Book of John – Day #2

Reading: JOHN 1:1-18

Beginning the book, did you see the parallel with Genesis 1? Make sure to read Genesis 1:1-5 and see the similarities with John 1:1-5. “In the beginning…”

You’ll notice in this one section alone, the mention of “light” seven times. The Book of John mentions “light” 21 times.

Again, look at the similarities with Genesis and the mention of “light”.

Did you recognize how John says Jesus was with God in the beginning? Genesis also mentions Jesus in the beginning in the trinity. A Genesis study will explain this more, but Jesus was the “light” then; and God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness”. Recognize how John says Jesus was life. He created all things.

Jesus not only created man, but He is the source of their eternal life, “that life was the light of all mankind.”

John uses the metaphor in verse 5 to say that Jesus is the solution to the problem of darkness, which is sin. Not only does He bring life to our physical bodies, but Jesus is also the Word, the source of truth. While Jesus came to earth to save us from our sins (light in the darkness), He was also rejected – but darkness did not overcome Him.

Verses 6-14 summarize Jesus’s ministry and how he brought the light into the dark world but was rejected and his own people did not receive Him.

John the Baptist paved the way for Jesus. He was foretold in Isaiah 40 as the man who would come from the wilderness proclaiming the Messiah’s arrival.

John had disciples who followed him, of whom left to follow Jesus after he was baptized by John the Baptist and then started His ministry.

Do you see John’s overall message in these verses? Jesus created all things and then became part of the very world He Himself made, who was rejected by those He created! Consider the humility of a God who would orchestrate the circumstances by which He would suffer humiliation at the hands of the very people He spoke into existence and granted life.

In verse 12, John explains Jesus gave a way for those who believe in Him to become children of God. Believing in Jesus brings eternal life. It is by the will of God that people become believers.

Verses 14-18 explain that Jesus actually became flesh and how John the Baptist testifies to this man as being the Messiah. John the Baptist was born six months before Jesus but Jesus was there at the creation. John says that because of Jesus, we receive grace. Grace is freely given to those who believe in Him.

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NEXT READING: JOHN 1:19-28.