The Word Became Flesh
John 1:1-18
Key Verse 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.”
Introduction
John wrote the book of John based on what he had seen from Jesus. Compared with the other three Gospels (Mat, Mar, Luk) that are mainly focused on what Jesus did and taught, John zeroed in on who JESUS IS. He had a goal to help us have personal faith (to believe) that Jesus is the Christ and have true life in Him (20:31) and to have a personal relationship with Him.
John 1:1-18 is the prologue of John’s Gospel. Here the author introduces Jesus as the Word who reveals God. Most people do not know God. They don’t know His character. Some see God as an angry God, who wants to punish His creation. Others think God is this ‘all-permissive’ God who never gets angry and who overlooks all of man’s sins. But this is not who God is. God is revealed through Jesus who is God in the flesh (Immanuel). He came from the Father full of grace and truth. He came, not just to die for sins, but to make his Father known. Through this book, may the Lord richly bless us to build up our personal faith in Jesus and know Him deeply and personally.
Division
Verses 1-3 Jesus is the eternal God and creator
Verses 4-5 Jesus is the source of life
Verses 6-9 Jesus is the true light
Verses 10-13 Jesus was either rejected or accepted
Verses 14-18 Jesus became flesh (It is the climax and focal point of Jesus’ glory!)
1. Read verses 1-2.
ANSWER:
Jn 1:1-2 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.
What do these verses teach about the Word?
ANSWER:
The Word has always existed. “In the beginning” precedes Genesis 1:1 in that it refers what existed before the creation. So, before time began, Jesus existed (Jn 17:5, 24; Col 1:17a).
The Greeks for whom John wrote this book were acquainted with this term "Word" (or "Logos" in Greek). Greek Philosophers used this term to designate the first cause which brought forth the visible universe. They also used it to designate the ordering principle and reason governing the universe. Here, John challenges their view. He points out that the “Word” is not an impersonal principle but an actual person, Jesus.
Jesus is a person distinct from God. It says, “and the Word was with God” (1). So, God the Father and God the Son (who is called the Word here) are equally God, yet distinct in their Person. The Father is not the Son, and the Son is not the Father. Yet they are equally God, with God the Spirit making one God in three distinctive (separate) Persons.
Who does "the Word" refer to (3, 14)?
ANSWER:
Jn 1:3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
Jn 1:14 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.
The term refers to Jesus.
Why does the author present Jesus as the Word?
ANSWER:
Words are the means through which we express our thoughts and feelings to others. Likewise, Jesus is “the Word” because he is the means through which God has made himself known (18).
There is a correlation between Jesus as the Word and Jesus as the Son. Children bear the likeness of their father. Similarly, as the Son, Jesus bears the exact resemblance of his Father (Heb 1:3). Furthermore, Jesus was a perfectly obedient Son, doing everything his Father showed him and everything that pleased him (Jn 5:19, 8:29, 12:49). So, as the Son, Jesus revealed his Father exactly and thereby teaches us who the Father is. In this sense, he is also “the Word”, the medium through which God reveals of himself to us.
Gnostics in the late first century were teaching that it was by their secret knowledge that one could be saved. So this book presents Jesus as the true source of saving knowledge. He is the Word whom God sent to reveal the truth by which we can be saved.
Read verse 3
ANSWER:
Jn 1:3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
How were all things made? (3, Psa 33:6, Heb 11:3, Col 3:16)
ANSWER:
Jn 1:3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
Psa 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
Heb 11:3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
God made all things “through him”. Through the Word, God created the world in Genesis. When he said, “Let there be light,” this was done through his Word.
This refutes the Gnostics who taught that Jesus was not from the creator of the material world (“Demiurge”) which they thought was evil.
Why is it important to know that Jesus is the Creator God?
ANSWER:
When we accept John’s declaration, we can have a clear foundation of our life. Jesus is co-creator! Our view of life and the world is determined by our view of who created us. Otherwise we become fatalistic, thinking that our life is nothing but an accident or a mistake. But thank Jesus who gives us a clear meaning and purpose of our life and this world (Eph 2:10).
2. Read verses 4 and 5.
ANSWER:
Jn 1:4-5 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.
Who is the author of life (Jn 14:6; 1Jn 5:11)?
ANSWER:
Jn 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
1Jn 5:11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
Jesus is the author of life and he is the origin and source of life.
The ancient Greek word translated life is zoe, which means "the life principle (real and genuine, absolute fullness)," not bios, which is mere biological life.
My life is not mine. Jesus bestowed upon me his own life as a gift. So I am the steward of his life. So I must correctly use my life, for it is His.
In what sense was “that life” the light of men? (Jn 9:5; Eph 6:12; Jn 8:12)
ANSWER:
Jn 9:5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Jn 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
To know God and his Son is life (Jn 17:3). But knowing him and all he has done is only possible by the light of understanding which we receive through his Word (1Jn 5:20).
What does the light do?
ANSWER:
The light reveals the truth of who God is and who his Son is and of all that he did for us on the cross.
The light also exposes what is false and evil. In his light, we know our sinfulness (1Jn 1:10).
Without light, we cannot see clearly. Likewise, when we have “Jesus’ life” in us, we have shining meaning and purpose in life. Without Jesus, we are like men groping in the darkness (Acts 26:18).
What was the response of the darkness? (5)
ANSWER:
Jn 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
The darkness refers to those who are ruled by sin and the lies of Satan and of this world. They cannot understand the light or the blessed life found therein (Jn 8:43; 1Co 2:14). Rather, they hate the light because it rebukes their sin (Jn 3:20).
3. Read verses 6-9.
ANSWER:
Jn 1:6-9 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.
Who was sent from God? (6)
ANSWER:
Jn 1:6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John.
John the Baptist. He was the former teacher of the author of this Gospel (Apostle John).
What was his mission (7-8; Mal 3:1a)?
ANSWER:
Jn 1:7-8 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.
Mal 3:1 "See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty.
God sent him as a witness to testify about that (true) light (Jesus). He was sent as a herald to prepare the way for Jesus. Also he prepared people’s hearts to accept and believe in Jesus (“so that through him all might believe”).
Why is Jesus called the true light? (9)
ANSWER:
This was stated to make it abundantly clear that John the Baptist was not the light. John was a kind of light (Jn 5:35) in the sense that God used him mightily to prepare the way for Jesus. He was the greatest man of God (Mat 11:11). In fact, many thought John might be the light (Luk 3:15).
4. Read verses 10-13.
ANSWER:
Jn 1:10-13 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.
How did the world and his own people (the Israelites) respond to Jesus?
ANSWER:
The people of the world and his chosen people rejected him. Jesus is the standard of man's life. Men's destiny is determined by how they see Jesus: If they see him as the Son of God, they have eternal life; if they reject him, they invite eternal condemnation upon themselves (Jn 3:19, 20).
Yet, what right does Jesus give to those who receive and believe in His Name? (12)
ANSWER:
Jn 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God --
The right to become God’s children. “Right” equals “power”.
How can we become children of God? (13)
ANSWER:
Jn 1:13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
No one can change himself. We cannot become children of God by our will power, nor human descent (i.e. Christian parents), or by human decision (our own choice) or a husband’s will (the efforts of others). Only when we believe, Jesus comes into our heart and works powerfully.
5. Read verse 14.
ANSWER:
Jn 1:14 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.
What does it mean that the Word became flesh?
ANSWER:
Jesus was conceived in his mother Mary through the Holy Spirit (Mat 1:18). He grew to be a man and lived among us.
Why is it significant that he made his dwelling among us?
ANSWER:
This is John’s most startling and revolutionary remark, the climax and focal point of his message. Jewish people think that God is too holy to become flesh and dwell among human beings. That God became flesh means that “infinity” became “finite”. “Eternity” got squeezed into “time”. God became man, the invisible became visible. The supernatural got reduced and confined to the natural. What a grace it is! We cannot become God, so the only possible way for God to dwell with us was for him to become a man. Usually a great king will separate himself from ordinary people. But Jesus who is the eternal God came down to this earth and entered into the same physical body as we have.
For 33 years Jesus Christ did tabernacle among us. The word "dwell" means to pitch his tent. This metaphor refers to the human body he dwelt in. By becoming flesh, God figuratively pitched his tent among us. He reduced Himself to become a part of our system, a part of our culture, a part of our world, a part of what we are. He was one of us. He tented with us which was really nothing new for God because God tented with Israel in the Old Testament (Exo 26:14; Num 9:15ff). He became a Tent of meeting between God and man, and Tent of testimony through which God spoke to man.
For Jesus to come and live among men, he had to sacrifice a lot. He gave up his power, glory, and honor in the kingdom of God. He also gave up his rights as God. We want to establish our own kingdom. We want to use our rights and privilege to the maximum. But he gave up all his rights and privileges in heaven and came to this world. Jesus was so humble and full of grace that even animals cried! Jesus came to this world in a human form to serve sinners. We want recognition and honor. Nobody wants shame! But Jesus bore our shame and guilt in his body and was crucified like a criminal. In this way he became a ransom sacrifice for our sins.
John refutes the Gnostic teaching that Jesus was spirit and did not take on a physical body which they considered to be evil.
What was revealed to the disciples when the Word made his dwelling among them?
ANSWER:
They saw his glory. Just as the cloud, the shekinah glory of the Lord, filled the Tabernacle (Exo 40:34) so also the glory of Jesus as God shone forth from the Tabernacle of his body. Heb 1:3a says, “The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.”
Also they stressed that Jesus came full of grace and truth. It is not easy to satisfy both grace and truth. But Jesus shows us both. We can see Jesus’ abundant grace and truth throughout the book of John (Jn 4:7, 16, 8:11). Jesus was full of grace. Notice that “grace” is first and “truth” next (see verses 14, 17, and 16). Often times we know the truth and it is easy to pinpoint sin problems and condemn others. But Jesus first shows his abundant grace to serve us and forgive us. In this way we are greatly moved by his grace and we live for him willingly.
6. Read verses 15-18.
ANSWER:
Jn 1:15-18 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.
What was John the Baptist’s testimony concerning Jesus? (15)
ANSWER:
Jn 1:15 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.'"
He testifies that Jesus was before him. Even though Jesus was born six months after John and started his ministry after John, he is the eternal Word who existed long before John.
What have we received from the fullness of his grace? (16)
ANSWER:
Jn 1:16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.
“The fullness of his grace” implies that Jesus’ grace is sufficient. Jesus’ words (gospel) are sufficient grace.
“One blessing after another” or “grace in place of grace already given” also indicates that Jesus himself is a source of blessing and we are all sufficient in him. John who used to be a man of competition and complaints found the fullness of Jesus and became an apostle of grace and love! So his books put heavy weight on Jesus’ love.
What did we receive from Moses and Jesus Christ? (17)
ANSWER:
Jn 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Moses’ Law only condemns us. It reveals the truth of our sinful condition but offers no remedy. It makes us conscious of the terribleness of our sin (Ro 3:20) and of our great need of a deliverer (Gal 3:24). But through Christ we receive grace and truth, the true remedy of sin, bringing us life and liberty.
How can we know God? (18)
ANSWER:
Jn 1:18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.
Only through Jesus. Apart from him, we cannot know God (Mat 11:27b). Only Jesus has seen God and knows God because he is with God and IS God. Therefore, only through him we know God. Jesus is the Word who came to reveal his Father.
* In conclusion, the Word is Jesus. Jesus is the eternal God. Jesus’ dwelling among us is full of grace. One day Peter confessed, “You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” (Jn 6:68b, 69). Peter used to be called, “Simon Peter” (the concatenation of his old name and new name from Jesus). This alludes to Peter’s divided heart between the world and God. But thanks to Jesus’ personal love, Simon Peter was sanctified and transformed into a servant of God. John had seen what had happened to him as he formed a complete unity with Jesus. It was the glorious evidence of Jesus, the incarnated God, that he could never forget at his old age when he wrote this book. The true meaning of our lives is to know Jesus in person, His love (grace), and love our neighbors with such love.
The end.
Mandeans today are a small Gnostic sect in Iran and Iraq who believe that John the Baptist was the Messiah. The religion originated from the Palestinian and Syrian region in or before the 1st to 2nd Century AD.
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