John chapter 1

The Eternal Son of God becomes a man named Jesus. John the Baptist says Jesus is the Lamb of God, the Messiah. Jesus calls his first four disciples.

 


 

 

THE WORD BECAME FLESH

 

VERSE 1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Gospel According to John and from the entire Bible.

In the beginning was the Word. Unlike us, “the Word” existed at the very beginning of all things. The existence of “the Word” did not commence at some later date. “The Word” was not a created being.

the Word was with God. “The Word” was with God. What does that mean?

the Word was God. The Bible refers to Jesus Christ as Savior and GOD. Read more »

 

VERSE 2. The same was in the beginning with God.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Gospel According to John and from the entire Bible.

 

VERSE 3. All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made.

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All things were made through him. The New Testament says the eternal Son of God created the universe. Read more »

 

VERSE 4. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Gospel According to John and from the entire Bible.

 

VERSE 5. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it.

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The light shines in the darkness. The divine light shines into the darkness of our lives and world. We often overlook it or misunderstand it, ignore it or hate it. But it is never extinguished. Read more »

the darkness hasn’t overcome it. “The Word” has never been overcome.

The word translated “overcome” (κατέλαβεν) can also be translated “comprehended.” It refers to getting a grip on an enemy to defeat him.

 

VERSE 6. There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.

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whose name was John. This is John the Baptist.

 

VERSE 7. The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him.

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VERSE 8. He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light.

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VERSE 9. The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.

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VERSE 10. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him.

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VERSE 11. He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him.

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VERSE 12. But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name:

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But as many as received him. Have you received “the Word?” Is “the Word a part of your life?” If so, what does that do for you?

he gave the right to become God’s children. If we receive “The Word,” we are made God’s children. So how do we receive “the Word?”

to those who believe in his name. We receive “The Word” be believing in in his name.

 

VERSE 13. who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Gospel According to John and from the entire Bible.

born … of God. Believing in Lord Jesus Christ gives us a new birth. We are born a second time. We are born again. Read more »

 

VERSE 14. The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Gospel According to John and from the entire Bible.

The Word became flesh, and lived among us. The Word of God leapt down from the realm of eternity. He became human and pitched his tent among us. He lived among us here on the earth. Read more »

 

JOHN THE BAPTIST TESTIFIES (PART 1)

 

VERSE 15. John testified about him. He cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’ ”

 

VERSE 16. From his fullness we all received grace upon grace.

 

VERSE 17. For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ. If it were not clear by now, John tells us who “the Word” is. It is Jesus Christ!

 

VERSE 18. No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.

NIV translation. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

Jacob saw the LORD God face-to-face. But after that, nobody was permitted to see the face of God. Not even Moses. No one was permitted to see him and live. Read more »

 

JOHN THE BAPTIST TESTIFIES (PART 2)

 

VERSE 19. This is John’s testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

 

VERSE 20. He declared, and didn’t deny, but he declared, “I am not the Christ.”

 

VERSE 21. They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.”

 

VERSE 22. They said therefore to him, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

 

VERSE 23. He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

The prophets foresaw the arrival of a messenger who would prepare the way for the Messiah. Read more »

 

VERSE 24. The ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees.

 

VERSE 25. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”

 

VERSE 26. John answered them, “I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don’t know.

 

VERSE 27. He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to loosen.”

 

VERSE 28. These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

 

BEHOLD, THE LAMB OF GOD

 

VERSE 29. The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Behold. The Greek word is ἰδοὺ. It means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.

the Lamb of God. John the Baptist tells us one of the titles for Jesus Christ. He is the Lamb of God.

who takes away the sin of the world! In ancient days, a lamb would be slaughtered in the temple for the forgiveness of an individual’s sins. This new Lamb of God would be slaughtered in the temple of calvary for the forgiveness of all our sins.

 

VERSE 30. This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.’

 

VERSE 31. I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel.”

 

VERSE 32. John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him.

 

VERSE 33. I didn’t recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water, he said to me, ‘On whomever you will see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’

 

VERSE 34. I have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

 

JESUS CALLS SIMON AND ANDREW

 

VERSE 35. Again, the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples,

 

VERSE 36. and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

 

VERSE 37. The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

 

VERSE 38. Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), “where are you staying?”

 

VERSE 39. He said to them, “Come, and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about the tenth hour.

the tenth hour. That is, 4 p.m.

 

VERSE 40. One of the two who heard John, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

 

VERSE 41. He first found his own brother, Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which is, being interpreted, Christ).

He first found his own brother, Simon. Andrew told his brother Simon Peter about Jesus Christ. Andrew became the first evangelist!

We have found the Messiah! The Hebrew word “Messiah” and the Greek word “Christ” both mean “Anointed One.”

Many Christians are hesitant to tell other people about Jesus Christ. Part of their hesitancy is that they fear they do not know enough to be able to describe the message in detail. However, we see here that the Good News can be very simple.

which is, being interpreted, Christ. In English, the given name of the Messiah is Jesus. The word “Christ” is not his family name. Rather, it is a title. It is the English translation of “Messiah.”

 

VERSE 42. He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is by interpretation, Peter).

He brought him to Jesus. This is our spiritual ministry. We bring people to Jesus!

Cephas. This is an Aramaic word.

 

JESUS CALLS PHILIP AND NATHANAEL

 

VERSE 43. On the next day, he was determined to go out into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”

 

VERSE 44. Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter.

 

VERSE 45. Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, wrote: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

Philip found Nathanael, and said to him. After his wonderful discovery of Jesus Christ, Philip went and told Nathanael. This is a natural human reponse to a wonderful discovery.

 

VERSE 46. Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

 

VERSE 47. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”

 

VERSE 48. Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

 

VERSE 49. Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!”

 

VERSE 50. Jesus answered him, “Because I told you, ‘I saw you underneath the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these!”

 

VERSE 51. He said to him, “Most certainly, I tell you all, hereafter you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

The Lord Jesus Christ is the stairway between heaven and earth.

 


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JOHN

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21

RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Commands, Spirituality

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.