John 1

Theological Reflection

Augustine of HippoJohn 1 proclaims the Word as eternal and divine. Before creation, Christ was—not made but begotten. He is the light that overcomes our darkened hearts and calls us into God’s life.Message: "Do not seek light from within yourself. The Light shines in the darkness, and only in the Word made flesh will you find your beginning and your end."

Thomas AquinasIn John 1, the metaphysical nature of the Logos is unveiled. Christ is not only divine in essence but the rational principle through whom all things were made and sustained.Message: "Let the eternal Logos reorder your reason and your heart. Faith is not a retreat from thought but its highest fulfillment."

Martin LutherJohn 1 highlights sola gratia—grace alone. Christ comes to His own and is rejected, yet gives the right to become children of God by faith, not human effort.Message: "Take heart! You are not born again by the will of man, but by the mercy of God in Christ. Receive the Word and live."

John CalvinThis chapter reveals the eternal Son who shines light into the darkness. Though the world does not recognize Him, those chosen by God receive Him by the Spirit and are reborn.Message: "Look to the Light who was with God and is God. In Him alone is life, and that life is the light of men."

Karl BarthJohn 1 is the thunderclap of revelation. The Word was with God and was God. Here is the mystery of divine condescension—God entering flesh to speak once and for all.Message: "Let the Word speak for Himself. His glory is full of grace and truth—not your theology, but God Himself in flesh."

C.S. LewisThis chapter bridges myth and truth. The Logos, who authored all stories, stepped into our reality. The light shines in the darkness—and imagination bows before incarnation.Message: "The Word who was before all worlds became flesh for you. Let wonder bring you to worship, and imagination to faith."

John WesleyJohn 1 reveals God’s desire for rebirth. The Word brings grace and truth, giving power to become new creatures. The Spirit's work begins where human striving fails.Message: "You must be born of God. Let the Spirit make you new through the Word who was and is and will forever be."

Jonathan EdwardsHere lies the beauty of Christ in full: the glorious Word, eternally with the Father, becoming flesh. His light is divine excellence—the moral perfection our souls long to behold.Message: "Behold the Word’s glory, full of grace and truth. Let the beauty of Christ draw your affections into eternal joy."

Dietrich BonhoefferJohn 1 declares the scandal of incarnation: God in flesh, rejected by His own. This is the pattern of discipleship—light confronts darkness, and truth demands a costly response.Message: "The Word became flesh and walked among enemies. If you follow Him, you must walk the same costly path."

Timothy KellerIn John 1, identity is redefined. You are not born of flesh or achievement, but by receiving the Word. Jesus doesn’t just show the way—He is the way into God's family.Message: "Stop building your identity on anything less than the Word. Receive Him—and become who you were always meant to be."

The Word Became Flesh

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,[a] and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

• John opens not with a manger or genealogy, but with eternity: Jesus is the Logos, the eternal Word of God, present at creation and the very source of life and light.

• In a culture obsessed with self-expression and creating personal truth, John declares that Truth is a Person, not a concept. Jesus doesn’t merely offer information—He is the origin of everything, the logic behind existence, the one who gives light to every human heart. The modern lie says we can create our own light; John says only the true Light gives life.

• In Greek thought, Logos conveyed the rational principle that governs the universe—order, reason, and intelligence. In Hebrew tradition, God’s word (Hebrew: dabar) is powerful, active, and creative. God spoke, and creation obeyed.

  John brings these worlds together and declares that Jesus is not only God's voice—but God’s mind, presence, and power made flesh - Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1:3)

• Just as Genesis begins with light piercing the darkness, John says:“In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

• In Genesis, the Word brings forth light, order, and life out of chaos. In John, Jesus brings light and life into a fallen, darkened world to begin the new creation. This means that when a person receives Christ, they are not just improved—they are re-created, born from above (John 3), with the very light of God awakening their spirit.

• Why This Matters to a True Believer? To understand Jesus as Logos is to recognize: Jesus is not an option among many truths—He is the origin of all truth. Jesus is not created—He is Creator, eternal, unchanging, divine. Jesus doesn’t come to help you fix your life—He comes to resurrect it, to speak light into your darkness, just as He did in the beginning. This makes the Gospel of John a Genesis for the soul—a new beginning for anyone who receives the Word.

• speak into your heart.

  • Are you living in chaos? He brings order.

  • Are you in darkness? He is light.

  • Are you dead inside? In Him is life.

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 the Baptist isn’t the light but points to it. His entire mission is to prepare the way for Jesus.

• We are not the center of the story. Our calling, like John’s, is to bear witness to the Light—not compete with it. In an age of platforms and influence, we’re reminded that the greatest role we can play is to direct people away from ourselves and toward Christ.

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,[b] and his own people[c] 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.

• The true Light comes into the world, but the world does not recognize Him. He comes to His own people, and they reject Him. But to those who receive Him, He gives the right to become children of God—born not of blood, will, or flesh, but of God.

• Many today live as spiritual orphans—defining identity by achievements, ancestry, or social acceptance. Jesus offers a new birth, a new identity, and a new family. Being a Christian isn’t a moral improvement—it’s a miraculous rebirth, a divine adoption that the world cannot manufacture.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son[d] from the Father, full of grace and truth.

• This is the climax of the prologue. God doesn’t stay distant—He takes on flesh and moves into our neighborhood. Jesus is full of grace and truth, the glory of the Father wrapped in humanity.

• Many want spirituality without incarnation—abstract truth without submission, grace without lordship. But in Jesus, God becomes touchable, knowable, and disruptively present. Grace and truth are not opposing forces—they are perfectly fused in Christ. He does not compromise truth to love us, and He does not withhold grace because of our failures.

15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.[e] 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,[f] who is at the Father's side,[g] he has made him known.

• John the Baptist testifies that Jesus surpasses him. The Law came through Moses, but grace and truth come through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God—but the Son has made Him known.

• Religious systems, moral law, and even spiritual discipline can’t reveal God in full—they can only point to Him. Jesus alone reveals the heart of the Father. He is the visible expression of the invisible God. Many live with a distorted image of God as distant, harsh, or impersonal. Jesus redefines that image: to see Christ is to see God rightly.

The Testimony of John the Baptist

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[h] 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.

• John the Baptist denies being the Messiah, Elijah, or the Prophet. His role is to prepare hearts for Jesus by calling people to repentance and humility.

• We are tempted to define ourselves by our roles, titles, or how others perceive us. John shows true spiritual maturity by saying, “I am not the Christ.” A faithful life knows its limits and rests in pointing others to the One who saves.

Behold, the Lamb of God

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. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son[i] of God.”

• John calls Jesus “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” He testifies that he saw the Spirit descend and remain on Jesus.

• Jesus doesn’t come primarily as a teacher or example—He comes as a sacrifice. In a world that avoids confronting sin, the Lamb reminds us that our greatest need is not affirmation but redemption. And that need has been met—fully, freely, and forever.

  
  

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.[j] 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus[k] was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter[l]).

• True Discipleship Begins with Curiosity and a Turning. The disciples follow Jesus not because of a sermon but because of a simple testimony—“Behold the Lamb of God.” And Jesus doesn’t begin with a command or doctrine. He asks, “What are you seeking?”

• In a world filled with spiritual noise, Jesus begins with a question that still echoes into the hearts of modern seekers: What are you really after? Peace? Purpose? Belonging? Identity? Jesus invites the seeker not to sign a contract, but to come and see—to explore who He is by relationship, not religion.

• Disciples bring Others along: Andrew, after spending a short time with Jesus, finds his brother and brings him to Christ. Evangelism is portrayed not as pressure, but as invitation born from encounter. Encounter with Jesus is marked with inability to explain yet strong enough to no longer deny.

• Today’s Christians often hesitate to share faith because they feel they need perfect answers. John 1 shows that the most powerful witness comes from simply experiencing Jesus and then saying, “Come see what I’ve seen.”

• Jesus redefines identity when Jesus meets Simon, He immediately speaks destiny over him: “You are Simon… You shall be called Cephas (Peter).” Jesus sees more than who Simon is—He sees who Simon will become.

• In a society where identity is either self-defined or culturally assigned, Jesus offers something radical: an identity grounded in His vision of who we’re becoming in Him. The Christian life is a re-naming, a re-making.

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and 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 anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there 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 the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you,[m] you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

• The next day, Jesus calls Philip, who then finds Nathanael and tells him about Jesus of Nazareth. Nathanael is skeptical—“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip simply replies, “Come and see.” When Nathanael meets Jesus, Jesus reveals knowledge of him that stirs immediate faith. Jesus promises that he will see even greater things—heaven opened, angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man.

• Jesus Finds Us, Then Invites Us to Follow. Jesus personally finds Philip and says, “Follow me.” Philip’s immediate response is to bring Nathanael.

• Many imagine the Christian life begins with our search for God. But Scripture reverses this: Jesus finds us first. Faith isn’t about chasing God but responding to His invitation. The modern Christian can rest knowing that God pursues us more than we pursue Him. The big fat rhetorical question "Where might I be if I pursued him an ounce of the love and passion he pursues me?"

• Honest skepticism meets transformational encounter as Nathanael’s doubt isn’t dismissed—it’s drawn out. Jesus doesn’t argue. He simply shows Nathanael that He saw him before he was seen. That personal knowing transforms Nathanael’s doubt into worship.

• In a skeptical, post-truth culture, people don’t want arguments—they long to be seen, known, and loved. Jesus meets the deepest human need by knowing us intimately and calling us personally. He wins hearts not by force, but by recognition.

• Greater things are promised! Jesus promises Nathanael that he’ll witness heaven opened and angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man—a direct reference to Jacob’s ladder (Genesis 28). Jesus is now the bridge between heaven and earth.

• This points to Jesus not only as teacher or prophet, but as the very access point to God. For modern believers, Jesus is not simply a helper in crisis—He is the connection to ultimate reality, the ladder between the divine and the earthly. We no longer strive to climb to God—God has come down to us.

• Jesus invites the spiritually curious to walk with Him—not just believe about Him. Evangelism begins with authentic encounter and flows through relational witness. Jesus redefines identity and gives us a name based on grace, not performance. He meets skepticism not with arguments but with personal revelation. He promises access to heaven not through effort, but through Himself.