John 1
The blessed Person, life, and work of our Lord Jesus Christ on earth are set forth in the four gospels. The chief feature in Matthew is His presentation as the Messiah; in Mark, as the Prophet and perfect Servant of God; in Luke, as the Son of man; and in John, as the Son of God. In keeping with this, our Lord's genealogy is traced in Matthew to David and Abraham, is omitted in Mark, is traced back to Adam in Luke, and is omitted in John, for it is obvious that, as the Son of God, He had none. While in all four gospels, other titles, names, and traits are brought forward, the features given above are the most prominent ones.
In John 1 the varied glories of the ever blessed Son of God shine out in a marked way. John begins with the sublime statement, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." The Word existed eternally. The Word never had a beginning. In the beginning the Word already was, and "the Word was with God." The latter clause brings before us distinct personality, and, moreover, "the Word was God," which shows His deity. So, in this wondrous verse we have the eternity, personality, and deity of the Word-His glories which eternally abide and which are and were before creation. As another has beautifully written of Him, "He is, and He is the expression of, the whole mind that subsists in God-`the Word.' " The Holy Spirit emphatically adds, "The same [or He] was in the beginning with God," thus carefully guarding His distinct personality in eternity, before creation and time.
This wondrous divine being-the Word, who was with God, and who was God-was the Creator. "All things were made by Him." He it was who spoke, and it was done, who commanded, and it stood fast. He was the One who called heaven and earth into existence, who put untold myriads of stars in the heavens, who said, "Let there be light," and there was light, who clothed the earth with verdure and gave life to every living thing. All things, visible and invisible, were made by Him. Every living creature in heaven or on earth, every principality, power, might, dominion, the innumerable company of angels, and the whole race of man, all owe their existence to the mighty fiat of the everlasting Word. "And without Him was not anything made that was made."
"In Him was life." It was nowhere else. The Word, God, is its eternal source and spring. The life was ever in Him. "And the life was the light of men." The life was revealed, manifested down here in the world. "The life was the light of men," and in 1 John 1:1-31That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:1‑3) we read: "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you."
The Holy Spirit passes from the presentation of the Word in eternity to His manifestation here in time among men. He in whom was life came into the world. The life was the light of men, not of angels. Men were in darkness. The world was under the power of darkness through the entrance and reign of sin, and men as fallen creatures had their minds and hearts darkened. But the Light appeared. "The life was the light of men." Jesus, the ever blessed Son of God, walking here as man upon the earth (sin apart), was the life. But though "the light shineth in darkness," and that with unclouded luster morally, yet so gross was the darkness that it "comprehended it not." Instead of the darkness being dispelled by that shining light, it remained as it was. Man as such was completely under its power. Gross darkness covered the world, and there was no comprehension of that wondrous light.
John, a man sent from God, came and bore witness of the Light that all men through Him might believe. "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." The true Light did not shine only for that people whom God had blessed of old and who had the law (though the law is light Pro. 6:2323For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: (Proverbs 6:23)), but for all men. The world knew Him not, and the Jews received Him not. There was, however, a people who did receive Him, who were born of God, and to whom He gave the right to be the children of God. Blessed are all they who are now the children of God.
Next in this wondrous chapter we come to the incarnation. "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." John 1:1414And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14). Wondrous grace! The eternal Word was here on earth as man, clothed with true humanity (without sin) and holy. A real Man, Jesus, the holy One of God, dwelt among men. "Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh." 1 Tim. 3:1616And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1 Timothy 3:16). "We beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father [or a glory as of an only begotten with a Father]." John 1:1414And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14). How deeply blessed! Who does not know the joy of an earthly parent in an only son? How much greater is the joy and delight of the Father in His only begotten One? How wondrous it is that men should contemplate such a One! No man has seen God at any time. He is invisible, "dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see." 1 Tim. 6:1616Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:16). He is a Spirit-light, love-the invisible God. The only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father, "He bath declared Him." In Him, the only begotten Son, we learn what God is, for He was Immanuel, God with us.
John the Baptist, seeing Jesus coming to him, said, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!" Wondrous mystery! This same blessed One is the Redeemer, the One who was about to offer Himself, the Lamb of God, as a sacrifice for sin. Abraham said to his son Isaac, "My son, God will provide Himself a lamb." Here is God's Lamb, the Holy One, without blemish and without spot, the Lamb which taketh away sin. At Calvary, Jesus offered Himself without spot to God, to put away sin (Heb. 9:14, 2614How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14)
26For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:26)). Sin has been put away forever from God's sight for everyone who believes. But He was on the cross in relation to the sin of the world, and eventually, as the result of His work, sin will be taken away from the world altogether. God will establish an eternal system wherein righteousness shall dwell, based on the perfection of the finished work of Jesus, the holy Lamb of God.
John says, when he saw the Spirit descending on Him at His baptism, that this same blessed One is He who baptizes with the Holy Ghost, the Son of God (John 1:33, 3433And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 34And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. (John 1:33‑34)). "Again the next day after... looking upon Jesus as He walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!" Not only is He the sin-bearer, but He is the Lamb of God in whom God could find His perfect satisfaction and delight, and who, as a burnt offering on the cross, was a sweet savor before Him. Disciples follow Him as they hear John's words, and the gladness spreads from one to another, that the Messias, the Christ, the anointed One of God, is found. Jesus Himself calls Philip who later finds Nathanael, who confesses Him as Jesus of Nazareth of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did. write. Nathanael confesses Him as the Son of God and the King of Israel; and Jesus says to him, "hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." So this precious portion closes with a foreshadowing of that blessed day for this poor earth when, the curse being removed (Rev. 22:33And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: (Revelation 22:3)), Jesus, Son of God and Son of man, shall reign as King of Israel. Then all things shall be gathered in one in Him, both in heaven and on earth (Eph. 1:1010That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: (Ephesians 1:10)).
How wondrously the Holy Spirit brings before our souls in this chapter the manifold glories of the Person of God's beloved Son! Surely every heart that knows Him and His love must bow in worship, adoration, and praise, as we think of Him who is the everlasting Word, God, the mighty Creator, and yet who has become a Man that He might glorify God, accomplish redemption, and eventually deliver this groaning scene. This is He who is now seated at the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens, crowned with glory and honor, the triumphant Savior in the eternal glory of God.
"Thou art the everlasting Word,
The Father's only Son;
God manifest, God seen and heard,
The heaven's beloved One;
Worthy, O Lamb of God, art Thou
That every knee to Thee should bow."
May God engage our hearts' affections more and more with His blessed Person, and give us a holy jealousy for the glory of His name.