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There is a threefold theme in chapter 1 which runs throughout the book of John.
(1) Jesus is the unique Son of God. (2) He is rejected by the unbelieving majority,
and (3) accepted by the believing minority. John the Baptist accurately saw Jesus
not only as the Lamb of God, but as Savior of the world. John deliberately opens his Gospel with the words "In the beginning..." and introduces Christ with "was the Word." Moses, the author of Genesis, used "In the beginning God..." to start the first book of the Bible. With this phrase Moses leads us forward into time and creation, while John goes backward to before creation into the far reaches of eternity. This opening shows us that Jesus Christ is united with God in eternity and in creation. "Word" in verse 1 is the term which John uses to designate Jesus Christ (See John 1:14). "Word" (Greek "logos") had a very technical meaning in that day. It was used in Greek philosophy to indicate the "first cause" of creation. "First cause" is the essential difference in world views of creation today. Are we created by random chance and over-lapping accidents as evolutionists would have us believe? Or are we created by God, through His plan and for His purpose? Evolution has become the choice of modern day thought and is assumed to be based on clear scientific thinking. However, the theory of evolution has no "first cause." Therefore, the theory of evolution is also based on the principle of faith. Faith, that is, in the ability of nothing to create and sustain life as we know it. In this study of the book of John, the Christian world view is clearly stated throughout these chapters. John wrote this Gospel for one purpose, as stated in John 20:31, "...that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah), the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name." John the Baptist was the son of a priest and counted as one himself. John, the apostle and author of this book, was a disciple of John the Baptist. Notice that when the Pharisees, priests, and Levities come to question John the Baptist they never ask to see Jesus (John 1:19-24). Note also that John considered himself, "As a voice calling in the desert" (John 1:23). Do you ever see yourself as a voice willing to speak the truth of Jesus? Chapter 1 contains the first few days of Jesus' public ministry. The first two men were called to Jesus with the words, "Come and you will see" (John 1:40-45). This is the beginning of Jesus' earthly ministry with His disciples. |