Journey Through The Bible
     Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 40-43
     New Testament Reading: John 1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it (John 1: 1-4).

Our 52-week journey through the New Testament turns to the writings of the Apostle John. The combined writings of John begin in Eternity Past (John 1) and end in Eternity Future (Revelations 22). Known as the Apostle of Love, John was one of the three disciples that formed Jesus’ inner circle and described as the ‘Disciple that Jesus Loved’.

John mentions none of the parables of Jesus. While Matthew, Mark, and Luke describe events in the life of Christ, John’s focus is to emphasize the meaning of the events. John tells us the why behind the what of the other three Gospels. The major theme that runs through John’s gospel account is that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name (John 20:31).

Matthew and Luke begin with the start of Jesus on earth, His birth in Bethlehem. Mark begins with the start of Jesus’s ministry, His baptism by John the Baptizer. The Apostle John begins with Jesus’ presence before time began.

John begins his Gospel with the same three words as the book of Genesis. John is writing to show that Jesus existed in the beginning, not because He had a beginning as a man, but because He is eternal. Jesus Christ is the eternal Word. Words communicate, and that is precisely what Jesus did. This Word, John reveals to us, was with God face-to-face in eternity’s past. Yet in some mysterious way, this Word was not only with God, but was God. Jesus was not simply the revealer of God, but God Himself revealed!

Not only was Christ Himself not created, but He created all things. God the Father was the architect, but Jesus was the primary agent of creation. The Apostle Paul said of Jesus, For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and by him all things hold together (Colossians 1:16-17).

Behind Christ’s creative involvement was one crucial and dynamic element—Life! Light and Life are key themes in John’s writings. Jesus is the Light of the World and gives Life to all creations and eternal life to those who follow Him.

John carefully presents his evidence and shows that this Jesus of Nazareth, this carpenter’s son, could be none other than the Son of God.

• because He is eternal (v1-2)
• because He is the Creator (v3)
• because He is the source of Life (v 4-13)
• because He is God’s manifested Glory (v14-17)
• because He is the unique explanation of God (v18).