John Chapter 1
John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word[Christ], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him. Without him, nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him[Christ] was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it.
- An in-depth study of these first 5 verses is available: http://sidnash.org/docs/John1.1-5.html/
John 1:6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.
- Malachi 3:1 Behold, I send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom ye desire, behold, he cometh, saith Jehovah of hosts.
- The wording here seems to suggest that "Jehovah of hosts" is Jesus our Messiah. Notice in the following texts that 1) "Hosts" sometimes refer to Heaven's angels and 2) Christ is in charge of Heaven's angels:
- Psalm 148:2 Praise ye him, all his angels: Praise ye him, all his host.
- 1 Kings 22:19 ... hear thou the word of Jehovah: I saw Jehovah sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.
- Luke 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God...
- Matthew 13:41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels...
- 1 Peter 3:22 [Christ]Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
John 1:7-10 The same[John the Baptist] came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him[Christ]. 8 He[John] was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light. 9 The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world. 10 He[Christ, the light] was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him.
- More about how Father Jehovah made all things through His "beloved" Son: http://sidnash.org/3AngelsMessages/1stAngelCreator.html
John 1:11-14 He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him. 12 But as many as received him[Christ], to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. [John spoke here of the born-again experience] 14 [Christ]The Word became flesh and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the only born{The phrase “only born” is from the Greek word “μονογενους” [mon-og-en-ace'], which is sometimes translated “only begotten” or “one and only”.} Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
- Christ is truly the "the only born" Son of God the Father - not only after being born of Mary, but also before. We know this because of much that has been said in Scripture, including what Jesus said in John 3:16-17, that God sent His only born Son to Earth.
- John 3:14-17 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. 18 He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only born Son of God. -Jesus
John 1:15-17 John testified about him. He cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’ ” ["the firstborn of all creation" Col 1:15] 16 From his fullness we all received grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.{“Christ” means “Anointed One”.}
- Colossians 1:19 For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in him should all the fulness dwell;
- Colossians 2:9 For in him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily, 10 and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power.
- Ephesians 3:19 and to know Christ’s love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
- John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.
John 1:18 No one has seen God at any time. The only born who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared him.
- John 6:46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except he who is from God. He has seen the Father.
- Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
- 1 John 4:12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love has been perfected in us.
- Matthew 11:27 All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows the Son, except the Father; neither does anyone know the Father, except the Son and he to whom the Son desires to reveal him.
- ... and He did reveal the identity of His Father in John 17:1,3 "Jesus ... lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, “Father... 3 This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ.
- 1 Timothy 6:16 He alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen nor can see, to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.
John 1:19-23 This is John’s testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He declared, and didn’t deny, but he declared, “I am not the Christ.” 21 They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 They said therefore to him, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”
- Isaiah 40:3-5 The voice of one who calls out, “Prepare the way of the LORD in the wilderness! Make a level highway in the desert for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The uneven shall be made level, and the rough places a plain. 5 The LORD’s glory shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it.”
John 1:24-25 The ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”
- Who is "the prophet?" =>
- Deuteronomy 18:15,18-19 Jehovah thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken... and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
- Regarding "like unto me" => Hebrews 1:3 His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, who, when he had by himself purified us of our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high,...
- Acts 3:20-23 ... that he may send Christ Jesus ... 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God spoke long ago ... ‘The Lord God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me. You shall listen to him in all things whatever he says to you. 23 It will be that every soul that will not listen to that prophet will be utterly destroyed from among the people.’
- John12:48-50 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. -Jesus
- John 6:14 "Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world."
- John 7:40 "Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet."
John 1:26-28 John answered them, “I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don’t know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to loosen.” 28 These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
John 1:29-34 The next day, he[John] saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold,{“Behold”, from “ἰδοὺ”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.} the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.’ 31 I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water, that he would be revealed to Israel.” 32 John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him. 33 I didn’t recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘On whomever you will see the Spirit descending and remaining on him is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
- What is the symbolism of "the Spirit descending like a dove" on our Messiah? => "For he[Christ] whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." -John the baptist, John 3:34-36
- Jesus also said, "... the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." -John 6:63
John 1:35-38 Again, the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), “where are you staying?”
John 1:39-41 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about the tenth hour.{4:00 p.m.} 40 One of the two who heard John and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother, Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which is, being interpreted, Christ{“Messiah” (Hebrew) and “Christ” (Greek) both mean “Anointed One”.} ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is by interpretation, Peter).{“Cephas” (Aramaic) and “Peter” (Greek) both mean “Rock”.}
John 1:43-46 On the next day, he was determined to go out into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets, wrote: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
John 1:47-49 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!”
John 1:50-51 Jesus answered him, “Because I told you, ‘I saw you underneath the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these!” 51 He said to him, “Most certainly, I tell you all, hereafter you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
- Jesus was first-represented as a ladder to Jacob => Genesis 28:10-13 And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran. 11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took one of the stones of the place, and put it under his head, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed; and behold, a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 13 And, behold, Jehovah stood above it, and said, I am Jehovah, the God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac...
This is a most-important representation of "How Heaven communicates with Earth", of which I have a 4-part study starting here => http://sidnash.org/?HCE1
Desiring to live by every word that comes from the mouth of Jehovah (Deut8:3; Matt4:4)
-Sid Nash: 01/13/2024. Latest version: http://sidnash.org/docs/John1.html