[:en]SCRIPTURE: JOHN 1
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God. He was with God in the beginning” (vs. 1-2)
“Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” (v. 12)
INTRODUCTION:
John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, wrote the fourth gospel between AD. 90-100. He wrote it for the whole world to prove that Jesus is the Son of God.
The Names of Christ presented in this chapter:
1. WORD – (vs. 1-3, 14)
A word is composed of letters and Christ is the Alpha and the Omega (first and last letter s of the Greek alphabet (Rev. 22:13). In Genesis 1:1, God created everything through His Word. Christ is the living incarnate Word of God. The Word become leash and made His dwelling among us (v. 14)
2. LIGHT – (vs. 4-13)
“In Him was life and that life was the light of men” (v. 4). When God created the heavens and the earth, He created light and darkness on the first day. Jesus is the true light and the source of all light. Light brings forth eternal lift while darkness brings eternal death.
3. SON OF GOD – (v. 15-18; 30-34; 49)
John the Baptist testified Jesus as the Son of God (v. 34), and Nathanael declared that Jesus is the Son of God (v. 49)
4. CHRIST – (vs. 19-28; 35-42)
John the Baptist testified that He is not the Christ (vs. 20), but he is the voice calling in the desert making straight the way for the Lord” (v. 23). He said: “There is one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie” (v. 27). And that person is Jesus Christ.
5. LAMB OF GOD – (vs. 29, 25, 36)
When John saw Jesus, he said: “Look the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (v.29). The Passover lamb in Exodus 12 and the Sacrificial lamb in Isaiah 53 represents Christ. As a lamb, Christ’s blood takes away sins of the whole world.
6. KING OF ISRAEL – (v. 49)
Nathanael declared that Jesus is the King of Israel (v. 49). During His triumpal entry, people were shouting: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!. Hosanna in the highest!” (Mat. 21:9). In Strong Greek 1138, David is King of Israel. It was written in Zechariah 9:9 that the gentle and righteous Zion’s King will ride on a donkey.
7. SON OF MAN – (v. 51)
Jesus said to Nathanael: “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man” (v. 51)
PROOFS THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD:
- Through Him all things were made (v. 3)
- He is the true light that gives light to every man in the world (v. 9)
- He gives salvation to all who receive Him (v. 123)
- He came from the Father, full of grace and truth (v. 14)
- He was made known through His Father (v. 18)
- He takes away the sins of the world (v. 29)
- He is who will baptize with the Holy Spirit (v. 33)
- He knew Nathanael before Nathanael approached Him (v. 48)
SUMMARY:
Jesus is the Word, the Light, the Son of God, the Christ, the Lamb of God, the King of Israel and the Son of Man. He is the creative Word and the living Word. We have to heed his call and follow him like what Andrew, Peter, Philip and Nathanael did. He can transform our lives to be a blessing to others.
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