Quiet Earth Fellowservants of Christ

The Diety of Jesus Christ; The Witness of John.

I. Text

John 1:1-8

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

II. Questions for study, thought or review.

1. Who is the Word? (v.1)

2. When was the Word in relationship to time? (v.1)

3. Define the Greek word "logos"in verse 1 from which we get the noun "Word".

4. Is Christ God? (v.1)

5. Compare the following verses with John 1:1 and note or discuss how each of them relate to John 1:1 - Genesis 1:1; John 1:14; John 17:5 & 1 John 1:2.

6. Where does life begin? (v.3)

7. Is the Word a created person or is He Creator (v.3)

8. Which of these other verses in John's gospel is least similar to John 1:4?
a. John 5:26
b. John 8:12
c. John 8:57
d. John 9:5
e. John 11:25

9. What is the darkness? (v.5)

10. Spiritually speaking, why does darkness not comprehend light? (v.5) Back up your answer with at least two scriptures.

11. What does the name John mean? (v.6)

12. Which John is spoken of in verse 7, the author of this gospel or John the Baptist?

13. Starting with verse 7, how many times do we find the word "witness" in the KJV of John 1?

14. How are we to understand the word "all" in verse 7 where we read: "all men through him might believe"?

15. According to Matthew 5:14, are we as believers lights?

III. Word Studies:
1. Word
2. Darkness
3. John

1. Word.
Logos. Noun Masculine.
Strong's Number: 3056
Strong's Definition: 1. of speech
1. a word, uttered by a living voice, embodies a conception or idea
2. what someone has said
1. a word
2. the sayings of God
3. decree, mandate or order
4. of the moral precepts given by God
5. Old Testament prophecy given by the prophets
6. what is declared, a thought, declaration, aphorism, a weighty saying, a dictum, a maxim
3. discourse
1. the act of speaking, speech
2. the faculty of speech, skill and practice in speaking
3. a kind or style of speaking
4. a continuous speaking discourse - instruction 4. doctrine, teaching
5. anything reported in speech; a narration, narrative
6. matter under discussion, thing spoken of, affair, a matter in dispute, case, suit at law 7. the thing spoken of or talked about; event, deed
2. its use as respect to the MIND alone
1. reason, the mental faculty of thinking, meditating, reasoning, calculating
2. account, i.e. regard, consideration
3. account, i.e. reckoning, score
4. account, i.e. answer or explanation in reference to judgment
5. relation, i.e. with whom as judge we stand in relation
1. reason would
6. reason, cause, ground
3. In John, denotes the essential Word of God, Jesus Christ, the personal wisdom and power in union with God, his minister in creation and government of the universe, the cause of all the world's life both physical and ethical, which for the procurement of man's salvation put on human nature in the person of Jesus the Messiah, the second person in the Godhead, and shone forth conspicuously from His words and deeds.

A Greek philosopher named Heraclitus first used the term Logos around 600 B.C. to designate the divine reason or plan which coordinates achanging universe. This word was well suited to John's purpose in John 1.

Word Origin: from 3004.
Lego. Verb.
Strong's Definition: 1. to say, to speak
1. affirm over, maintain
2. to teach
3. to exhort, advise, to command, direct
4. to point out with words, intend, mean, mean to say
5. to call by name, to call, name
6. to speak out, speak of, mention

2. Darkness.
Skotia. Noun.
Strong's Number: 4653
Definition: darkness. the darkness due to want of light. metaph. used of ignorance of divine things, and its associated wickedness, and the resultant misery in hell.

Word Origin: from 4655
Skotos. Noun.
Strong's Definition: 1. darkness
1. of night darkness
2. of darkened eyesight or blindness
2. metaph.
1. of ignorance respecting divine things and human duties, and the accompanying ungodliness and immorality, together with their consequent misery in hell
2. persons in whom darkness becomes visible and holds sway
3. John.
John is a Hellenized form of Jonathan, which means gift of God. There is a great spiritual portrait between John the Baptist and his Old Testament namesake. Both John and Jonathan had their glory overshadowed that God's anointed would have pre-eminence. With Jonathan, he stripped himself of his princely garments and gave them to David; with John the Baptist, he served as a forerunner to the LORD Jesus Christ.

The Word Made Flesh.

I. Text

John 1:9-18

That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which 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 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.

15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

II. Review Questions

16. Who is the true Light? (v.9)

17. What is meant by the Light "which lighteth every man"? (v.9)

18. Compare Romans 1:20, Psalm 19:1 and Job 12:7-10 with John 1:10. Can one see the evidence of Christ as Creator in nature? Explain.

19. Which verse is least similar to John 1:10?
a. 1 Corinthians 8:6
b. Colossians 1:16
c. Hebrews 1:2
d. 1 John 2:22

20. Compare John 1:10 with Acts 3:17 and 1 Corinthians 2:8. Do you think the Jews knew Jesus was the Messiah?

21. Is Christ still rejected by the Jews today? (v.10)

22. Who are His own? (v.11)

23. How does one receive Christ? (v.12)

24. Explain what is meant by each of the following in verse 13.
(a.) born, not of blood
(b.) nor of the will of the flesh
(c.) nor of the will of man

25. Explain how 1 John 2:29 & 1 John 3:9 relate to John 1:13.

26. What sect of heretics in the early church denied Christ came in the flesh? (v.14)

27. How does the presence of Christ dwell in His elect today? (v.14)

28. Why do you think there such a great emphasis on grace & truth in vv.14-17?

29. Compare John 1:17 with John 7:19. Comment on the contrast between the law of Moses and the grace of Christ.

30. Define the word grace (v.17).

31. In verse 17 we read that "grace and truth came by Jesus Christ". Later in John 14:6, gospel, Christ declares that He is the way, the truth and the _______________?

a. light
b. life
c. lamb
d. lamp

32. How do we harmonize John 1:18 with Exodus 33:17-23?

The Testimony of John.

I. Text

John 1:19-34

And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. 22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. 24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. 28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. 31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33 And 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. 34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

II. Review Questions

33. Who were John's parents; cf. Luke 1? (v.19)

34. Name the three religious parties that make up the Sanhedrin. (v.19)

35. Who or what are Levites? (v.19)

36. What is the full meaning of the word "confessed" in verse 20?

37. Name at least three similarites between Elijah and John the Baptist. (v.21)

38. Give the scripture references for these two verses that relate to John 1:21 and try to memorize where they are found.
(a) "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:"
(b) "The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;"

39. What does the name Elias or Elijah mean? (v.21)

40. Why do you think the priests and Levites asked John if he were Elijah? (v.21)

41. Why did those who sent the priests and Levites need an answer? (v.22)

42. Does John apply the prophecy cited to himself in verse 23? Can this prophecy refer to anyone else besides John? What is the danger of attributing the prophecy to another person?

43. What implications would the prophecy quoted by John have on those who came to question him? (v.23)

44. Where in the Old Testament do we find the prophecy quoted in John 1:23?

45. How did John "prepare the way for the LORD"? Be specific. (v.23)

46. When John declared that he baptized with water, was he implying that the One coming after him would not baptize with water? (v.26)

47. What is the meaning of the Greek word "baptizo"? (v.26)

48. By reading Luke 24:49 and immediately connecting it with Acts 1:1-5 then Acts 2, what do we learn about the Holy Spirit? (v.26)

49. Where is the most likely location of "Bethabara beyond Jordan"? (v.28) Use a Bible Atlas or dictionary if you need help.

50. Why did John (under inspiration) called Christ a "Lamb"? (v.29)

51. How does Christ provide salvation or atonement for one's soul? (v.29)

52. Concerning salvation, how does Revelation 17:8 relate to John 1:29?

53. Is John 1:29 saying that Christ took away the sins of the whole world (doctrine of universal atonement)? What about Matthew 7:14-23? Harmonize and explain.

54. Note the phrase "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove" in verse 32. Did the Holy Spirit actually look like a dove? Explain.

55. Why did John use the phrase: "And I knew him not" in vv. 31,33?

56. Is the Holy Spirit God? Is the Holy Spirit Christ? What does 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 teach us about the Holy Spirit?

57. Which of the following titles best summarizes the subject matter of John 1:19-34?
(a) Jewish proselyte baptism.
(b) The testimony of Nicodemus.
(c) The Testimony of John.
(d) The false teaching of the Pharisees.

III. Word Studies

1. confessed.
Strong's Number: 3670
Homologeo. Verb.
Strong's Definition: to say the same thing as another, i.e. to agree with, assent; to concede
1. not to refuse, to promise
2. not to deny
1. to confess
2. declare
3. to confess, i.e. to admit or declare one's self guilty of what one is accused of
2 to profess
1. to declare openly, speak out freely
2. to profess one's self the worshipper of one
3 to praise, celebrate

2. baptize.
Baptizo.
Strong's Number: 907.
Strong's Definition: to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk); to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one's self, bathe; to overwhelm.

Note: Every Greek lexicon of any reputation defines baptizo as to "dip, punge, immerse or submerge". (see lexicons: Bagster, Bass, Bloomfield, Bretschneider, Bullinger, Constantine, Cremer, Dawson, Donnegan, Dunbar, Ewing, Green, Greenfield, Grimm, Groves, Hedericus, Jones, Leigh, Lindell & Scott, Maltby, Morel, Pickering, Robson, Scapula, Schleusner, Schrevelius, Sophocies, Stephanus, Stockius, Thayer, Wright).

The fact that John baptized where there was "much water" (John 3:23) also points to the correct mode of both John's & New Testament Christian baptism, that is by immersion.

3. Elias or Elijah.
Strong's Number: 2243
Helias. Noun Masculine.
Strongs Definition: Elijah = "my God is Jehovah"

IV. Special Study - Similarities between Elijah & John the Baptist.

1. living conditions
Elijah: "hide thyself by the brook" - 1 Kings 17:3.
John: In the wilderness - (Matthew 3:1)

2. Unusual food:
Elijah: Ravens fed him (1 Kings 17:6)
John: locusts & wild honey (Matthew 3:4)

3. Appearance:
Elijah: hairy (2 Kings 1:8)
John: coat of Camel's hair (Matthew 3:4)

4. Message:
Elijah: call to repentance (1 Kings 18:39)
John: repentance (Matthew 3:4)

5. Influence over many:
Elijah: compelling & poweful personality (1 Kings 18)
John: brought whole nation into the wilderness (Matthew 3:5; Luke 3:15)

6. Firey wrath on enemies of truth
Elijah: (1 Kings 18:40)
John: (Matthew 3:7)

7. In the presence of Kings
Elijah: Ahab & Jezebel (1 Kings 21:19)
John: Herod & Herodius (Matthew 14:4).

8. Bad experience with a woman
Elijah: Jezebel (1 Kings 29:4)
John: Herodias (Matthew 14:5-8)

9. The Dark hour
Elijah: (1 Kings 29:4)
John: (Matthew 11:2).

10. Bold ending to career:
Elijah: (2 Kings 2:11)
John: (Matthew 14:11)

11. Loyalty of friends:
Elijah: (2 Kings 16:17)
John (Matthew 14:12)

Jesus' Public Ministry, First Converts.

I. Text

John 1:35-51

Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! 37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? 39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. 44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! 48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. 49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. 50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. 51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

II. Review Questions

58. How does verse 38 relate to Matthew 23:7ff.?

59. At the time was Jesus' residence close to where John was ministering? (v.39)

60. What did these two disciples say when Jesus asked them "what do you seek?" (v.39). Is this really why they were following Jesus?

61. What type of conversation most likely took place between the two disciples and Christ? (v.39)

62. What time is the "tenth hour"? (v.39)

63. Who was the other disciple besides Andrew? (v.40)

64. What can be said of Andrew's testimony in verse 41?

65. What is the meaning of "He first findeth his own brother"? (v.41)

66. What was Jesus speaking of when He called Peter a "stone"? Was it Peter's character? Explain. (v.42).

67. Are there any spiritual pictures to be found in vv.40-42 that point to our own approach when witnessing the gospel of Christ to mankind?

68. What was written of Christ in the law and the prophets? (v.45)

69. What can be said of Philip's testimony? (v.45) What else does the Bible tell us about Philip? name one or two other things about him.

70. Who was Nathanael and where did he live? (v.46)

71. Did Jesus come from some type of elite neighborhood? (v.46)

72. How does John 7:52 relate to verse 46?

73. Show the contrast between verse 49 and Matthew 27:42.

74. What is the fig tree a spiritual portrait of? (v.50)

75. What does verse 51 mean?

76. What best summarizes vv.35-51?
a. Jesus public ministry, first converts
b. Miracles of healing
c. cleansing the temple
d. the death of John the Baptist

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