The message was at the start and was connected with God and the message was God.

Jesus was with God at the start.

Everything was made by God. Nothing that has been made was made without him. Life was in God and life was the light of all people. The light shines through the darkness and darkness didn’t stop it.

A man arrived name John who was sent from God. He came to give witness about the light so everyone would trust because of what he said. He wasn’t the light but witnessed about the light.

The actual light, who lights every person, was coming to the world. He was in the world and the world was created by him but the world didn’t understand him. He came to his own people and they didn’t accept him, but many other accepted him. He gave those that trusted in his name the right to become children of God. They were not born of lineage or people’s wishes or the husband’s wishes, but of God. The word became a person and settled among us. We saw his glory; glory uniquely from the Father that is full of grace and truth.

John witnessed about him and yelled out, “This was who I was talking about. The person coming after me is greater than me because he existed first.”

We have received so much kindness from his completeness. Because the law was given through Moses while kindness and truth was given through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but Jesus, who is in the Father’s heart, reveals things.

This was John’s testimony.

The Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

John did not deny, and told them, “I’m not the Christ.”

“Then who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?”

“I’m not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”

“No,” he answered.

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

John replied, “I’m yelling in the wilderness, ‘Straighten the way for the Lord’, just like Isaiah the prophet said.”

The priests had been sent from the Pharisees, and they asked John, “Why are you baptising if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?”

“I baptise with water,” John answered. “You are standing near someone who you don’t know. There is a person coming after me. I’m not worthy to even untie his shoes.”

This all happened in Bethany, across the Jordan river, where John was baptising.

The next day, John saw Jesus coming and said, “Look, it’s the Lamb of God who takes the world’s sin! This is who I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is greater than me, because he existed first.’ I didn’t know him, but I came baptising so he could be revealed to Israel.”

John testified, “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven like a dove and remain on him.

I didn’t know him, but the one who sent me to baptise told me, ‘The one who baptises with the Holy Spirit is the one you see the Spirit descend and remain on him. I see and testify that this is God’s chosen one.”

The next day, John was standing with two disciples. John looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Look, the Lamb of God”

The two disciples heard him and followed Jesus.

Jesus turned around and saw them following. He asked, “What are you looking for?”

They replied, “Teacher, where are you staying?

Jesus said, “Come and see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and stayed with him for the day, from around 10 o’clock.

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who listened to John and followed him. He found his brother Simon and said, “We have found the Christ!”

He brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon, John’s son. You will be called Peter.”

Jesus wanted to leave the next day for Galilee. He found Phillip and said, “Follow me.”

Phillip was from Bethsaida, the same town as Andrew and Peter. Phillip found Nathaniel and said, “We’ve found the person who Moses and the prophets wrote about. It’s Jesus, Jospeh’s son, from Nazareth.”

Nathaniel replied, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

“Come, see!” Phillip said.

Jesus saw Nathanial coming and said to him, “Look, an Israelite with no hidden motives.”

Nathaniel replied, “Where do you know me from?”
“I saw you before Phillip called you under the fig tree,” Jesus said.

Nathaniel said, “Teacher, you are the God’s son! You are Israel’s king.”

“You trust me because I said I saw you under the fig tree?” Jesus replied. “You will see things greater than that. I’m honestly telling you that you will see the sky open and God’s angels going up and down to the Son of Man.”

John Chapter 1 Summary

The chapter begins by declaring that everything was made through Jesus, and in Him was life and light that darkness could not overcome. John the Baptist is introduced as a witness to this light, preparing the way for Jesus. Despite being the true light, many did not recognise or accept Jesus, but those who did were given the right to become God’s children.

John the Baptist denies being the Messiah, Elijah, or the Prophet. Instead, he says he is a voice preparing the way for the Lord. He baptises with water, but explains there is one greater who will baptise with the Holy Spirit. Jesus is later revealed by John as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. As Jesus begins His ministry, He calls His first disciples, including Andrew, Simon Peter, Philip, and Nathanael. They see Him as the Messiah and the Son of God, starting His ministry.

John Chapter 1 Bible Study Questions and Answers

1. What does it mean for Jesus to be the “Word”?
Answer: Jesus as the “Word” highlights His divine nature. Jesus is not just a historical person but the very foundation of life and light. Understanding this can deepen one’s appreciation for Jesus’ authority and presence their life.

2. How can we reflect the light of Jesus in our lives?
Answer: Reflecting the light of Jesus involves living out His teachings by showing kindness, love, and grace to others. It means being a “witness” to His truth and holding the values of God’s kingdom in our behaviours and decisions.

3. Why is it significant that John the Baptist emphasised he was not the Messiah?
Answer: John the Baptist’s humility and clear identification of his role illustrates the importance of recognising our place in God’s plan. It teaches the value of pointing others to Jesus rather than seeking personal glory.

4. How can we prepare the Lord’s way today, similar to John the Baptist’s mission?
Answer: We can prepare the Lord’s way by sharing the gospel, serving and loving others, and creating environments where others can encounter Jesus. This involves both talking about Jesus and living as a reflection of His teachings and character.

5. How can the first disciples’ immediate responses to Jesus’ call inspire us?
Answer: The first disciples’ readiness to follow Jesus demonstrates the importance of responsiveness and obedience in our faith journey. It challenges us to prioritise our relationship with Jesus and to be willing to leave behind our comfort zones to follow Him.

John Chapter 1 Explained

John Chapter 1 sets the scene, both the story and theology, for the rest of the book. It begins with a prologue that identifies Jesus as the Word who was with God and was God from the beginning. This describes his divine nature and pre-existence, indicating that all things were created through him. The imagery of Jesus as the light of men that darkness cannot overcome is a powerful illustration for his illuminating presence in a fallen world.

We are then introduced to John the Baptist, who serves as a pivotal figure in preparing the way for Jesus. John’s role is to bear witness to the light—he himself is not the light but a messenger. This distinction is crucial as it highlights the humility and purpose of John’s ministry which is pointing others to Christ. John’s baptism with water is contrasted with Jesus’ future baptism with the Holy Spirit, showing the transformative work that Jesus would accomplish.

Despite Jesus being the true light, the chapter explains that he was not recognised or accepted by many of his own people (Jews). However, those who did receive him were given the right to become children of God, showing the inclusiveness of Jesus’ mission.

John the Baptist’s testimony about Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world is central to understanding Jesus’ sacrificial role. Jesus’ mission was to pay for humanity’s sins. John’s recognition of Jesus as someone greater points to the shift from the old agreement people had with God to the new one established through Jesus.

There is then a story pivot to Jesus calling the first disciples. Jesus’ invitation to “come and see” is an open call to all. The immediate and enthusiastic responses of Andrew, Simon Peter, Philip, and Nathanael show the compelling and trustworthy presence of Jesus. Their recognition of Jesus as the saviour and God’s son sets a tone for the followers that will continue throughout the Gospel.

Nathanael’s shows some initial reluctance, hearing that Jesus was from Nazareth, but then he acknowledges Jesus as God’s son. This shows the transformative power of meeting Jesus. The chapter concludes with Jesus’ promise of revealing many great things, indicating that the journey with Jesus is one of continuous learning, discovery and faith that strengthens.

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Continue exploring John 1

If you’d like to read John 1 in other translations, here are a few BibleHub links:
For a translation that aims to be word-for-word, try John 1 in the English Standard Version.
For a translation that aims to be more thought-for-thought, try John 1 in the New International Version.
For a translation that aims to communicate the overall meaning, try John 1 in the Contemporary English Version.

If you prefer to read the Bible in a hard-copy format, here are cheaper versions from Amazon:
[These are Amazon affiliate links which support the production of this blog]
For a translation that aims to be word-for-word, ESV Economy Bible
For a translation that aims to be more thought-for-thought, NIV, Economy Bible, Paperback: Accurate. Readable. Clear.
For a translation that aims to communicate the overall meaning, Holy Bible: Contemporary English Version

If you’d like to explore John in more depth, here are two commentaries I would recommend:
[These are Amazon affiliate links which support the production of this blog]
Easy to access commentaries that include life applications:
The NIV Application Commentary: John
For a commentary that goes into more depth:
The Gospel of John (The New International Commentary on the New Testament)