John 20:31 (ESV) These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
“The gospel doesn’t start with what Christ did, but who He is. And our response isn’t rooted in what we do, but whose we are.”
John the Baptist John 1:6–7 (ESV) 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.
John 1:19-32 : Behold the Lamb
John 1:19–32 (ESV) 19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” 24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, 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 ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.
Bearing Witness to the Light 1. Identity: Know who you are
John knew who he was—and who he was not. “Knowing our identity brings confidence as we carry out our assignment.”
2. The Purpose is Preparation Isaiah 40:3–5 (ESV) 3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed.
“God wills to level everything that hinders access to Him.”
“We lay the groundwork so he can do the heart work.”
3. Point to the Lamb “You are not the point. You are pointing to the point.”
John 1:29 (ESV) “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
Hebrews 10:12 (ESV) When Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.
Colossians 1:19–20 (ESV) 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
John 1:29 (ESV) “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
Revelation 5:12 (ESV) Saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
Why was the Gospel of John written? John 20:30–31 (ESV) 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
“The gospel does not begin with what Jesus did…it begins with who He is.” Come and See | John 1:1-18 : The Prologue John 1:1–5 (ESV) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
“John is not telling us how Jesus started. He’s telling us that Jesus never started.”
Genesis Revisited Genesis 1:1–4 (ESV) 1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.
John 1 is the Genesis of our story in God. "The Gospel tells us that we, too, were formless, void, and in darkness. As the spoken Word He brought order to chaos and light to the darkness in creation, the new creation, the Living Logos, brings formation, filling the void, so that we will not dwell in darkness any longer.”
The Word/Logos
“Jesus, is what The Father is saying.”
“You have to get Jesus right.”
Colossians 1:16-17 (ESV) 16 ...All things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
John 1:6–8 (ESV) 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
John 1:9-14 (ESV) 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
The Word Became Flesh “The creator cloths himself with His own creation.”
The Hypostatic Union.- Jesus Christ- one person with two distinct natures— Fully God and fully human, united without confusion, change, division, or separation.
Hebrews 1:3 (ESV) 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the Word of his power.
Fully Human= Divine meekness. Philippians 2:6–7 (ESV) 6 Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
“If Jesus is not fully God, He cannot reveal God. And if Jesus is not fully human, He cannot redeem humanity.”
John 1:16-18 (ESV)16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
Come and See The God Man 1. Encounter The Word Made Flesh.
"The message had a mission—to make God known—and one method—flesh; and wherever that mission unfolds, God is revealed, darkness is confronted, the works of the devil are undone, and what was lost begins to live again."
2. Experience Grace and More Grace
“The law was grace for its time. Jesus is grace for all time.”
“Grace is how God comes to us. The truth is that God sets us free. Jesus is full of both.”
3. Discover your identity John 1:12(ESV) But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
“The Gospel doesn’t start with what Christ did, but who He is. And our response isn’t rooted in what we do, but whose we are.”
"The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God," C.S. Lewis
John The Beloved John 13:23 (ESV) One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at the table at Jesus’ side.
1 John 1:1 (ESV) That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life.
“Delight takes the sting out of obedience.”
1 John 5:3 (NIV) This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.
Realities of the Love of God 1. God is a lover Song of Solomon 8:6-7(NIV)For love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. 7 Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away.
Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV) The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”
2. His love is an unfolding constant. “You can’t overemphasize or exhaust the subject of God’s Love.”
Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV) 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
John 17:23 (ESV) ..That the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
3. His Love is Eternally Enduring
Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV) I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.
Romans 8:39 (NIV) Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
4. His Love reveals our value Romans 5:8 (NIV) God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 3:1 (NIV) How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!
5. His Love is meant to be encountered and experienced.
Psalm 36:7-9 (NIV) 7 How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings. 8 They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. 9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.
Delight=Eden. “place of delightful pleasure.”
Living in Delight 1. Look at him Psalm 34:8 (NLT) Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
Isaiah 60:5 (NIV) You will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy.
2. Lean into Him
“Delighting is a decision based on where we set our attention and affection.”
