John 1 Text and summary- Pastor Gil

We thank you Lord for making possible this gathering this morning. We ask that you open our minds and hearts this morning to receiving your word.

We ask for your blessing upon us today….

Amen

John 1, verse 1

In the beginning was the Word, 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 by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life;

And so we have behind us the Gospel of Matthew, the Gospel of Mark, the Gospel of Luke, and now we are approaching the Gospel of John, each one having a different emphasis.

You see, Matthew's gospel was written for the Jewish people. And an often-repeated phrase and word is the word "fulfilled," or "so that it might be fulfilled." because it's written for the Jews. To show the Jewish people that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament predictions to the Jewish nation.

Then we come to the Gospel of Mark.

The Gospel of Mark was written for a Roman audience. It's a gospel of action. It's short.

It's fast. It's about doing. It's about accomplishing. It's about getting the job done. It has the Roman audience in mind.

When we get to the Gospel of Luke, it's as though he's writing to a Greek audience.

Luke being a gentile physician, being a little more exact, and a little bit different in his language and covering a different angle altogether, speaks about Jesus in his perfect manhood. He is the Son of Man, that's how Luke presents him. And to Greek philosophers the ideal man was often discussed by their philosophers and in their schools. So Jesus, the perfect man, full of compassion, full of love was described by Luke.

Now we are approaching the Gospel of John…

I love John..

It seems as though the audience is not the Jews, or just the Romans, or just the Greeks, it's as though the audience here is the whole world.

And it presents Jesus probably in the fullest of his character. It speaks of him as the Son of God. In fact, God himself. As God in a human body. God in human flesh.

So in the Gospel of Matthew the focus is on what Jesus said.

We have the great discourses in Matthew that are presented.

In the Gospel of Mark, we have what Jesus did. It's that rapid action, short, fast-moving gospel.

The Gospel of Luke is about how he felt.

And the Gospel of John is about who he was.

It's as though Matthew, Mark and Luke are snapshots,

but John is a studied portrait.

"We beheld his glory, as of the only begotten of the Father,

full of grace and truth." And so you'll notice that John goes back

in his genealogy in Verse 1, all the way

back further than Matthew, or Mark, or Luke, to the very beginning itself.

Like the book of Genesis. We’ll read it in a few minutes…



The first chapter of John begins with a clear, expressive description of Jesus as identical to God the Father. It then segues to the ministry of John the Baptist, and the local religious leaders who questioned him. By the end of the chapter, Jesus has collected the first five disciples: John, Andrew, Peter, Philip, and Nathanael.

Along the way, John describes Jesus using seven specific titles. These names outline both the purpose of Jesus' ministry, and His status as both God and Savior. The seven names of John chapter one are "The Word" (John 1:1–3; John 1:14), "The Light" (John 1:4–13), "The Son of God" (John 1:15–28; John 1:49), "The Lamb of God" (John 1:29–34), "The Messiah" (John 1:3, 42), "The King of Israel" (John 1:43–49), and "The Son of Man" (John 1:50–51). Each of these is meant to explain a particular aspect of who Jesus is, and the reason He was born on earth.

The first 18 verses of John form a prologue, setting the tone for the rest of the gospel. Jesus is described using the Greek word Logos, meaning "logic, word, order, or definition." Jesus is the message, the logic, the "word" of God and the “word “was God... In describing Jesus, the prologue states that Jesus has always existed (John 1:2), and has always been identical to God (John 1:1, John 1:3). And yet, since He came in physical form, He was subject to all of the physical struggles of a human man (John 1:14). Jesus is described as the "light" (John 1:4–5), an important concept in Hebrew philosophy. Much of Jesus' ministry, as described in John, is an "illumination" of human ignorance. Jesus constantly corrects mistaken concepts about God.

John the Baptist (different from the author of this gospel) preached a message of repentance, preparing people for the arrival of the Messiah. Local religious leaders interrogated John the Baptist about his teachings. In response, He clearly stated that he was not the Savior, just a man opening minds and hearts to receive the Chosen One. In front of these witnesses, John the Baptist testifies that he has seen the Holy Spirit on Jesus, and that Jesus is the Son of God. He directs two of his followers, Andrew and John (the author of this gospel) to follow Jesus.

Andrew seeks out his brother, Simon, and brings him to Jesus. Jesus gives Simon the name "Peter," which makes more sense later on. Jesus then calls Philip, and Philip finds Nathanael in order to tell him about Christ. Nathanael is skeptical at first, but believes after Jesus demonstrates His supernatural wisdom. Jesus tells the five disciples that they will see far more amazing things as they follow Him. John's gospel only discusses seven miracles, but each is explained in order to prove that Christ is who He claimed to be. Chapter 1 is just the introduction to these amazing events.

John chapter 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, 'This is the one I spoke about when I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'') 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

19 Now this was John's testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, 'I am not the Messiah.'

21 They asked him, 'Then who are you? Are you Elijah?' He said, 'I am not.' 'Are you the Prophet?' He answered, 'No.'

22 Finally they said, 'Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?'

23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, 'I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.''

24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, 'Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?'

26 I baptize with water,' John replied, 'but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.'

28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.'

32 Then John gave this testimony: 'I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God's Chosen One.'

35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, 'Look, the Lamb of God!'

37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.

38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, 'What do you want?' They said, 'Rabbi' (which means 'Teacher'), 'where are you staying?'

39 Come,' he replied, 'and you will see.' So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.

40 Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, 'We have found the Messiah' (that is, the Christ).

42 And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, 'You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas' (which, when translated, is Peter).

43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, 'Follow me.'

44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, 'We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.'

46 Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?' Nathanael asked. 'Come and see,' said Philip.

47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, 'Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.'

48 How do you know me?' Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, 'I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.'

49 Then Nathanael declared, 'Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.'

50 Jesus said, 'You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.' 51 He then added, 'Very truly I tell you, you will see 'heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on' the Son of Man.'

When we gather as followers of Jesus, spend time in quiet meditation, silently considering and confessing our sins, silently , we have fulfilled the wishes of God….The responsibility is ours and the rewards are very personal indeed…

Lets now open the meeting for communion…



Communion

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Jesus said , “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who “believes” in Me shall never thirst.

“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night, in which He was betrayed , took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 1 Corinthians 11:23-24

The Bread

Father, we ask you in the name of your Son Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who receive it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of your Son, and witness to you, that they are willing to take upon them, the name of Jesus, and always remember him, and keep the commandments which he has given them, that they may always have his Spirit within them.

Amen.

“In the same way, He took the cup also after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’” 1 Corinthians 11:25

Blessing on the Wine

Lord, our eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son which was shed for them, that they may witness unto thee, O God, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit within them.

Amen.

“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:26

Prayer of Offering


Jesus, receive our poor offering this morning.
You have given yourself to us,
We now give ourselves to you:
give you our body that it may be chaste and pure,
We give you our soul that it may be free from sin,
We give you our hearts that it may always love you,
We give you every breath that we shall breathe and especially our last,
I give you myself in life and in death
May we be yours for ever and ever.
Lord when we feel abandoned help us to know that you are there,
When we feel afraid help us to know that you are with us..
When we are confused help us to understand..
Let us feel your presence around us and in us continually…
Help us to be born again as a child and of your holy spirit…

Bless our efforts today and grace us with wisdom to live in accordance with a greater understanding of your word…

We ask all in Jesus name…

Amen