Gems from the Gospel of John

Week 1: Prologue John 1:1-18

THEME OF JOHN:

^ESV  John 20:31 … these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

• Christ is Son of God
• Our appropriate response is belief
• Belief yields LIFE in his name

OUTLINE OF JOHN

I. Prologue (1:1-18)

• Christ the Eternal Word 1:1-12
• Christ the Incarnate Word 1:13-18
• Prologue Summarized 1:18

II. Presentation of Christ as the Son of God (1:9-12:50)

III. Instruction to the Twelve by the Son of God (13:1-17:26)

IV. Suffering of Christ as the Son of God and Son of Man (18:1-20:31)IV

V. Epilogue: the Continuing Work of the Son of God (21:1-25)

THREE SYNOPTIC (Seeing Together) GOSPELS AND JOHN

1. Matthew: Lord Jesus is Son of David, heir to Israel’s throne, the King of the Jews
2. Mark: Christ is Servant of Jehovah, the perfect Workman of God
3. Luke: Christ the Savior is the Son of Man, the perfect Man
4. John: Christ is the Son of God made flesh

The three synoptic gospels share 1) much similar material, 2) a similar chronology, and 3) a point of view that shows Jesus’ interactions as man with men. John’s material is 90% unique, and his chronology suits his own purpose, which is to demonstrate through the witness of 1) God, 2) John the Baptist, 3) his miracles, 4) his disciples, and 5) his resurrection that he is God’s unique Son, very God of very God.

OUTLINE OF JOHN 1:1-13—CHRIST THE ETERNAL WORD (Pink, 17-18)

1. The Relation of Christ to Time – “In the beginning,” therefore, Eternal: 1:1.
2. The Relation of Christ to the Godhead – “With God,” therefore, One of the Holy Trinity: 1:1.
3. The Relation of Christ to the Holy Trinity – “God was the Word” – the Revealer: 1:1
4. The Relation of Christ to the Universe – “All things were made by him” – the Creator: 1:3.
5. The Relation of Christ to Men – Their “Light”: 1:4, 5
6. The Relation of John the Baptist to Christ – “Witness” of His Deity: 1:6-9.
7. The Reception which Christ met here: 1:10-13.
   1. “The world knew him not”: 1:10.
   2. “His own (Israel) received him not”: 1:11.
   3. A company born of God “received him”: 1:12, 13.

  OUTLINE OF JOHN 1:14-18—CHRIST, THE WORD INCARNATE (Pink, 32)

1. Christ’s Incarnation – “The word became flesh” 1:14.
2. Christ’s Earthly sojourn – “And tabernacled among us” 1:14.
3. Christ’s Unique Glory – “As of the only Begotten”
4. Christ’s Supreme excellency – “Preferred before” 1:15.
5. Christ’s Divine sufficiency – “His fulness” 1:16.
6. Christ’s Moral perfections – “Grace and truth” 1:17.
7. Christ’s Wondrous revelation – Made known “the Father” 1:18

SUMMARY OF PROLOGUE USING ONLY VERSES 1 AND 14 (Pink, 42)

1) “In the beginning was the word” 1:1

a) “And the word became flesh” tells of the beginning of his human life. 1:14

2) “And the word was with God” 1:1

b) “And tabernacled among us” shows Him with men. 1:14

3) “And the word was God” 1:1

c) “Full of grace and truth,” and this tells what God is. 1:14

** In Christ God and mankind meet. Christ is the meeting place of God and people.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LAW AND GRACE (Pink, 46)

^ESV  John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

1. Law addresses men as members of the old creation; Grace makes men members of a new creation.
2. Law manifested what was in Man – sin; Grace manifests what is in God – Love.
3. Law demanded righteousness from men; Grace brings righteousness to men.
4. Law sentences a living man to death; Grace brings a dead man to life.
5. Law speaks of what men must do for God; Grace tells of what Christ has done for men.
6. Law gives a knowledge of sin; Grace puts away sin.
7. Law brought God out to men; Grace brings men in to God.

John 1:9 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE “TRUE LIGHT” WHICH CHRIST IS (From Bishop Ryle)

1 – Undeceiving Light

2 – Real Light

3 – Underived Light

4 – Supereminent Light – Above ALL Others