Gospel of John

Seven things we learn about John the Baptist from Luke 1:14-17 as given by the angel Gabriel

2006-06-20T21:57:00.000-05:00

1. He was a joy and delight to his father
2. Many rejoiced at his birth
3. He was great in the sight of the Lord
4. He never took wine or other fermented drink
5. That he was filled with the Holy Spirit from birth
6. He brought back many of the people of Israel to God
7. He went in the power and spirit of Elijah to make ready the people preparing them for the arrival of Jesus Christ

How Can He Come After Me and Yet Be Before Me?

2006-05-10T08:06:00.000-05:00

John Chapter One Verse 15:

John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'"

This message John preached in verse 15 seemed strange to the Jews.
You see, John was the forerunner of Jesus, going before Him to prepare His way.
Yet John states that He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.
Why would a king need a forerunner if he went before the forerunner?
How can someone come after and yet be before someone?

The first verse of this Chapter explains it all:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.

Grace Defined

2006-04-17T17:49:00.000-05:00

Have you ever tried to define the term grace? I have often heard it described as undeserved favor. Here are two good definitions from Bible dictionaries:

“A rigid definition is hardly possible, but still a single conception is actually present in almost every case where "grace" is found-the conception that all a Christian has or is, is centered exclusively in God and Christ, and depends utterly on God through Christ.”
from International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Electronic Database Copyright (c)1996 by Biblesoft

“Favor or kindness shown without regard to the worth or merit of the one who receives it and in spite of what that same person deserves.”
from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers

Blessings I Have Received

2006-04-09T14:25:00.000-05:00

Verse 16 of Chapter 1 of John says we have received blessing after blessing from Jesus Christ. What blessings have you received? Here are some of the blessings I have received:

1. Forgiveness of sin
2. Mediator to the Father
3. Holy Spirit
4. He suffered in my place
5. An example for me
6. A teacher (as recorded in Scripture)
7. My redemption
8. My advocate
9. The beauty of the world he created
10. Fair judgment

How did Jesus Christ come before John the Baptist as stated in verse 15 of John Chapter 1?

2006-04-02T13:07:00.000-05:00

John Chapter One:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.

3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe.

8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.

11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'" 16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

Ten examples of how the world did not recognize and did not receive Jesus Christ

2006-03-22T06:28:00.000-06:00

1. Did not see Him as the Messiah
2. Ridiculed Him
3. Accused Him of sinful behavior
4. Accused Him of crimes He did not commit
5. Stated He had a devil
6. Saw His good deeds as evil
7. Tried to stone Him
8. Stated He was merely John the Carpenter’s son
9. Thought He was born in Nazareth
10. Crucified Him

Truth, Acceptance and Rejection

2006-03-13T07:03:00.000-06:00

Four truths can we see in reading I John 3:1 and John 1:10-11:

If born again Christians are rejected, they are rejected because the rejecters do not know Jesus Christ
Whosoever accepts Jesus Christ will recognize fellow believers
We are sons of God just as Jesus Christ is
We are loved greatly by God, so much so that He calls us Sons

You Either Love It or Hate It

2006-02-27T10:31:00.000-06:00

Hated the light:

Men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil John 3:1

Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed John 3:20

Loves the light:

But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." John 3:21

Compare the 2 basic reactions man has to Jesus as the Light in Chapter 3 verses 19-21.

2006-02-21T21:44:00.000-06:00

John 3:19-21

19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

from New International Version

Five Truths About Light

2006-02-12T16:50:00.000-06:00

The light of men was the life in Jesus Christ
John 1:4

The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it
John 1:5

John the Baptist was a witness to the light of Jesus Christ, but not the light
John 1:7-8

Through the light all men might believe
John 1:7

True light that gives light to every man was coming into the world
John 1:9

Light and Truth

2006-02-07T08:23:00.000-06:00

Jesus is referred to as the Light. What are five truths we learn from verses 4 though 9 about the light?

John 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.

3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe.

8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. NIV

What We Know About the Author of the Gospel of John from the Other Gospels

2006-01-31T16:23:00.000-06:00

The author is John of course, "the disciple whom Jesus loved" but here are some other facts about him:

1. He was the son of Zebedee
2. He was brother of James
3. He was a successful fisherman (hired men)

Matt 4:21-22
Mark 1:19-20

4. He was an Apostle

Matt 10:2
Mark 3:16-18

5. He was present at the transfiguration of Jesus

Matt 17:1-3

6. He and his brother James were given the name Boanerges which means Sons of Thunder

Mark 3:17

7. He was Jesus’ preferred company at the following situations:
- Healing of the daughter of the synagogue ruler Jairus
- The transfiguration
- Jesus praying on the Mount of Olives

Mark 5:35-37 / Luke 8:49-51
Mark 9:2
Mark 13:3 / Luke 9:28

8. He was sent by Jesus with Peter to make preparations for the Passover meal

Luke 22:7-13

9. He wanted Jesus to let he and James sit at His right and left hand in His glory
10. He shared in Jesus cup
11. He shared in Jesus baptism

Mark 10:35-45

12. Peter was a fishing partner

Luke 5:8-10

13. He was rather hotheaded

Luke 9:51-56

Who Is Referred To In Verse 6?

2006-01-16T07:09:00.000-06:00

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.

3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe.

What Do Verses 1-4 of Chapter 1 Tell Us About Jesus Christ?

2006-01-08T21:40:00.000-06:00

Gospel of John
Chapter 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

(from New International Version)

What Do We Learn About God from Verses 1 and 2?

2006-01-01T20:24:00.000-06:00

John Chapter 1, Verses 1 through 18

2006-01-01T19:47:00.000-06:00

All Scripture quotations are from the New International Version unless otherwise noted

John Chapter 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. 6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John.

7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'" 16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

A Study of the Gospel of John

2006-01-01T18:23:00.000-06:00

This Blog will explore the Gospel of John.

It seeks to promote an understanding of God Almighty and His son Jesus Christ through a study of John's Gospel.

Each Week a question will be asked related to the current passage of Scripture being studied.

We will use the NIV version of the Bible.