John 1:1~10
Christian Koinonia, Dr. Samuel Lee
THE WORD WAS GOD
Passage: John 1:1~5
Key verse: 4
INTRODUCTION TO THE GOSEPEL OF JOHN
(GOD'S KINGDOM FULFILLED IN JESUS' INCARNATION) Key Verse: 3:16 'For God so loved the world that he gave his one only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.' Unlike the three previous gospels (called the synoptic gospels that began with Jesus as man) John began with Jesus as the creator God, full of glory and honor, who incarnated. In John 'I am' is repeated seven times to show Jesus as God: 'I am who I am;' 'I am the bread of life;' 'I am the light of the world;' 'I am the gate for the sheep;' 'I am the good shepherd;' 'I am the resurrection and the life;' 'I am the way, the truth and the life;' 'I am the true vine.' Instead of focusing on the signs, John narrates the meaning of the signs 'that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name'(20:31) When we believe in Jesus we shall not perish but have eternal life from that moment.
THE WORD WAS GOD
Prayer: Lord, you are the Word of life and Light that created the world and gave life. Shine in my dark heart and the dark world and give new life and light to each and everybody.
One Word: Jesus, the life and light of the world!
(GOD'S KINGDOM FULFILLED IN JESUS' INCARNATION) Key Verse: 3:16 'For God so loved the world that he gave his one only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.' Unlike the three previous gospels (called the synoptic gospels that began with Jesus as man) John began with Jesus as the creator God, full of glory and honor, who incarnated. In John 'I am' is repeated seven times to show Jesus as God: 'I am who I am;' 'I am the bread of life;' 'I am the light of the world;' 'I am the gate for the sheep;' 'I am the good shepherd;' 'I am the resurrection and the life;' 'I am the way, the truth and the life;' 'I am the true vine.' Instead of focusing on the signs, John narrates the meaning of the signs 'that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name'(20:31) When we believe in Jesus we shall not perish but have eternal life from that moment.
THE WORD WAS GOD
1. In the beginning (1-3)
In the beginning there was nothing but God alone. Out of nothing God created the heavens, earth and everything by his Word. In Genesis chapter 1, the words, "God said, '....' And it was so!" is repeated for each creation. Now John describes Jesus before coming to this world as the LOGOS, the Word of God. As the word represents one's thoughts, characters, philosophies, emotions and personalities, so Jesus is the Word of God, God's expression and God himself. Without Jesus, the Word, nothing was made that has been made. Jesus is the creator God.
2. In him was life (4-5)
God breathed and the man became a living being. In the same way Jesus gives new life to fallen men, the spiritually dead, who are like cut off flowers. His word gives life. Fallen men, expelled from God the light, live in the darkness. In darkness, fear, confusion, directionlessness, despair, anxiety and all kinds of uncertainty arise. In Jesus, the Light we find direction, hope, peace and happiness. As the darkness yields to the light, so the dark world cannot overcome Jesus, the light of the world.
Prayer: Lord, you are the Word of life and Light that created the world and gave life. Shine in my dark heart and the dark world and give new life and light to each and everybody.
One Word: Jesus, the life and light of the world!
