READ JOHN 1:9-11
9) Jesus the True Messiah is the True Light. (review John 1:4-5) The light that was promised, see Isaiah 42:6-7.
Purpose of the Light: to come into the world and enlighten every man (spiritual enlightment) Enlighten means to shed light upon, to bring light, to instruct. Only He can make clear to every individual the meaning and purpose of his or her life. (Linguistic Key to the Greek New Testament) Enlighten is in the present tense so that no matter what century men or women live in it is effective.
Cause > True Light
Effect > Two fold
1) Many did not receive Him (to reject and withhold obedience.)
2) Many did receive Him (accept or acknowledge one to be such as He professes to be, not to reject and withhold obedience.)
Cause > those who receive Him
Effect > right to become children of God/Believe in His name (to commit one's self trustfully to the name of Jesus means you are born of God (Spiritual rebirth)
COMMIT ONE'S SELF TO JESUS! FOR HE IS THE LIGHT THAT GIVES PURPOSE AND MEANING TO YOUR LIFE!
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Friday, September 22, 2006
WITNESS TO THE LIGHT
READ JOHN 1:6-8
v.6-8) Who was this earthly witness?
He was a man, with the name of John and he was sent by God (with Divine authority) He was there as a witness which means that he was to affirm what one has seen or heard. In John's case he was to affirm Jesus and who He is. His job was to bare witnes of the light. Why? So that all might believe through him. This John described here is John the Baptist. One of the people that John the Baptist witnessed to was John the Disciple, the writer of the book we are studying.
John the Disciple became a witness also and took on the job of writing a phenomenal book, The Gospel of John. I would like to take this time to share with you this remarkable man.
"The disciple that Jesus love." Who better to write the intimate words of Jesus and prove His equality with God than John the beloved? John had a very close and personal relationship with Jesus and was with Him from the beginning of His ministry to the very end. John, one of the followers of John the Baptist, was there when Jesus was announced as the "Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." He watched as Jesus was baptized and followed him for the next three years. he was also there when Jesus died and was commissioned with the task of taking care of Mary, the mother of Jesus. He was one of the first of the disciples to hear that Jesus had risen and ran to the tomb.
John loved Jesus with such a deep love that John was careful to leave his name out of the gospel all together. He did this to emphasis his remarkable Savior who came with a powerful message. He even downplayed his love for Jesus; pushing forward instead that it was Jesus who love John.
SCRIPTURAL EVIDENCE OF WHO JOHN THE DISCIPLE WAS.
A. Mark 3:17 - brother of James, son of Zebedee.
B. Mark 1:19-20 - wealthy fisherman, had servants. (Left father and wealth to follow Jesus.)
C. Luke 5:9-11 - partners with Peter.
D. Matthew 17:1; 26:37 - part of Jesus' inner group.
E. John 18:15 - known by the High Priest.
F. John 19:26-27 - given responsibility of Jesus' mother, owed own home.
G. John 20:2 - first to hear of resurrection.
H. Acts 3:1; 4:13 - man of prayer, uneducated, untrained. (does not mean that John could not read or write, but possibly talking about spiritual training for service in the Temple.)
I. Acts 15:6/Gal. 2:9 - leader/pillar of the Church. (John was Bishop or Pastor to the Church in Ephesus. Wrote the Gospel of John AD90-100)
J. Rev. 1:9 - persecuted/sent to island of Patmos. (Only disciple that did not suffer martyrdom, he died AD100)
PURPOSE FOR WRITING: John 20:30-31, "Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples; which are not written in this book; but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name."
JOHN TOOK UP THE GAUNTLET FROM JOHN THE BAPTIST. ARE YOU CONTINUING THAT TRADITION; BEING A WITNESS FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST?
v.6-8) Who was this earthly witness?
He was a man, with the name of John and he was sent by God (with Divine authority) He was there as a witness which means that he was to affirm what one has seen or heard. In John's case he was to affirm Jesus and who He is. His job was to bare witnes of the light. Why? So that all might believe through him. This John described here is John the Baptist. One of the people that John the Baptist witnessed to was John the Disciple, the writer of the book we are studying.
John the Disciple became a witness also and took on the job of writing a phenomenal book, The Gospel of John. I would like to take this time to share with you this remarkable man.
"The disciple that Jesus love." Who better to write the intimate words of Jesus and prove His equality with God than John the beloved? John had a very close and personal relationship with Jesus and was with Him from the beginning of His ministry to the very end. John, one of the followers of John the Baptist, was there when Jesus was announced as the "Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." He watched as Jesus was baptized and followed him for the next three years. he was also there when Jesus died and was commissioned with the task of taking care of Mary, the mother of Jesus. He was one of the first of the disciples to hear that Jesus had risen and ran to the tomb.
John loved Jesus with such a deep love that John was careful to leave his name out of the gospel all together. He did this to emphasis his remarkable Savior who came with a powerful message. He even downplayed his love for Jesus; pushing forward instead that it was Jesus who love John.
SCRIPTURAL EVIDENCE OF WHO JOHN THE DISCIPLE WAS.
A. Mark 3:17 - brother of James, son of Zebedee.
B. Mark 1:19-20 - wealthy fisherman, had servants. (Left father and wealth to follow Jesus.)
C. Luke 5:9-11 - partners with Peter.
D. Matthew 17:1; 26:37 - part of Jesus' inner group.
E. John 18:15 - known by the High Priest.
F. John 19:26-27 - given responsibility of Jesus' mother, owed own home.
G. John 20:2 - first to hear of resurrection.
H. Acts 3:1; 4:13 - man of prayer, uneducated, untrained. (does not mean that John could not read or write, but possibly talking about spiritual training for service in the Temple.)
I. Acts 15:6/Gal. 2:9 - leader/pillar of the Church. (John was Bishop or Pastor to the Church in Ephesus. Wrote the Gospel of John AD90-100)
J. Rev. 1:9 - persecuted/sent to island of Patmos. (Only disciple that did not suffer martyrdom, he died AD100)
PURPOSE FOR WRITING: John 20:30-31, "Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples; which are not written in this book; but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name."
JOHN TOOK UP THE GAUNTLET FROM JOHN THE BAPTIST. ARE YOU CONTINUING THAT TRADITION; BEING A WITNESS FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST?
Thursday, September 21, 2006
John 1:3-5
READ JOHN 1:3-5
v.3) All things came into being by Him > COMPLETED ACT
Apart from Him nothing came into being > COMPLETE AUTHORITY
Nothing was created without Jesus' knowledge or ability.
He created > knew all about everything that came into existence.
He created > completely understood the ramifications.
He created > fully agreed with all that was brought forth.
v.4) CAUSE > He is life EFFECT > Life was the light of men.
Jesus created and He was in full control of that creation for He brought life from NOTHING and gave it meaning.
He created life because He is life, so He is the One who sustains that life.
v.5) Light means illuminating power (it's the idea of the saving truth embodied in Christ. It is through His love that His saving truth has been imported to man.)
Darkness means darkness (it's the idea of men choosing to be ignorant of the light and divine things.)
Comprehend means to make something one's own by appropriation. (it's the idea of people would rather associate with wickedness and its resultant misery than come to the light.)
JOHN'S GOSPEL PORTRAYS JESUS WHO STANDS OUT AS THE LIGHT. DON'T SHUN FROM THE LIGHT, BUT REACH OUT TO IT AND ENJOY ITS BRILLANCE.
v.3) All things came into being by Him > COMPLETED ACT
Apart from Him nothing came into being > COMPLETE AUTHORITY
Nothing was created without Jesus' knowledge or ability.
He created > knew all about everything that came into existence.
He created > completely understood the ramifications.
He created > fully agreed with all that was brought forth.
v.4) CAUSE > He is life EFFECT > Life was the light of men.
Jesus created and He was in full control of that creation for He brought life from NOTHING and gave it meaning.
He created life because He is life, so He is the One who sustains that life.
v.5) Light means illuminating power (it's the idea of the saving truth embodied in Christ. It is through His love that His saving truth has been imported to man.)
Darkness means darkness (it's the idea of men choosing to be ignorant of the light and divine things.)
Comprehend means to make something one's own by appropriation. (it's the idea of people would rather associate with wickedness and its resultant misery than come to the light.)
JOHN'S GOSPEL PORTRAYS JESUS WHO STANDS OUT AS THE LIGHT. DON'T SHUN FROM THE LIGHT, BUT REACH OUT TO IT AND ENJOY ITS BRILLANCE.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
John 1:1-2
READ JOHN 1:1-2
v.1) "In the beginning." Where else in Scripture do we find these words?
Gen. 1:1 - God created the world - "Let there be..."
I John 1:1 - "What was from the beginning..."
God's creative act was the beginning of the universe and the Word proves that, for it was spoken and the world came into being from NOTHING!
WORD - (Logos) means the essential Word, wisdom and power in union with God.
Beginning starts at Creation, but yet goes farther back - eternal in its extence. For the Word was already eternal in God and proceeded out from God to Creation. Cause > Word of God. Effect > Creation of the World.
v.2) He? Who is the He in this verse?
Mark 2:2 - He was speaking the Word to them.
Rev. 19:13 - His name is "The Word of God."
Jesus is the Word and spoke the Word - the living Word. (All other religious books; i.e. Koran, Book of Mormon, Jehovah Witness, Christian Science, are dead words, they cannot bring life to anyone or satisfy.)
Jesus was in the beginning with God - since He is the Word, it would only be natural that He is eternal. Since He is God - only natural that He would be the Sovereign Creator.
GOD IS COMMUNICATION TO US THROUGH HIS WORD! ARE WE LISTENING?
v.1) "In the beginning." Where else in Scripture do we find these words?
Gen. 1:1 - God created the world - "Let there be..."
I John 1:1 - "What was from the beginning..."
God's creative act was the beginning of the universe and the Word proves that, for it was spoken and the world came into being from NOTHING!
WORD - (Logos) means the essential Word, wisdom and power in union with God.
Beginning starts at Creation, but yet goes farther back - eternal in its extence. For the Word was already eternal in God and proceeded out from God to Creation. Cause > Word of God. Effect > Creation of the World.
v.2) He? Who is the He in this verse?
Mark 2:2 - He was speaking the Word to them.
Rev. 19:13 - His name is "The Word of God."
Jesus is the Word and spoke the Word - the living Word. (All other religious books; i.e. Koran, Book of Mormon, Jehovah Witness, Christian Science, are dead words, they cannot bring life to anyone or satisfy.)
Jesus was in the beginning with God - since He is the Word, it would only be natural that He is eternal. Since He is God - only natural that He would be the Sovereign Creator.
GOD IS COMMUNICATION TO US THROUGH HIS WORD! ARE WE LISTENING?
Monday, September 18, 2006
Saturday, September 16, 2006
September 16, 2006 Overview of Book of John
READ THROUGH THE BOOK OF JOHN.
Often people will ask the question, "Who is Jesus?" But have you ever thought as to the, "Why is Jesus?" Let me clarify this a bit: Why is Jesus called the Word? If He had all power of God why did He come as a human? Why were the disciples attracted to Him? Why was His teaching so radical and spoken with authority? Why was there such a mystery about Him? Why did people reject Him? I coulD probably think of a dozen more why questions, but I think you get the point.
The Book of John is a treasure trove of answers to my above questions and more. It will be a study of great emphasis upon Jesus Himself. The why questions are answered; of His power, His teaching, His ministry, His salvation, and His resurrection.
CHAPTER ONE: The Word has come into the world. John starts out his book with power and that power is immense. Jesus came in humble beginnings, as recorded in the gospels of Matthew and Luke, but John relates that the baby came with all the power of the Word and that Word became, "flesh and dwelt among us."
CHAPTER TWO: Turning water into wine was a minor detail for this Creator who had created the heavens and the earth. A greater feat will be accomplished in the future and that is to raise up His body, the Temple, in three days time. We find in this chapter that Jesus is the New Covenant and the New Temple that has come into the world as Redeemer and King.
CHAPTER THREE: Nicodemus was struggling with the why questions. He knew that Jesus had come from God, because Jesus' teaching and signs proved that, but Nicodemus did not understand why. Here in this chpater we have a wonderful teaching by our Lord Himself; you must be reborn spiritually to enter the kingdom of God. John the Baptist in the final verse of this chapter compliments Jesus teaching by adding that a spiritual rebirth is a belief in the Son.
CHAPTER FOUR - SIX: Jesus is the living water, as the woman at the well found out. She had gone to the well with a bucket and left filled with that living water. He is the sustainer of life, for He has power over illness, both spiritual and physical. he has power over the Sabbath, and He has the power to execute judgment.
CHAPTER SEVEN: Jesus was a mystery not only for the disciples, but especially for those who would reject Him. They struggled with the motives behind His teachings and His actions. They struggled with His education, with were He was from, and they struggled with who he was: a good teacher, a prophet, or the Christ?
CHAPTER EIGHT - TWENT-ONE: The rest of John gives us a clear and profound picture of Jesus and why He is relevant to us. He came to be our forgiveness. He came to bring the truth. He came to give us freedom. He came to be our light. He came to be our Good Shepherd. He came to show us that He has power over death and is the rightful ruler. He came to be our blessing; we are to abide in Him and He in us. He came as our True Vine and to give us the New Commandment. He came with a promise of a helper, the Holy Spirit. He came to overcome the world and to pray for us. He came to die, but most important of all He came to be resurrected, so that we know Him as our eternal life.
Often people will ask the question, "Who is Jesus?" But have you ever thought as to the, "Why is Jesus?" Let me clarify this a bit: Why is Jesus called the Word? If He had all power of God why did He come as a human? Why were the disciples attracted to Him? Why was His teaching so radical and spoken with authority? Why was there such a mystery about Him? Why did people reject Him? I coulD probably think of a dozen more why questions, but I think you get the point.
The Book of John is a treasure trove of answers to my above questions and more. It will be a study of great emphasis upon Jesus Himself. The why questions are answered; of His power, His teaching, His ministry, His salvation, and His resurrection.
CHAPTER ONE: The Word has come into the world. John starts out his book with power and that power is immense. Jesus came in humble beginnings, as recorded in the gospels of Matthew and Luke, but John relates that the baby came with all the power of the Word and that Word became, "flesh and dwelt among us."
CHAPTER TWO: Turning water into wine was a minor detail for this Creator who had created the heavens and the earth. A greater feat will be accomplished in the future and that is to raise up His body, the Temple, in three days time. We find in this chapter that Jesus is the New Covenant and the New Temple that has come into the world as Redeemer and King.
CHAPTER THREE: Nicodemus was struggling with the why questions. He knew that Jesus had come from God, because Jesus' teaching and signs proved that, but Nicodemus did not understand why. Here in this chpater we have a wonderful teaching by our Lord Himself; you must be reborn spiritually to enter the kingdom of God. John the Baptist in the final verse of this chapter compliments Jesus teaching by adding that a spiritual rebirth is a belief in the Son.
CHAPTER FOUR - SIX: Jesus is the living water, as the woman at the well found out. She had gone to the well with a bucket and left filled with that living water. He is the sustainer of life, for He has power over illness, both spiritual and physical. he has power over the Sabbath, and He has the power to execute judgment.
CHAPTER SEVEN: Jesus was a mystery not only for the disciples, but especially for those who would reject Him. They struggled with the motives behind His teachings and His actions. They struggled with His education, with were He was from, and they struggled with who he was: a good teacher, a prophet, or the Christ?
CHAPTER EIGHT - TWENT-ONE: The rest of John gives us a clear and profound picture of Jesus and why He is relevant to us. He came to be our forgiveness. He came to bring the truth. He came to give us freedom. He came to be our light. He came to be our Good Shepherd. He came to show us that He has power over death and is the rightful ruler. He came to be our blessing; we are to abide in Him and He in us. He came as our True Vine and to give us the New Commandment. He came with a promise of a helper, the Holy Spirit. He came to overcome the world and to pray for us. He came to die, but most important of all He came to be resurrected, so that we know Him as our eternal life.
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