the prologue - Part 1

Text: John 1:1-18

Tom Woodward, Contributing Writer

Unlike Matthew or Luke, John doesn't describe the birth of our Savior, Jesus. Instead, his prologue (John 1:1-18) offers a theological introduction to 'Who is Jesus?'. Pastor Christian's message focused on verses 1-5, giving the congregation a profound and clear understanding of who Jesus is to all of us: the Creator, the almighty God, and the Name above all names. In his prologue, John follows Jesus' ancestry back to an eternal place with God, incarnate, the co-creator of the universe! 

In John 1:1, John says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Jesus is who God is. He is above and beyond our understanding. Pastor Christian explained his interactions with his 4-year-old son, who always asked "Why?" to everything. When an answer was given, the child followed up with another insightful question, "Why?" As adults and as believers, we may ask the same question, "Where did God come from?" Pastor Christian preached that God is the origin, without beginning and without end, that God and Jesus are One. Theos en ho logos, in Greek, means God was the Word. The meaning of the Greek sentence is clear. The pastor shared that John identified Jesus as the Word. Jesus is God! 

In John 1:2-5, Christian outlined John's description of Jesus, words, and expressions throughout his book. Jesus is personal (v. 2) and is the Creator (v. 3). Jesus is not God's first and greatest creation. He is God, the Son, the second person of the Trinity. In the bodily form, Jesus communicates with us and feels our full range of emotions and pain. He experienced the pain we feel on the cross. And as the Creator, Jesus made all things. Pastor Christian said, "Jesus is infinitely creative!" In verses 4-5, John tells us that Jesus is the life and light (v. 4) and the victory (v. 5). Pastor Christian expressed that Jesus shines His light into the world's darkness, the evil, and sin of humans. Through Jesus' strength and sacrifice on the cross, Christian reassured us that Jesus knows we are victims, but we will be victorious! Jesus is the source of eternal life! 

Questions: 

1) How does John 1:1 help me understand the divine nature of Jesus and the Trinity? 

2) From the first few verses of John, which characteristics of Jesus resonate the most with me? 

3) John's prologue reveals God's response to the sin and brokenness of this world. How does John relate the Word (Jesus) back to creation and God's response to the darkness in this world? 

4) How did God speak to me through the scripture and the sermon this week? What "why?" questions were answered for me?

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