I admit that I am not a huge fan of the Gospel of John.  As eyewitness accounts go, his is among the strangest.  Some commentators say that John’s command of Greek (the language of the New Testament) is fairly basic, his vocabulary, grammar and syntax unimpressive.  This is hardly a shock, since John was a fisherman by trade, who, along with his brother James, learned the family business from dear old dad.  John was also the youngest of the twelve apostles.  His telling of Jesus’ story ought to be as simple and as plain as John himself, right? Wrong. Take a look at how it opens:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”  (John 1:1-4)

See what I mean?  If John were intent on getting through to people, why would he write like that? Why start like that?  Why not focus on making his personal testimony about Christ accessible and understandable?  What’s the goal here?  You’d think that John, of all people, would get to the point as quickly as possible. Yet it is not until nearly the end of his gospel that John explains his purpose in writing it: “But these [things] are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (John 20:31)

So, John wanted not only to make the message clear, but to persuade others of its truth.  Okay…but that doesn’t change the fact that John was obviously not a news anchor or communications major.  He was burying the lead.  Or was he?

The Bible says about itself that all scripture is God-breathed, and that its human authors were carried along by the Holy Spirit.  So, it may be prudent to give John’s stylistic choices the benefit of the doubt.  Let’s take a run at unpacking his prologue without getting in too deep.

The words, “In the beginning” (John 1:1) are taken from the very first words in the Bible (Genesis 1:1) and link John’s gospel of Jesus Christ to the story of creation.  This deliberate linkage enables us to understand that the two epics are related and flow together into a single storyline.

The next word in Genesis 1:1 is “God”—“In the beginning God…”  By tying back to this phrase, John helps his readers identify Jesus with the Creator Himself and with the act of creating the universe.  According to Genesis, God performed this act in a unique way: through His spoken word. God spoke things into being, creating something out of nothing (“And God said, let there be…[light, etc.].”

John connects this awesome power with Jesus, whom the apostle does not immediately name, calling Him simply, “the Word” (capital “W”).  Next, John informs us that the Word was there in the beginning and that the Word was God, but was also “with God.”  Here, John makes clear that although there is but one God (not two), The Father is one person and Jesus, the Son, is another. John also tells us that, “All things were made by him” and emphasizes this by restating it as a negative: ‘nothing that was made was made without him.’

John next reveals that this second person of the Trinity has invaded human history.  If this fact were not eerie enough, the details provided are stunning:

“He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”  (John 1:10-13)

So…

• The One called the Word was in the world.
• Although He created the world, it did not recognize or acknowledge Him.
• He came to His own [possession], but His own people refused to accept Him.
• Those who receive Him are granted the right of adoption into God’s family.
• This right hinges on whether one believes on His name (as Son of God & Savior).
• Those who do so are supernaturally born again (spiritually, not physically).
• This is God’s will and work for His offspring by adoption.
• Jesus has life within Himself and can give it to those who have faith in Him.
• Jesus is the Light of the World, illuminating all who are drawn to His light.

The climax to all of this is the startling statement that follows: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”  (John 1:14)

Here at last John removes all doubt as to the identity of the Word, telling us that He became a man and as a man, lived among us.  This can only refer to Jesus, the grand subject of John’s gospel.  Jesus became incarnate (was given flesh) by the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, via the Virgin Mary.  (Luke 1:26-38)  And He was called Emmanuel, which means, “God with us.” (Matthew 1:23)

Jesus is “the only begotten of the Father” who, like His Father, is surrounded by a radiant glory.  John actually saw Christ’s glory at the transfiguration of Jesus, and again while exiled by Rome on the Isle of Patmos, in the Aegean Sea.  Full of grace and truth: as John’s gospel attests, Jesus is not just truthful, He IS the truth (John 14:6).  It is His death on the cross for our sins that enables God to pour out His grace on those who put their faith in Him.

What about you?  Are you a child of God?  Before you answer reflexively, “Of course I am, we’re all God’s children!” forget what the world thinks and the Devil’s false assurance.  Doesn’t it make more sense to pay attention to what God says, about who IS and who is NOT a member of His family?  Have you believed in Jesus and received God’s free gift of pardon?  Have you repented of your sins and confessed Jesus as Lord?  Have you been born again?

Only those who belong to the family will inherit the kingdom. God loves you so much that He sent His Son to save you and secure your share. Don’t forfeit it.  Jesus sacrificed Himself to pay your ransom with His own precious blood.  He longs to share His legacy with you, to pass His riches on to you and to all those who turn to Him.  Will you fall on your knees and surrender yourself to Christ, to worship and serve Him alone?

When Jesus returns, will you celebrate with His followers of every time and place, in inexpressible joy and excitement or will you hear Him say with heavy heart, “…I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity?” (Matthew 7:23)

SOME KEY TRUTHS:

• “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  (Romans 3:23)
• “For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  (Romans 6:23)
• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  (John 3:16)
• “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)
• “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”  (I Corinthians 15:3,4)
•  “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him…”  (Revelation 3:20)
• “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  (Romans 10:13)
• “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”  (Romans 10:9)
• “Verily, verily, I say unto you; He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life; and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”  (John 5:24)
• “These things I have written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”  (I John 5:13)

HOW TO BE SAVED:

1. Admit to God that you are a sinner (that you have not kept His moral law to perfection; in your thoughts, words and actions you have done what His law forbids and have failed to do what His love demands).  This is seeing yourself from God’s point of view and agreeing that He is right about you. Be as specific as you can.
2. Sincerely repent (turn away) from your sins, asking God to forgive you and to use His power to help you resist temptation, no matter how strong the pull of sin may be, at first.
3. Acknowledge Jesus as the Lord and Master of your life. Invite Him to move into your heart and take up residence there, so that He can change you from the inside out.
4. Believe His promise to save you and give you a new spiritual birth and a new nature (thoughts, desires, priorities, hopes, dreams and character).

HOW TO GROW IN CHRIST:

• Ask God to give you a strong and deep love for Him and for others.  
• Ask Him to make you hungry and thirsty for His word and help you understand and obey it.
• Get a Bible, and read it daily, starting with the Gospels and then, Romans and beyond.
• Ask God to lead you to a church where His word is honored and where you can study the Bible with other believers.
• Talk to God all day, every day, telling Him whatever is on your heart and mind.  And, be sure to “listen” to what God may be saying to you, as you walk and talk with Him.
• Thank and praise God all the time.
• Make Christian friends with whom you can learn together and hold each other accountable.
• Tell others what God has done for you and what He means to you, so they can come to know Him, too.  Pray that God the Father will draw them to Christ.