What I Noticed Today (John 1-3)
A short introduction to the Gospel of John is available. Click here to read.
John 1
In verses 1-18, John begins his Gospel from a theological standpoint. He positions Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, God in human form.
In verses 1-5, John describes the Word as an eternal entity with God, and the Word was God.
Note: The word John uses for Word is “logos,” which means “speaking a message.” John is the only writer who speaks of the Word as a title for Christ.
The Word was with God in the beginning (eternity past; there was never a time when the Word did not exist). The Word created all things. Life was in Him, and He was the light of men.
Note: Light is a common scriptural metaphor for God, while darkness represents death, sin, and separation from God.
In verses 6-13, John describes John the Baptist as being sent by God to be a witness; to testify about the “light” (God) so that all might believe. Christ is the true light and brings light to all men. But the world did not recognize Him, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, He gave the right to be children of God, as is the will of God.
In verses 14-18, the Word became flesh (having a human nature), becoming the One and Only Son of God. We have received grace from Him. The Law was given by Moses but grace and truth through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the Son has revealed Him.
Note: John’s reference to no one has seen God means no one has seen God’s essential nature. We know God through the Son, who revealed the Father’s nature.
John 1:19-12:50
This major section of John’s Gospel focuses on Jesus as the Son of God by relating Jesus’ ministry to the nation of Israel. It centers on Jesus’ seven signs (miracles), and several of Jesus’ encounters with specific people (John 3 & 4).
John 1:19-2:11
This section describes seven days of Jesus’ public ministry.
In verses 19-28 (Day 1) (See also Matthew 3:1-12, Mark 1:1-8, and Luke 3:1-9), John the Baptist testifies about Jesus in Bethany near the Jordan River. John claims he is not the Messiah; only a voice sent by God to prepare the way for Messiah.
Note: The Bethany mentioned here is not the same Bethany where Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived near Jerusalem. The location of this Bethany is unknown, but scholars believe it may be near Jericho.
In verses 29-34 (Day 2), describes John the Baptist’s encounter with Jesus. John the Baptist refers to Jesus as the Lamb of God, who has come to take away the sin of the world. The Spirit of God came down and rested on Jesus. John baptized with water, but Jesus baptized with the Holy Spirit.
In verses 35-39 (Day 3), John the Baptist refers two of his disciples to Jesus. John pointed out Jesus to Andrew, and Andrew immediately started following Jesus.
Note: We do not know the name of the other disciple that followed Jesus though it may well have been John the Son of Zebedee.
Note: Andrew’s meeting with Jesus occurred about the tenth hour (v. 39), which is either 4 pm or 10 am depending on whether the day was counted as the Jews did beginning at 6 pm or as the Romans did beginning at midnight. Given the Roman influence, it was most likely 10 am.
In verses 40-42 (Day 4), Andrew and his brother Peter were introduced to Jesus. Andrew went and found his brother Simon Peter and brought him to Jesus. Jesus renamed Simon, “Cephas” (an Aramaic word which means rock).
In verses 43-51 (Day 5), Philip and Nathaniel are recruited by Jesus to be disciples. Jesus found Philip when Jesus left for Galilee and called Philip to follow Him. Philip found Nathaniel, told him they had found the Messiah and brought him to Jesus. Jesus’ supernatural knowledge of Nathaniel caused Nathaniel to confess Jesus as the Son of God.
Note: Jesus said to Nathaniel, “I tell you the truth” is a translation of the Hebrew for “amen, amen.” John records Jesus using this phrase 25 times in his Gospel.
John 2
Sign 1. Turning water into wine.
In verses 2:1-11 (Day 7), the wedding at Cana and Jesus’ first miracle. Jesus, his mother, and the disciples attended a wedding in Cana. When they ran out of wine, Jesus’ mother told the servants to “do whatever He tells you.” Jesus had the servants fill several large storage jars with water, which He then turned into wine.
Note: The reference to “On the third day” is likely counted from Philip and Nathaniel’s encounter with Jesus.
Note: John specifically used the Greek word for “signs” rather than the word for “miracles” to focus on the significance of Jesus’ actions.
Note: Each of the six large storage jars held 20-30 gallons of water, so the total amount of water turned into wine could be as much as 180 gallons.
In verse 12, Jesus, the disciples, and Jesus’ mother and His brothers went to Capernaum, where they stayed for a few days.
John 2:13-3:21
Jesus begins His ministry in Jerusalem.
In verses 13-25, the Passover was near, so Jesus went to Jerusalem, where he found people selling animals for sacrifice and money changers in the temple complex. He made a whip out of cords and drove the animals out and overturned the tables of the money changers. He ordered them all to leave because they had turned His Father’s house into a marketplace.
Note: The reference to the temple complex is specifically the Court of the Gentiles. They made their money by selling animals for sacrifice at premium prices and exchanged Roman money for Temple money at high exchange rates.
The Jews challenged Jesus’ authority to do this. Jesus answered, destroy this temple, and I will raise it up in three days. The officials thought He was talking about the physical temple, but Jesus was referring to His body being raised from the dead after three days.
While He was in Jerusalem, many people came to believe in Him when they saw the signs He did, but He did not entrust Himself to them.
Note: Jesus knew their hearts. Many believed he was a great healer because they saw signs, but they did not understand He was their savior.
John 3
In verses 1-21, John relates a meeting between Jesus and Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a teacher (Rabbi), a Pharisee, and a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council.
Nicodemus visited Jesus at night, addressing Jesus as Rabbi and acknowledging no one could do what He was doing without God’s power. Jesus told Nicodemus no one could enter the kingdom of God unless they are born again, meaning born of the water and the Spirit.
Note: There are several different interpretations of the phrase “born of water and spirit.” My preference is the Water refers to the repentance ministry of John the Baptist, while Spirit refers to the Holy Spirit coming to the individual. Assuming this meaning, Jesus was telling Nicodemus he needed to repent and be regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
Nicodemus asked about this spiritual transformation, and Jesus said you are a teacher of Israel, and you don’t know? Jesus said, “We speak what We know, We testify to what We have seen, but you do not accept Our testimony.”
Note: The “We” and “Our” in verse 11 are all first-person plural.
Jesus said no one has ascended into heaven except the Son of Man, who descended from heaven. Everyone who believes in the Son of Man will have eternal life. For God so loved the world He gave His one and only Son so that everyone who believes in Him might have eternal life.
This is the judgment that has come into the world. People loved darkness (sin) because their hearts are evil. They avoided the light (Christ), so they would not be exposed.
In verses 22-30, John includes the final testimony of John the Baptist. Jesus and His disciples went to the Judean countryside, where He baptized many. John the Baptist went to Aenon near Salim to baptize. John was baptized by John the Baptist (he had not yet been thrown in prison).
A dispute arose between John’s disciples and a Jew regarding purification. It seems John’s disciples were concerned that everyone was flocking to Jesus. John the Baptist said he was not the Messiah; that he was sent ahead of the Messiah to make way for Him. He was the groom’s friend, not the groom. He must decrease while Jesus must increase.
Note: The reference to the groom at a wedding suggests John the Baptist saw himself as the groom’s assistant, the person who got things ready for the groom.
In verses 31-36, the One who comes above is above all. He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one believes Him. Those who accept His testimony are affirming the truth of God because they have the Holy Spirit. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hands. Anyone who believes in the Son has eternal life. Anyone who rejects the Son will face the wrath of God.
Some thoughts for further consideration:
- Many of the Jews hung around Jesus to witness the signs and receive healings, but they failed to understand what or who he truly was. Even when He taught them about the Son of God come to save the world, they rejected Him. They had eyes but could not see, and ears but could not hear!
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.
