John 20:30-31 - Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
“Irenaeus wrote a book Against Heresies…in which he stated…‘Afterwards [after the Synoptic Gospels were written], John, the disciple of the Lord, who also had leaned upon His breast, did himself publish a Gospel during his residence at Ephesus in Asia.” (John MacArthur, John 1-11, p. 3)
3 reasons we can enjoy life because God came to earth
I. Rejoice in the Deity of Christ – vv. 1-5
“The prologue (first 18 verses) is a foyer to the rest of the Fourth Gospel, simultaneously drawing the reader in and introducing the major themes.” (D.A. Carson, The Gospel According to John, p. 11)
“Verses 1-18, the prologue to John’s presentation of the deity of Christ, are a synopsis or overview of the entire book…The reality that Jesus is God, introduced in the prologue, is expounded throughout the book by John’s careful selection of claims and miracles that seal the case. Verses 1-3 of the prologue teach that Jesus is co-equal and co-eternal with the Father; verses 4-5 relate the salvation He brought, which was announced by His herald, John the Baptist (vv. 6-8); verses 9-13 describe the reaction of the human race to Him, either rejection (vv. 10-11) or acceptance (vv. 12-13); verses 14-18 summarize the entire prologue. The prologue also introduces several key terms that appear throughout the book, including light (3:19-21; 8:12; 9:5; 12:35-36, 46), darkness (3:19; 8:12; 12:35, 46), life (3:15-16, 36; 4:14, 36; 5:21, 24, 26, 39-40; 6:27, 33, 35, 40, 47-48, 51, 53-54, 63, 68; 8:12; 10:10, 28; 11:25; 12:25, 50; 14:6; 17:2, 3; 20:31), witness (or testify; 2:25; 3:11; 5:31, 36, 39; 7:7; 8:14; 10:25; 12:17; 15:26-27; 18:37), glory (2:11; 5:41, 44; 7:18; 8:50, 54; 11:4, 40; 12:41; 17:5, 22, 24), and world (3:16-17, 19; 4:42; 6:14, 33, 51; 7:7; 8:12, 23, 26; 9:5, 39; 10:36; 11:27; 12:19, 31, 46-47; 13:1; 14:17, 19, 22, 27, 30-31; 15:18-19; 16:8, 11, 20, 28, 33; 17:5-6, 9, 11, 13-16, 18, 21, 23-25; 18:36-37).” (John MacArthur, John 1-11, p. 15)
A. The Word (Christ) has always been with God
Luke 24:27 - Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God…
“The English translation does not bring out the full richness of the Greek expression (pros ton theon). That phrase means far more than merely that the Word existed with God; it ‘[gives] the picture of two personal beings facing one another and engaging in intelligent discourse.’ (W. Robert Cook, The Theology of John [Chicago: Moody, 1979], 49). From all eternity Jesus, as the second person of the trinity, was ‘with the Father [pros ton patera]’ (1 John 1:2) in deep, intimate fellowship.” (John Macarthur, p. 17)
B. The Word (Christ) has always been God
John 1:1-2 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
C. The Word (Christ) has created all things
John 1:3 - All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
Colossians 1:16-17 - For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
D. The Word (Christ) is the source of life
John 1:4 - In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
II. Respond to the Light of Life – vv. 6-13
John 1:5b - …and the darkness did not comprehend it…
A. The Light was presented by John the Baptist
John 1:6-8 - There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
Isaiah 40:3 - A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.”
Malachi 4:5-6 - Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.
B. The light was rejected by the world
John 1:9-11 - There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
C. The Light changes all who believe
John 1:12-13 - But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
III. Marvel in the Glory of God – vv. 14-18
A. How God came to earth
John 1:14 - And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
dwelt – skenoo – “to live in a tent”
B. The witness to the coming to earth
John 1:15 - John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’”
C. Christ has come to point us to God
John 1:16-17 - For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.