Bible Study Notes
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The Word becomes Flesh!
(John 1:6-18)
Christ came into a world made by him but corrupted by darkness: sin blinded people from seeing the Truth. They needed the Light. So the Son of God became man and lived amongst us. He is the only purest human being that ever lived on this planet. And His Light shines forth, revealing God’s Love and plan of Salvation.
John tells his audience that they need to change their ways, because someone greater than he (John) is coming: all those who trust in him will see God because he was the express image of God.
To get a better insight into the text, we need to understand certain key words and phrases explained below:
Observe that the writer of this gospel seldom mentions himself by name and ‘John’ always refers to John the Baptist because of our Beloved Disciple’s Christ-like humility.
Witness is a legal term understood by both Jews and Romans. It meant one who testifies in a court of law or before an official. Isaiah used this term to state how true believers would testify about God to evil nations and at the end of days. (Isaiah 43:10; 44:8; John 3:27-30; All men might believe reflects the idea that God is not just the God of the Jews; He is the God of the universe. The Jews were chosen to be His witnesses; but Jesus is relevant to all people of all times.
Light refers to the Good News. Christ opened the floodgates of God’s love because God so loved the world. (Matt. 11:11; John 3:16; 4:24; 6:32; 8:12; 9:5; 10:7-14; 11:25; 14:6; Acts 19:1-3; Rom. 1:19-20; 2:12-16).
Gives light to every man points to the incarnation of Christ. Through Christ, all have the opportunity to believe (John 17:5, 14-15).
World means the people of the earth or all of creation (1 Cor.
The world did not recognize Him speaks of how not just the Gentile world, but also the Jewish world did not recognize God's Son (John 17:5, 14-15).
But his own did not receive him because they believed that Abraham would save them, and will not allow any of his children to go into hell. Now the time is at hand, the final opportunity through Christ (Isa. 2:3; 65:2-3; Jer.
Who received him tells us that grace is free but we have to receive it. He gives us the faith but we have to work it and grow it (Eph. 2:8-10).
He gave the right shows that only God gives us entrance into His presence and family, and this is by grace alone. Grace is the unmerited gift of God (Eph 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; John 2:29).
Children of God are those who received Christ. Our new life in Christ dispels all darkness, and establishes an intimate relationship with Him. This is not a birthright but a gift (John 3:3-8).
Born of God means the re-created ones in the image of God. Re-born with a new heart and a new spirit and a new resolve to keep the body as a
The Word became flesh means Christ who is fully God—the ultimate reason, the same substance and essence of God, the Creator—came into His creation as both an eternal being and a created being, a man—fully God and fully man.
This is called the “Incarnation.” Christ, who is not a created or made being, came into the world as one of us. This means that Jesus Christ, being fully Divine, was also born into the world as a full-fledged person who would live in our place, fulfill the law, and become our substitute for the penalty of sin we incurred. He took that penalty and paid it by His sacrifice on the Cross and His shed blood.
This is the heart and purpose and reason of Christianity, of whom and what Christ is, and what He came to do. Without this incarnation, we have nothing of real substance, nothing that can save us; rather we just have a meaningless religion with good ideas (Joel 2:32; Matt. 20:28; 26:36-46; John 1:14-19; 29; 3:13-18; 8:28, 58; 19:35; 21:24; Rom. 5:8; 8:32; 9:5; 10:9-13; 2 Cor. 5:19-21; 8:9; 12:8-9; 13:14; Phil. 2:5-8; Col. 1:15-17; 2:9; Titus 2:13; Heb. 1:3-12).
Dwelling/dwelt reminds the reader of the tabernacle of God from where He personally guided His people in the wilderness for forty years. This also indicates the temporary period of time Jesus would be on earth, and the eternity He gives us to be with Him.
And now living in our hearts and in eternity, our Creator lives humanity's experiences firsthand. (Ex. 3:12-14; 25:8; 33:7-11; 40:34-35; John 6:35, 48-51; Acts 14:11; Col. 2:9).
His glory is the Holiness of God, commanding our highest respect. (1 Kings 8:1-11; Matt. 17:1-8; John 17:5)
One and the Only Son is a reference to Christ, the second person of the Trinity.
John testifies that Christ is the Messiah – the One who gives us grace, forgiveness, and our purpose in life (Matt. 3; John
Fullness of his grace reminds us that the word ‘grace’ was used as a common greeting, like saying “hello” today. It means “may good things come to you.” In the biblical language, it means a gift from God (Psalm 26:3; Prov. 16:6; John 4:2; Gal. 1:3; Eph. 1:2; Rev. 1:4;
Moses represents the Law and the Prophets, and the Old Testament, now fulfilled through the grace of Christ. This is a contrast of the covenants God has had with humanity.
Grace and truth signifies God’s covenant with humanity and His steadfast purpose in fulfilling it. Christ comes to fulfil the Law and bring God's grace. And truth refers to the reality of God in Christian life.
This demonstrates we are holy in Christ; and set apart for enjoying grace and fellowship in Him, and share it with others (Gen. 24:27; Ex. 34:6; Psalm 25:10; 26:3; 73:24-28; Prov. 16:6;John 17:21-23; Rom. 1:6-7; 11:36; 1 Cor. 10:11; Eph. 1:5-8; 2:7; 1 Thess. 3:11).
No one has ever seen God. God the omnipresent and all powerful cannot be seen or contained. But Christ reveals God by being God incarnate and we display God by our Christian character. An image of God's shadow was displayed before Moses, but the greatest of God’s prophets and Law-giver could not see Him directly. When the Word was made flesh, people could see God (Ex. 16:1-10; 33:18-23; John 2:11; 12:22-33; 13:23; Rom. 3:19-23; 2 Cor. 3:6-18; Gal. 3:10-26; 1 Tim. 6:16).
God the One and Only begotten Son means the one and only true one – an absolute, clear declaration of the Deity of Christ (Ex. 24:9-11; 33:20; Heb.
Father's bosom signifies power as well as intimacy. This is another emphatic statement testifying to the Deity of Christ (Luke 22-23; John
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