John 1 – Jesus, the Son of God (INTRODUCTION)
If we look at all the people in history, we can say that Jesus of Nazareth was the most outstanding person of all. People have lots of different opinions of Jesus, but I think everybody thinks Him important for one reason or another. John was one of the Jesus’ closest friends. John saw Jesus, touched Jesus, heard Him speak, and spent lots of time with Him. John wrote a book so we can find out more about Jesus. While we study it, we are going to think about two important questions: a. Who is Jesus? and b. What does He want of us? LOOKING OVER JOHN’S BOOK WHO wrote it? John (not John the Baptist) did. He also wrote 3 letters (I, II, and III John) and the last book of the Bible, the Revelation. WHEN did he write it? Sometime between 70 and 90 A.D. (about 40 or 50 years after Jesus died). WHY did he write it? John 20:31 gives us the reason for writing it: “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.” WHAT is in the book? 1. Introduction (1:1-18) 2. Jesus shows that He is the Son of God (1:19-12:50) 3. Jesus spends His time with His disciples explaining (13:1-17:26) 4. Jesus is arrested, tried, crucified and resurrected (18:120:31) 5. Ending (21:1-25) INTRODUCTION John 1:18 tells us that no one has ever seen God. How can we then know God if we have never seen Him? We can’t know God by our efforts (trying). God had to do something so that we could know Him. John tells us that God did do something – He gave us the WORD. The WORD for God is ______________. John 1:18 tells us that people have not seen God, but God has shown Himself to us in Jesus, the Son of God. Hebrews 1:1-2 tells us the same thing: “In the past God spoke to our ancestors many times in many ways through the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us through His Son.” Visit Bible 4 Life forum and Bible study resources at http://bible4life.freeforums.org
Now we can look at John 1:1 and 14. Fill in the blanks with the word for God: “In the beginning was __________ and __________ was with God and __________ was God. __________ was with God in the beginning. __________ became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” QUESTIONS 1. What are some things you find out about “the WORD” from vs. 1-5, 14? 2. From what it says in vs. 11-13, how does a person come into (become part of) God’s family? Put an X beside the wrong answers. __ __ __ __ __
being born from special parents trying very hard working for it letting a friend do it for you Believing in Jesus’ name
__ thinking about it __ receiving Jesus __ studying a lot __ being born of God __ other (______________)
3. What do you think it means to “be born of God”? 4. Read John 1:35-51. This part teaches the story of how 5 people first met Jesus. Each one came by a different way. Fill in the following chart with the information from the verses you read. NAME WHY DID HE BELIEVE IN JESUS
CONCLUSION Two important questions for us from John 1: 1. Who is Jesus? 2. Who is Jesus to you? The Final Word You and me, we use, so many clumsy words, The noise of what we often say is not worth being heard. When the Father's wisdom wanted to communicate His love, He spoke it in one final perfect WORD. Visit Bible 4 Life forum and Bible study resources at http://bible4life.freeforums.org
He spoke the incarnation, and so was born the Son, His final WORD was Jesus, He needed no other one. Spoke flesh and blood so He could bleed and make a way divine, And so was born the baby who would die to make it mine. And so the Father’s fondest thought took on flesh and bone, HE spoke the living luminous WORD, at once His will was done. And so the transformation that in man had been unheard, Took place in God the Father as He spoke the final WORD. And so the light became alive and manna became man. Eternity stepped into time so we could understand. And so was born the baby who would die to make it mine.
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