JOHN 1
JESUS IS THE WORD BECOME FLESH, BOTH FULLY GOD + FULLY MAN
While the other accounts of Jesus begin with Abraham, David, or Mary, John starts with the beginning of creation, knowing Jesus is eternally present with God the Father. John explains that Jesus has been with God from the beginning and that all things were made through Him. Genesis 1:27 says that man was made in the image of God and uses the plural, saying “our image,” also pointing to the presence of Jesus at creation. John describes Him as light and life.
John tells of the coming of another man named John, commonly referred to as John the Baptist. His title, John the Baptist, comes from his role as the baptizer of people who expressed faith in God’s coming Messiah.
John the Baptist is not the savior, but will point people towards Jesus, who is the Savior! Jesus will be rejected by His own people, but anyone who believes that He is the Son of God will become one of God’s people. Because God promised to send a Savior, John calls Jesus the Word of God become flesh.
John the Baptist is questioned by the priests and the Levites who are unsure of his identity. John the Baptist states that he is not the savior, but that he is the forerunner preparing the way for the Messiah. Quoting Isaiah 40:3, John the Baptist says that he is making straight the way of the Lord. Before ever knowing Jesus, John the Baptist shows reverence by describing himself as unworthy to even untie the sandals of Jesus.
When Jesus appears before John the Baptist, John calls out saying “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John the Baptist knows that Jesus will give His life to save humanity and uses the lamb as a reference to God’s salvation of the firstborn sons during Passover (Exodus 12). John the Baptist sees God’s Spirit descend from heaven like a dove and knows instantly that Jesus is the Son of God.
After John the Baptist called Jesus the Lamb of God, two men started to follow Jesus as His disciples. These two men see Him as a teacher and call Him Rabbi. Andrew, one of the first disciples, brought his brother Simon to Jesus. When he arrives before Jesus, Jesus changes his name to Peter. Throughout the Gospels, he is commonly referred to as Simon Peter. Next, Phillip and Nathanael become followers of Jesus. Nathanael is skeptical at first, not thinking that anything good could come from Nazareth, where Jesus was raised. Nathanael recognizes that Jesus is the Son of God because He knows the intimate details of his conversation with Phillip. Jesus promises Nathanael he will see much greater miracles following Him!
Throughout the chapter, Jesus is referred to by seven different names (Lamb of God, Son of God, Son of Man, Rabbi, Messiah, King of Israel, and Jesus of Nazareth) highlighting how He is both fully human and fully divine.
