Series: Signs & Glory
Title: "Who is Jesus and why did he come?
Scripture: John 1:1-5
1 John 1:1-2, Colossians 1:1:15-17, Phil 1:5-11, John 17:5, 20:31
Bottom line: As God in the flesh, Jesus came to call people from death to life by faith in him.
INTRODUCTION
CONTEXT
SERMON OUTLINE
CONCLUSION
NOTES
OUTLINES
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
MAIN REFERENCES USED
My opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.
INTRODUCTION
Last week we started at the end where John tells us of his purpose in writing about Jesus. He said that he writes these things so that we might believe that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God and that by believing have life in his name. We will see this purpose unfold in his first words in his gospel account.
John was one of the 12 and the disciple/apostle who lived the longest. He was the only one who wasn't martyred for his faith. Word is he lived into his 90's and died in the 90's--the AD 90s.
John wrote to give us the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ from another angle. The other 3 synoptic gospels are each unique but share many of the same history, miracles and teachings. John will share less well-known history, miracles (he calls them "signs"), and teachings. Many see them as most profound. I share this perspective.
This series is called Signs & Glory. The first 12 chapters will show us the 7 signs of belief along with many others truths the illustrate and bring credibility to the teachings of Jesus. Chapters 13-20 will show us the glory of God on full display. We'll see the light, life and love of God through his divine AND human son, Jesus of Nazareth.
CONTEXT
John starts his gospel account with a poetic prologue. The book is broken up into 2 main parts:
1--7 sections on Jesus' public ministry followed by people's reaction to it. (Signs, John 1-12)
2--The Passover weekend which includes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Glory, John 13-20)
John loves the number 7 as it represents completeness. As a result, he structures his gospel around this number for theological purposes.
Ex. 7 signs
Ex. 7 "I am" statements
SERMON (lots of help from Carter)
Read and comment on John 1:1-5.
Then answer these questions:
Who is Jesus?
The Word. (1:1)
To tell us the way to true life.
Implying we're ignorant of the truth that sets us free from sin & death.
The Life. (1:2-4)
He came to call us from death to life.
Implying we're dead in our sins.
At physical death, our soul is separated from our body.
At spiritual death, our soul is separated from our Creator, God, forever.
It's all about life.
He created/creates life.
He sustains life.
He brings new life.
He brings abundant life.
He brings eternal life w/ God forever.
The Light. (1:4-5)
To show us the way to true life.
Implying we're blind and cannot see the truth.
The Overcomer. (1:5)
To free us from the kingdom of darkness forever.
Implying we feel believe we're defeated.
Darkness has not nor cannot overcome light.
Therefore, death has not nor cannot overcome life.
Yes, there are times when there is temporary overcoming that looks like defeat.
But in light of eternity, light and life (& love) cannot be overcome forever.
God (1:1) in the flesh (1:14).
To show and tell us the way to true life through his divine and human son, Jesus Christ. ↘️✝️🪦↗️
Implying we're dead (separated from our Creator God) forever without a Savior.
How do we receive spiritual and eternal life?
By trusting and following Jesus Christ.
Trust/belief saves.
Following shows evidence that we're truly saved.
Further fruit is that we'll show and tell others the way to true life through faith in Jesus Christ.
CONCLUSION
Bottom line: As God in the flesh, Jesus came to call people from death to life by faith in him.
So what? What about me?
There's no meaning or purpose in life apart from Jesus Christ. As the Word, he reveals the true Logos which includes reason, logic and purpose in creation. But it also includes his personal, relational interaction with his creation.
We wouldn't even exist unless Jesus created us on purpose and sustains us for a purpose.
He revealed true reality to us so that we can see and know the truth that sets us free.
He gives us hope that:
There's more to life than this life.
But, also, that this life really matters.
We can and will overcome the darkness in this world through Christ.
If Jesus is truly God, then
What he taught and modeled is true, good and authoritative for all his creation.
He holds our life in his hands (physically and spiritually).
He means for us to live purposefully in line with his purposes.
We're not an accident.
Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:
““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” Acts 2:36-39 NIV
Invitation
How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:
Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:
What is God saying to me right now?
What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.
What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.
[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.
Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.
Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.
Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)
Pray
NOTES
"In the first century, the term logos carried rich and layered meanings in both Greek philosophy and Jewish thought, making it a powerful term for John to describe Jesus in the prologue of his Gospel (John 1:1-18). Here are the key aspects of its meaning in that cultural and historical context:
1. Greek Philosophy
In Greek philosophical traditions, particularly in the works of Heraclitus (6th century BC) and later Stoicism, logos referred to:
• Reason or Rational Principle: The divine reason or organizing principle that governed the cosmos and gave it order and meaning.
• Universal Logic or Wisdom: A kind of divine intelligence that permeated everything, serving as the unifying force behind existence.
For Greeks, logos was not a personal being but rather an impersonal, abstract force that structured the universe.
2. Jewish Thought
In Jewish contexts, particularly within Hellenistic Judaism:
• God’s Word in Creation: Logos aligned closely with the Hebrew concept of dabar (word), as seen in the Old Testament. For example, in Genesis 1, God speaks creation into existence, demonstrating the power of His Word.
• God’s Revelation and Wisdom: In texts like Psalm 33:6 and Proverbs 8, the Word (or Wisdom) of God is personified as an agent of creation, revelation, and sustenance.
• The Memra in Aramaic Targums: In Jewish Aramaic paraphrases of the Hebrew Scriptures, the term Memra (word) was often used as a way to describe God’s interaction with the world, sometimes even personifying it as a bridge between God and His creation.
3. John’s Use of Logos
John’s use of logos synthesizes these ideas and transcends them:
• Personalized Logos: Unlike the Greek philosophical idea of an impersonal force, John presents the logos as a person—Jesus Christ, who existed with God and as God from the beginning (John 1:1).
• Creative Agent: The logos is explicitly tied to creation: “All things were made through Him” (John 1:3), echoing both Jewish and Greek understandings of logos as central to the origin and order of the world.
• Revelation and Incarnation: John declares that the logos became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14), revealing God in a way that was tangible, relational, and deeply personal—something neither Greek nor Jewish thought fully envisioned.
Summary
By calling Jesus the logos, John bridges cultural contexts, addressing both Greek and Jewish audiences. For the Greeks, he redefines the logos as a personal, relational God. For the Jews, he identifies Jesus as the divine Word through whom God creates, sustains, and reveals Himself. This term powerfully communicates that Jesus is the ultimate expression of God’s wisdom, reason, and purpose, now incarnate among humanity."
-ChatGPT 3.5
OUTLINES
Outline from Willmington's Outline Bible
OUTLINE JOHN 1
John begins his Gospel by talking about the deity of Christ, then describes the ministry of John the Baptist. Jesus is baptized and calls his first disciples.
I. FACTS CONCERNING THE PREINCARNATE CHRIST (1:1-5)
A. His relationship to the Father (1:1-2)
1. Christ's eternality is declared (1:1a, 2): He already existed in the beginning.
2. Christ's deity is declared (1:b): He is God.
B. His relationship to the world (1:3-5)
1. He is the sole creator (1:3): Nothing exists that he didn't make.
2. He is light and life (1:4-5): His life gives light to everyone, and the darkness cannot extinguish it.
II. FACTS CONCERNING THE INCARNATE CHRIST (1:6-51)
A. The miracle (1:14): God became human and lived on earth among us.
B. The mission (1:10-13): He came to save sinners.
1. Some rejected him (1:10-11): The world and even the people in his own country did not understand him.
2. Some received him (1:12-13): Those who believed him became children of God.
C. The men (1:6-9, 15-51)
1. Christ's faithful forerunner (1:6-9, 15-34)
a. John the Baptist and the crowds (1:6-9, 15-18): John makes three key statements to the people.
(1) He is to serve as a witness to Christ (1:6-9).
(2) Christ is greater than John or Moses (1:15-17).
b. John the Baptist and the critics (1:19-28): John speaks to the Pharisees who are sent to cross-examine him.
(1) John says that he is not the Messiah (1:19-20).
(2) John says that he is not Elijah (1:21).
(3) John says that he has been sent to prepare the way for the Lord (1:22-28).
c. John the Baptist and the Christ (1:29-34)
(1) He introduces the Savior (1:29-31).
(2) He baptizes the Savior (1:32-34).
2. Christ's first five followers (1:35-51)
a. Andrew and John the apostle (1:35-39)
b. Peter (1:40-42)
c. Philip (1:43)
d. Nathanael (1:44-51)
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
What do I want them to know?
Why do I want them to know it?
What do I want them to do?
Why do I want them to do it?
How do they do this?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/
Read the passage together.
Retell the story in your own words.
Discovery the story
What does this story tell me about God?
What does this story tell me about people?
If this is really true, what should I do?
What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)
What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)
Who am I going to tell about this?
Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast
Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:
Who is God?
What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?
Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)
What do I do? (In light of who I am)
How do I do it?
Final Questions (Write this down)
What is God saying to you right now?
What are you going to do about it?
MAIN REFERENCES USED
“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes
Exalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh Wredberg
“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)
“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)
“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)
Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)
Willmington’s Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)
NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/
Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)
ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org
The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com
“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)
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