John 1

Posted on Apr 6, 2017 in Bible (NT) in a Year |

Thursday

Turn another page and we are now at the start of the fourth gospel found in the New Testament.

There were other gospels written, they just didn’t make it into the New Testament. The other gospels we’ve just read are known as the synoptic gospels. Matthew, Mark and Luke, which all have a similar viewpoint. The word synoptic literally means “together sight.” Many of the same events in Jesus’ life are recorded in the same order. But as you will see, John’s gospel is written in a distinctly different style with different stories and events that are not found in the other gospels, like the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Also, you will not find any of the parables of Jesus, in John’s gospel. John also tells us why he wrote his gospel. In chapter 20 verse 31, “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John was one of the 12 and so his gospel is an eyewitness account of the life and ministry of Jesus.

John’s gospel begins at the beginning. He ties together not only what Jesus taught and what He did, but John also tells us about who Jesus is. That Jesus is fully man and fully God. Even though Jesus became fully human, he never stopped being God Almighty, Eternal, the Creator and Sustainer of all life. Jesus existed before the beginning of time.

If we go back to the beginning of the Bible, in Genesis; we read that God “spoke” creation into existence. The Word was with God at the beginning and in creation. John tells us that nothing was created without The Word and that He is the very light and life of man.

John tells us about John the Baptist and his role in announcing and preparing people’s hearts to receive the message of the one who will come after him. John the Baptist announces Jesus as the “Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world.” John the Baptist never put himself in the role of savior… but only to testify about the one who would be Savior.

We also read today about the calling of the first disciples. Jesus asks them, “what do you want?” When we follow Jesus we should ask ourselves this question. What does it mean to you to be a follower of Jesus? Are you willing to die to self? To live according to His plan? I think it is important for to examine our hearts and understand what it means to be a follower of Christ. The road isn’t always easy. For these twelve disciples each of them will be put to death for their belief in Jesus, all of them except for Judas who dies at his own hand and John who is exiled. What do you want as a follower of Jesus? There might be hardships, but the rewards… oh the rewards are so amazing.

Praising God

Pastor Kathy