countryside and preached and held services of baptism. John was also baptizing, although in a different area from where Jesus was baptizing. John’s disciples then got into a discussion with a Jew about which baptism – John’s or Jesus’ – was the one he should receive. John’s disciples then came to him and complained that all were going to Jesus. John then tells them calmly yet firmly that he is just a servant of God and is only performing the ministry God has given him: “My job was to prepare the way for the Christ and I have done that. I have told you that I am not the Christ.”

In Jesus’ growing influence, John found his own joy fulfilled. He illustrated this for his disciples by referring to a custom at Near Eastern weddings. The friend of the bridegroom was only an assistant, not the main participant in the marriage. The assistant acted on behalf of the bridegroom and made the preliminary arrangements for the ceremony. His joy came when he heard the bridegroom coming for his bride. John the Baptist’s work was to prepare for the arrival of Christ, the “Groom.” John baptized only with water, not with the Spirit. Therefore Jesus must become greater and John must become less. This was not merely advisable, it was the divine order. John willingly and with joy accepted Jesus’ growing popularity as God’s plan. From verse 31 through the remainder of the chapter we return to the testimony of John the Apostle who builds on the preeminence of Christ as his theme. Those from heaven can speak of heaven. Those from earth speak of earth.

*How do you know if something you have heard is from God or not from Him? 

John 3:14-21 - Jesus Came to Save Us!

 

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

John 3:14-21

As we read in the previous lesson, Jesus came to give us new life by His Spirit. But the only way such new life was possible was for there first to be a death. Sin, the thing that had separated mankind from God, had to die. Jesus would use the picture of a grain of wheat dying before it could produce more life later (John 12:24). Here He used the picture of the serpent on a pole from Israel’s time in the wilderness (read the story in Numbers 21) – a prophecy of the crucifixion and death of Christ which, for those who believed and obeyed, became life for those without hope.

As a result of His crucifixion and shed blood, the perfect sacrifice for sin would become available to all who believed. All those who believe in Him are not judged, but those who do not believe are already judged. Those who will not believe have condemned themselves simply by failing to believe God.

The truth is, unbelievers hate the thought of being held accountable for their actions. So they hate the light because it exposes their evil deeds. But those who do believe the truth are not afraid of the light because the light will show their deeds to have their source from God.

Jesus demonstrated His divinity (He is God) to Nicodemus by drawing all the Old Testament together for this master-teacher of Israel – together into one.

*Make these verses a permanent part of your life - memorize the 8 verses at the beginning of this lesson.

John 3:1-14 Born of Water and Spirit

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 

5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

John 3:1-14

Nicodemus came to see Jesus. Nicodemus was a member of the ruling body and one of the richest men in Jerusalem. Nicodemus told Jesus he and others believed Jesus was a teacher sent from God. Jesus answered with perhaps the most famous declaration of all time. Unless a person is born from above they will not be able to see the Kingdom of God. This puzzled Nicodemus. He rightly thought it was not as literal as reemerging from the womb. Jesus said rebirth must be by both water and the Spirit. It is difficult to claim baptism is necessary for salvation because many passages of Scripture discuss salvation by faith alone (for example Ephesians 2:8-9). The context was John the Baptist’s baptism of repentance. Jesus said if you repent, you can be reborn by the Holy Spirit. Jesus then states what is born by the flesh is flesh but what is born by the Spirit is spirit. So it is no wonder you must be reborn by the Spirit since you are a fleshly person now.

Jesus used wind as an example of the Holy Spirit. We sense the wind’s presence but cannot know where it comes from or where it goes; so is everyone born of the Spirit – the birth can’t be seen. We detect the change in our lives but the Holy Spirit is sovereign and man cannot control Him. Nicodemus was stunned by these revelations and asked how they could be. Jesus called Nicodemus the master teacher of Israel. Jesus expected him to understand these things because HE KNEW the Scriptures described the new birth (Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26).

God had been preparing the world for thousands of years to understand what Jesus was coming to do.

(Continued in the next lesson.)

*Dig deeper: What do you find in the following Scriptures to explain Jesus’ words?

Numbers 21

Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26

John 2:13-25 - Jesus Cleanses the Temple

13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.”

17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” 18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

John 2:13-25

All able-bodied adult male Jews were required to go to Jerusalem each year for Passover (Deuteronomy 16:6). This was Jesus’ first Passover after beginning His ministry. When Jesus got to the temple He found the common area filled with merchants and money changers. While this was a convenience for travelers from out of town, the selling of animals for sacrifice and changing of Roman coins for Jewish temple coins disrupted proper temple worship. It was also done in the Court of the Gentiles - the only place non-Jewish people could come and worship and pray to God. This caused righteous anger to rise up in Jesus...they were cheating people out of their money and preventing others from encountering His Father in His Father's house. 

So Jesus made a whip and chased out the animals and animal sellers and overthrew the tables of the money changers. He then approached the dove sellers and ordered them to take away their doves so that His Father’s house would not be a place of business and chaos.

Many think of Jesus as meek and mild – and He can be. But here He gives us a vision of the wrath of the Lamb (Revelation 6:16). His disciples were puzzled until they recalled Psalm 69:9 which says, “Zeal for Your house will consume Me.” 

The Jews challenged His authority to do these things, but He replied only with a prophecy of His death and resurrection. Jesus’ words about the destruction of the temple were about His body. Later, after He was raised from the dead, Jesus’ disciples remembered this prophecy and they believed the Scripture and the word Jesus had spoken here. 

During the Passover, Jesus performed many signs. John chose not to detail them in his gospel but they were probably healings. Many believed on His name when they saw the signs. Jesus, however, did not trust Himself to them for He knew what was in their hearts. He needed nobody to testify what was in man for He knew all men.

*Dig deeper: How do the following verses explain what happened in this chapter:

Isaiah 64:6

John 6:66

Romans 3:23

Hebrews 4:12

John 2:1-12 - Water to Wine

1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman (dear Madam), what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it.

9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 

11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. 12 After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.

John 2:1-12

In chapter 2, Jesus demonstrates His God-authority over our basic human needs.

Wedding feasts typically lasted 7 days, and the entire town would be invited in a place as small as Cana. Mary, Jesus and His disciples were all at the wedding. Since Nathanael was from Cana, this may be why they were invited. Apparently Mary had some position of authority at the feast. Mary told Jesus there was a problem because the wine had run out. Culturally, this would have been an error which would haunt the wedding couple their entire lives. Jesus addresses His mother as “Woman” here. This is a term of respect in the culture (John 19:26). Jesus’ reference to the “hour” here refers to the first hour when He told the real reason for which He came (John 12:23). Mary’s response to the servants (“Do whatever He tells you”) revealed her submission to her Son. Even though she did not fully understand, she trusted Him. The water pots would each hold enough for about 2,000 glasses of wine.

Jesus told the servants to fill the pots with water and they did. At some point after the pots were filled, Jesus made the water into wine. No hand-waving or magic chants were used. The water simply became wine. Jesus then told the servants to draw some and take it to their headwaiter. The headwaiter did not know where the wine came from but the servants did. The headwaiter was surprised because it was the custom to serve the best wine first and then the poorer wine. But the best wine had been reserved for the end of the feast. Jesus always gives us His best. This was His first miracle. One of the purposes for this sign was so His new disciples would believe in Him. He showed them some of His glory and they responded with belief.

*Over what circumstance in your life has Jesus shown you He is in control?

John 1:35-51 - Calling His Disciples

35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.

40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). 

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 

47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “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 answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

John 1:34-51

Jesus now chose the men whom He would teach for the next 3 years, teach about Himself and the kingdom of God. Two of them were John’s disciples. As soon as they heard Jesus speak, they followed Jesus instead of John. One of the two was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. Andrew told his brother they had found the Messiah. When Andrew brought Simon to Jesus, Jesus immediately changed his name to Cephas, or Peter in the Greek. Peter means a rock. Jesus immediately knew Peter’s character and gave him a new name which represented his potential. Jesus knew Peter would be a rock-like man in the early church. On the following day, Jesus called Philip to Himself while in Galilee.

Philip invites Nathanael to come and meet Jesus. Philip described Jesus as the Messiah from the prophecies and as the son of Joseph from Nazareth. Jesus, having God’s knowledge, called Nathanael a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false (deceitful). This surprised Nathanael because Jesus had never met him and so He should not know such things. But Jesus said this is just the beginning. They would see the heavens opened and the angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man. Now Jesus would be the divine link between heaven and earth.

*Whom have you brought to Jesus?

John 1:24-34 - Who is Jesus?

24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

John 1:24-34

Those who asked John the Baptist who he was were sent by the Pharisees, religious leaders of the day. Since John was neither Messiah nor the prophet like Moses nor Elijah and so had no official title, they asked him why he was baptizing. John stated he did not profess to speak with ultimate authority. He was preaching repentance (Luke 3:3) and was calling for baptism as a confession of repentance in expectation of the greater person who was yet to appear. This One coming after John was so important he was not even worthy to undo the strap of His sandal.

When John saw Jesus the next day, he told his followers Jesus was the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world. Lamb of God was a reference to the Jewish requirements for forgiveness of sin. Only the blood of the spotless Lamb of God could take away sin completely and permanently (Hebrews 9:14, 9:22, 10:4). John knew the destiny of Jesus right from the beginning. John then said even though Jesus was younger, Jesus had a higher rank because He existed before John. This verse not only emphasizes Jesus’ eternal nature as God, it denies that humans existed in any form prior to their conception in the womb.

John came to Israel baptizing so he might recognize Jesus and be able to show Israel their Savior. He knew Him now because when he baptized Him, the Holy Spirit came upon Him in the form of a dove. God the Father had told John the One on whom the Holy Spirit came in the form of a dove and stayed with would be the One who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. He had seen this happen and he now testified Jesus was the Son of God.

 *How do you know Jesus is God?

John 1:15-23 - Who Was John the Baptist?

15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

John 1:15-23

The scene in John 1 shifts as we focus on the ministry of John the Baptist. John begins by telling the people that Jesus, who was born after John, had a far higher rank than John because He existed before John. This seeming contradiction is resolved when we realize Jesus existed even before the beginning (John 1:2). Because of the fullness of His grace, grace upon grace comes to Christians like waves continuing to come to the seashore. The greatness of the Old Testament was the giving of the Law by Moses. The glory of the Church is the revelation of God’s grace and truth by Jesus Christ. No one has seen God’s essence or true being at any time. His true being is revealed by Jesus Christ.

The ministry of John was so significant the authorities in Jerusalem decided to investigate him. John the apostle records what John says when the Jews asked him, “Who are you?” There were three people the Jews were expecting to come: Christ, a prophet like Moses, and Elijah. They were relying on Amos 3:7 where God promises to give His prophets and thus His people advance notice of His plans. John the Baptist had an Elijah-like ministry. He appeared on the scene suddenly and even dressed like Elijah. He wanted to turn people back to God as Elijah did in his day.

John told them he was not the Christ. In Daniel 9:25-26 God had given a specific prophecy of WHEN the Messiah would come. The timing for John’s ministry was the right time, so they could not understand why he refused to say he was the Messiah. John, however, remained true to his part in this great event – he was not Messiah, but he pointed them to the true Messiah – Jesus.

*Go deeper: Read the following verses and focus on the prophecies John fulfilled (from these scriptures) or what people thought he was fulfilling:

Deuteronomy 18:15-18  

Isaiah 40:3  

 Malachi 4:5-6  

John 1:1-14 - The Word

 

Lesson 1: John 1:1-14 - The Word

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through 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 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.
8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.
11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
13 who 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 became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The entire book of John will show us the truth of who Jesus really is. John 1:1 is perhaps both the greatest declaration and the greatest mystery in the Bible. From these first words in verse 1 we learn Jesus the man was at the same time God. A comparison with verse 14 tells us how this union of God and man came to be. It is a vital part of our salvation to accept the truth of Jesus being God, since only the blood of God could pay the price to redeem us from our sin.

As Creator-God, He is Life itself. He breathed the breath of life into Adam (Genesis 2:7). He is also our Light. This is the Light which shows us both our sin and our way (Psalm 119:105). But mankind is in darkness and cannot understand the Light God sent to us. So God sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for the Lord Jesus. His task was to be a witness to the Light so that all might believe in Him. He was to show others the Light but he himself was not the Light. Even though Jesus, the Creator and true Light, was in the world, the world did not recognize Him.

As Creator, all people were His, yet they refused to receive Him. They loved the darkness instead (John 3:19). But those who received Him were given the power and authority to become God’s children. These children are born from above by God the Father. God the Word lowered Himself to become a man. A babe in a poor family. Incredible, unbelievable, impossible yet gloriously true. We saw His glory.

The most amazing gift in the Bible is the grace of God made possible by the blood of Jesus Christ the God-man. We are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). Without the grace of God, we are completely helpless in our sin. Someone defined grace as “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.” Christ paid the way for us to become the children of God. Praise His name!

*Who do you say Jesus is?