The gospel of John begins far differently from the other three synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Perhaps it is because in John's day the issues were different or perhaps he is writing to specific group. We do know that he was writing for a specific reason because he tells us what it is. In John 20:31 John tells us the reason by saying, "but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name." Therefore, at the very beginning of his gospel John wants to make it clear to the reader who Jesus is.
The first verse of John 1 is
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
Much has been made about why John wrote or described Jesus in this way. The word that is used here is the Word or logos to describe Jesus and it says that Jesus was in the beginning both with God and was God. It does not describe his beginning, but rather says that he is the beginning. The Bible doesn't describe the beginning of the existence of God, but simply states that he existed in the beginning. In other words, he is both the maker of all things and yet was never created himself being God. By calling his the Word he is indicating that Jesus is the one who is both the creator and sustainer of the universe and the author of us all. If this sounds strange, remember that in John 17:5 Jesus spoke of the glory that he had with the Father before the world began. He also affirmed that Abraham by faith saw Jesus day was glad for it (John 8:56).
It may help to define what the beginning means. The beginning is the word arche which means the origin, the person or thing that commences, the first person or thing in a series, the active cause. In the case of Jesus, he is the active cause or beginning of the rest of creation. That is why he could stand up and speak to the sea and the waves and the wind and silence them with a word because he made them. (see Luke 8:24).
Then in verse 2-3 it says
2 "He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."
This is mentioned also in the Old Testament. In Psalm 33:6 it says that the heavens and its hosts were made by the Word of God. One of the implications of these verses is that man was not simply made for his or her own purposes. That Jesus made us and is author of us all means that we are accountable to him with the life that we live. How many people live today as though they are not accountable to anyone besides themselves. That it is said twice in verse 3 indicates its importance to realize that literally "nothing" was created without him.
Then John speaks of light and life in verses 4-5
"4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
Jesus refers to himself as the light of the world in several places in scripture John 8:12 and 9:5. He also refers to himself as the life John 5:26 and 11:25.
You and I do not have life in ourselves. We are dependent on the Lord to sustain us. Jesus had life in himself. I have heard it said that if Jesus did not specifically say Lazarus' name before he raised him from the grave that many of the other graves around Lazarus tomb would have had deceased loved ones come out of them also. Jesus had the authority to call into life what was dead and had authority to overcome death
This means that Jesus is the giver of life and is also the light meaning that he reveals truth. The light also speaks of how he overcomes darkness or evil. John ends the beginning of his gospel prelude by saying that the darkness did not comprehend the light. The transliterated word for comprehend it is katalambano which means to seize upon, take possession of, to detect, cath, to understand, perceive. Evil both does not take possession of the light nor is it able to understand or perceive it. Nor is mankind without the light which is through Jesus Christ.
The first verse of John 1 is
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
Much has been made about why John wrote or described Jesus in this way. The word that is used here is the Word or logos to describe Jesus and it says that Jesus was in the beginning both with God and was God. It does not describe his beginning, but rather says that he is the beginning. The Bible doesn't describe the beginning of the existence of God, but simply states that he existed in the beginning. In other words, he is both the maker of all things and yet was never created himself being God. By calling his the Word he is indicating that Jesus is the one who is both the creator and sustainer of the universe and the author of us all. If this sounds strange, remember that in John 17:5 Jesus spoke of the glory that he had with the Father before the world began. He also affirmed that Abraham by faith saw Jesus day was glad for it (John 8:56).
It may help to define what the beginning means. The beginning is the word arche which means the origin, the person or thing that commences, the first person or thing in a series, the active cause. In the case of Jesus, he is the active cause or beginning of the rest of creation. That is why he could stand up and speak to the sea and the waves and the wind and silence them with a word because he made them. (see Luke 8:24).
Then in verse 2-3 it says
2 "He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."
This is mentioned also in the Old Testament. In Psalm 33:6 it says that the heavens and its hosts were made by the Word of God. One of the implications of these verses is that man was not simply made for his or her own purposes. That Jesus made us and is author of us all means that we are accountable to him with the life that we live. How many people live today as though they are not accountable to anyone besides themselves. That it is said twice in verse 3 indicates its importance to realize that literally "nothing" was created without him.
Then John speaks of light and life in verses 4-5
"4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
Jesus refers to himself as the light of the world in several places in scripture John 8:12 and 9:5. He also refers to himself as the life John 5:26 and 11:25.
You and I do not have life in ourselves. We are dependent on the Lord to sustain us. Jesus had life in himself. I have heard it said that if Jesus did not specifically say Lazarus' name before he raised him from the grave that many of the other graves around Lazarus tomb would have had deceased loved ones come out of them also. Jesus had the authority to call into life what was dead and had authority to overcome death
This means that Jesus is the giver of life and is also the light meaning that he reveals truth. The light also speaks of how he overcomes darkness or evil. John ends the beginning of his gospel prelude by saying that the darkness did not comprehend the light. The transliterated word for comprehend it is katalambano which means to seize upon, take possession of, to detect, cath, to understand, perceive. Evil both does not take possession of the light nor is it able to understand or perceive it. Nor is mankind without the light which is through Jesus Christ.
