John 1:1-4 – Unravelling the Riddle – Bible study

John 1:1-4 Unravelling the Riddle The New Testament starts with four books called the Gospels. They are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The word "gospel" means "good news." Those books are called that because all four of them give the life and death of Jesus. The fact that Jesus came into this world and died for us is indeed good news. In fact, it is the best news you and I will ever hear. Three of the gospels start their account by picking an event in Jesus life and continuing to pack as many events as they can fit into the book about the life of Jesus. Matthew started around the birth of Jesus then went on to record 19 of Jesus miracles. Mark started 30 years later, around the baptism of Jesus and also recorded 19 of Jesus miracles. Luke started a few years before Jesus was even born by beginning with the conception of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus; but still managed to tell us about 20 of Jesus miracles. And then there is John. John threw the mode away. While John still focused on the life of Jesus, his book was written much later, maybe as many as 40 to 50 years later than the other gospels and perhaps that is the reason he wrote it so differently, maybe by that time the people knew of so many of the miracles of Jesus. 1. While John still told the whole life of Jesus, a big portion of his book (chapters 12-21), deal with the last week of Jesus earthly life and the resurrection. 2. And the vast majority of that (chapters 13-20), deal with the last day of Jesus earthly life and the first day of His resurrection. 3. During those chapters, John only recorded 7 of Jesus miracles. The much of the remainder of Johns book focuses the sermons of Jesus. 4. And then there is beginning. a. John did not start his book with an event in Jesus life. b. Instead, some have said that John started his book by giving us a riddle, a riddle about who Jesus was. c. The riddle lasts for the first 18 verses of Johns book. (1) Those 18 verses are not wasted space, not by a long shot. The words John wrote have taught us much about Jesus and been loved, memorized, and quoted by many of Gods people. (2) But they are still a strange way to start the gospel. (3) You will not even find Jesus name mentioned in this verses until almost the end, verse 18. d. Instead in this riddle, John compared Jesus to three things. Let me share with you Johns comparisons for they are the outline of my message this morning. (1) Jesus is the Preexisting Word. (2) Jesus is the Powerful Light. (3) Jesus is the Perfect Man. This morning, lets unravel the riddle. I. \#1-4\ Jesus is the Pre-existing Word. A. These four verses begin Johns book. John does not even tell us the name of the One he was talking about, but he made it easy to figure out. B. Notice the three Ws. 1. Where the Word was – He was with God. \#1\ "the Word was with God" a. That greatly narrows the possibilities for who this is, but other books of the Bible give accounts of several beings that stand in Gods presence. b. We need more information to know this Ones identity. c. However, if this One was in Gods presence: (1) He would have to be holy. (2) He would have to be spirit. 2. Who the Word was – He was God. \#1\ "the Word was God." a. He did not give us a name, but he sure gave us an identity. b. Some say the Bible does not call Jesus God. (1) I beg to differ. (2) What the Bible does not do is it does not tell an antagonist that Jesus is God. (3) Any reasonable, thinking person can read these verses and see it is talking about Jesus. (a) Jesus name is even used in \#17\. (b) And it is clearly stating that He was God. c. Someone might ask, "Does the was" mean that Jesus is not God anymore?" (1) No. John was talking about the past, and he wanted us to know that Jesus did not become God, but that He was always God. (2) So John used the past tense. (3) However, our God is not limited by time. He is not even in time. (4) What Jesus was, He is; and what He is, He always will be; and what He will be, He was. 3. When the Word was – In the beginning. \#1\ In the beginning was the Word \#2\ The same was in the beginning with God." a. This verse is not saying that God or the Person John was talking about HAD a beginning. b. He is saying that when there was a beginning, God and this Person were there. c. You can pick whatever youd like to pick and this verse will be true. (1) In the day the earth began, these Two were there. (2) In the day when time began, these Two were there. (3) In the day when the angels were created, these Two were there. (4) In the day heaven was created, these Two were there. d. What does this mean? (1) It means that Jesus is God and always has been God. (2) Jesus did not become God. He did not ascend to deity. (3) Jesus is what He was and He was what He will be, God. (4) Among the many false beliefs of the Mormonswhich make them a false gospelis that they believe Jesus became God. (a) That God selected Jesus over his brother Satan to become the savior of the world. (b) That is not what the Bible teaches, and specifically that is not what John taught. C. Questions: 1. Who was John talking about? He was talking about Jesus. 2. Why did John not use His name? a. Because he wanted to tell us something about who Jesus was. (1) He wanted to connect Jesus to the Old Testament. (2) John wrote this riddle as an introduction to tell us some things about Jesus we may not have put together yet. b. Such as what? (1) In the Old Testament, God spoke often of His Word and the power of His Word. Psalm 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. (a) Guess who that Word was? (b) We dont have to? Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (c) John said it this way: John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (d) When God spoke a word, Jesus was the One who performed it. (2) But that makes us look again at all the Old Testament uses of "the Word." Psalm 107:19 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. 20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. (a) In that chapter, the Psalmist had been talking about the children of Israel, but then he moved from the specific to the general and began to talk about anyone who was in trouble. (b) What does it mean, "God sent His Word, and healed them"? I think it means when someoneanyonewill cry unto the Lord, Jesus will save them. D. If we know who "the Word" is, lets notice the point John was making. 1. John was saying "the Word" has always been, that He is eternal. 2. I know some people who think that Jesus became God. 3. Friend, that is not the Jesus I worship, and I hope it is not the God you worship! II. \#8-9\ The Powerful Light John 1:8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. A. \#6-8\ John talked about John the Baptist. 1. In these verses, we are picking up in the middle of Johns thought, but he did not want us to be confused. 2. John the Baptist was not the Light. a. Notice Light is capitalized. b. That means the translators though this was a reference to Jesusand they were right. B. Why call Jesus, "the Light"? 1. What does a light do? 2. It exposes. a. It especially exposes what is hid in the darkness. (1) I know I often repeat myself. (a) Sometimes I do it on purpose because it is important. (b) Sometimes I do it because thoughts are on my mind. (2) I have said several times lately that the world no longer seems ashamed enough of its sins to hide them. (a) Now they want to parade them down Main Street. (b) That is largely true. (3) However, some people still try to hide theirs. (4) And some who are parading their sins down Main Street dont think there is a God who is watching, but He is. (5) In fact, \#Rev 20:12\ says that the sinners works are written in books and sinners will be confronted and judged by God according to their works. (6) The only way to get those books cleared is to call upon Jesus Christ as your Savior! b. However, "the Light" not only exposes the sinful deeds of the lost, it also sees the righteous works of the saved. (1) From time to time, I hear of the good works of Gods people. (a) Cards that are written. (b) Calls that are made. (c) Meals that are prepared. (d) Friendships that are made. (e) Good deeds that are done. (2) There is a God in heaven that sees those too. (3) And why? Because Jesus is the Powerful Light. III. \#14\ The Perfect Man John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. A. The word "man" is not used in this text. 1. Just the male personal pronouns. 2. That added to the fact that "the Word" and "the Light" became flesh, pretty much means that Jesus became a man. B. What did the Perfect Man do? 1. \#14\ He was the revelation of Gods glory. a. John did not say that "the Word" revealed Gods glory, but that He was Gods glory! b. Through the living Word, we saw God. 2. \#11\ He came unto His own, but His own did not receive Him. a. That would be the Jews. b. Jesus was born a Jew in Israel and walked those dusty roads proving to the people that He was indeed their Messiah, but they rejected Him. c. Yet, the story does not end there. 3. \#12\ But to as many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become the sons of God. a. But some did receive Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles. b. I am one who did, and I hope that you are as well. c. In that verse, John even told us how one goes about receiving Jesus. (1) "even to them that believed on his name." (2) John mentioned faith. No matter what else one does, without believing that Jesus is who He said He was, you cannot go to heaven. C. Now, we need to make sure we understand what John said in these last verses. 1. He is saying that God became a son of man that you and I might become a son of God. 2. That is an invitation that you can I cannot afford to ignore. Why did John start his gospel with a riddle? I dont know for certain, but I am going to guess it was for three reasons. 1. There is something about Jesus we needed to know. That Jesus is the Preexisting God. 2. There is something about Jesus which we need to remember. Jesus is the Powerful Light. 3. Jesus is Someone we need to receive. Jesus, the Perfect Man. I pray that you will do so today.