October 21, 2010
The Real Deal
John 1:1-18
Patrick Blocker
Central Truth
Christ is the REAL DEAL! He is God in the Flesh and has come to deliver us from our sins.
Key Verse | John 1:4
In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. (John 1:4)
John 1:1-18
The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, 1 1:4 Or was not any thing made. That which has been made was life in him and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, 2 1:11 Greek to his own things; that is, to his own domain, or to his own people and his own people 3 1:11 People is implied in Greek did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son 4 1:14 Or only One, or unique One from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 5 1:16 Or grace in place of grace 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, 6 1:18 Or the only One, who is God; some manuscripts the only Son who is at the Father's side, 7 1:18 Greek in the bosom of the Father he has made him known.
Footnotes
[1] 1:4 Or was not any thing made. That which has been made was life in him[2] 1:11 Greek to his own things; that is, to his own domain, or to his own people
[3] 1:11 People is implied in Greek
[4] 1:14 Or only One, or unique One
[5] 1:16 Or grace in place of grace
[6] 1:18 Or the only One, who is God; some manuscripts the only Son
[7] 1:18 Greek in the bosom of the Father
Dive Deeper | John 1:1-18
I am an Aggie of the worst kind. Maroon car—check. Aggie collars for dog—check. Aggie wife, obsession with Aggie football (even when losing), and dressing up my son shamelessly in Aggie paraphernalia—check, check, and check.
Many look at my kind and ask, “Why?” Well, I will tell you. Many Aggies truly believe that there is none better than Texas A&M. We believe it is the REAL DEAL. We believe that no other university can match A&M’s tradition, spirit, alumni, class, and fellowship—and although Aggie jokes abound, we are convinced that they are simply made up by jealous people who wish they had gone to the “promised land.”
Now I know many have other opinions, and some might think we simply “drank the Kool-Aid” (and they might be right), but John 1 speaks of a REAL DEAL that is not debatable. In fact, I would argue that John 1:1-18 is one of the most important theological sections of Scripture. It speaks of a Person who was not just a man to consider, but who is the only Man that every person must consider. While each Gospel has its way of presenting Christ (Matthew: as King, Mark: as a Servant, and Luke: as the Son of Man), John focuses on Christ’s true identity: Christ is God in the flesh (John 1:14).
From this small section of Scripture, we learn that His birth was not the first time that He interacted with mankind, but since creation and Genesis 1, Christ has been active in His work (John 1:1-3, 10). We learn that it is through Him we have life and that He is the Light to men (John 1:4, 6-9), and we learn that it is through Christ that all men may be saved (John 1:12, 17).
For those who know me, it is not long before they can tell where I attended college, but my hope is that much sooner and with greater power, others will be able to see the God whom I worship and serve because He is truly the REAL DEAL, the Son of God!
Discussion Questions
1. Have you decided yet if Christ is the REAL DEAL in your life? If so, how has your life changed since?
2. There are many things in this life that we are passionate about (I am passionate about college football), but how can you show a lost and dying world that you are more passionate about Christ than anything else?
3. Does anything about John 1 confuse you? Have you ever heard that Christ was involved with creation? For more insight, visit soniclight.com and click on “Study Notes” and then choose the Book of John. You will be able to read some great commentary on this section.
FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Read verse 14: Who became flesh and lived among us and is called “the Word”?
2. Read verses 1-5 and 14. What do we learn about Jesus in these verses?
3. Read verse 12, what does it mean to believe Jesus and accept Him? If you do, what do you get to become? Have each person talk about whether they have believed Jesus and accepted Him, and if not, are they ready to do so now.