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John 1 · Berean Standard Bible

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¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was with God in the beginning. ³Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. ⁵The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. ⁶There came a man who was sent from God. His name was John. ⁷He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe. ⁸He himself was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. ⁹The true Light who gives light to every man was coming into the world. ¹⁰He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. ¹¹He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. ¹²But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— ¹³children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God. ¹⁴The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵John testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, “This is He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’ ” ¹⁶From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace. ¹⁷For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known. ¹⁹And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?” ²⁰He did not refuse to confess, but openly declared, “I am not the Christ.” ²¹“Then who are you?” they inquired. “Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” ²²So they said to him, “Who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” ²³John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet: “I am a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ ” ²⁴Then the Pharisees who had been sent ²⁵asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” ²⁶“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands One you do not know. ²⁷He is the One who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” ²⁸All this happened at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. ²⁹The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰This is He of whom I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’ ³¹I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.” ³²Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him. ³³I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ ³⁴I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.” ³⁵The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. ³⁶When he saw Jesus walking by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” ³⁷And when the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. ³⁸Jesus turned and saw them following. “What do you want?” He asked. They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are You staying?” ³⁹“Come and see,” He replied. So they went and saw where He was staying, and spent that day with Him. It was about the tenth hour. ⁴⁰Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John’s testimony and followed Jesus. ⁴¹He first found his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated as Christ). ⁴²Andrew brought him to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated as Peter). ⁴³The next day Jesus decided to set out for Galilee. Finding Philip, He told him, “Follow Me.” ⁴⁴Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the same town as Andrew and Peter. ⁴⁵Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” ⁴⁶“Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. ⁴⁷When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit.” ⁴⁸“How do You know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” ⁴⁹“Rabbi,” Nathanael answered, “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” ⁵⁰Jesus said to him, “Do you believe just because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” ⁵¹Then He declared, “Truly, truly, I tell you, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

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John

John 1

The Eternal Word Incarnate: Light Piercing the Darkness

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Objective

To reveal Jesus Christ as the eternal Word of God, the source of all creation and life, who enters the world as the true Light, calling humanity into new birth and fellowship with God.

Overview

John 1 opens with a majestic declaration of the preexistence and deity of the Word, who is both with God and is God. This Word is the agent of creation and the source of life and light that shines in darkness. The chapter introduces John the Baptist as the forerunner who testifies to the Light. The Word becomes flesh, dwelling among humanity, revealing divine glory full of grace and truth. The chapter closes with the calling of the first disciples, who recognize Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God.

Detailed Analysis

Event Description

The chapter begins with a profound proclamation: 'In the beginning was the Word.' This Word is eternal, existing before time and creation. The Word was with God, and indeed was God. Through Him all things were made; nothing came into being apart from Him. In Him was life, and this life is the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it. This opening sets the tone of divine majesty and cosmic significance, introducing Jesus as the eternal Logos, the source and sustainer of all life and light.

Central Themes

Eternity and deity of the Word

The Word as Creator

Life and light as divine attributes

Light overcoming darkness

Cultural & Historical Context

The concept of the Logos resonates with both Jewish wisdom literature and Hellenistic philosophy, yet John uniquely identifies the Logos as God incarnate. This counters pagan ideas of multiple gods or impersonal forces, affirming a personal, eternal God who speaks creation into being (Psalm 33:6; Proverbs 8:22-31).

Key Verse

John 1:1

Vivid Artistic Descriptions

The Word’s Eternal Presence and Creative Power (Verses 1–5)

A boundless cosmic darkness pierced by a radiant, uncreated light—the Word—hovering over the void. From this light, streams of life and creation flow outward, illuminating the formless depths with divine brilliance that darkness cannot comprehend or extinguish.

John the Baptist’s Witness to the True Light (Verses 6–34)

A solitary figure standing in a wilderness, voice raised like a clarion call, pointing toward a radiant figure approaching from afar. The light shines steadily, inviting all who hear to come forth, while shadows of rejection linger among the crowd behind.

The Word Made Flesh and the Revelation of Glory (Verses 35–51)

A humble man dwelling among ordinary people, yet surrounded by a luminous glory visible to those who believe. Disciples gather, faces alight with awe and recognition, as a heavenly ladder of angels ascends and descends upon the Son of Man, bridging earth and heaven.

Song

The Word Among Us (The Word in Jazz)

Stanza 1

Before the first beginning, The Word with God was God; All life came into being Through Him who walked our sod.

Stanza 2

The darkness could not master The light His presence brings; He came among His people, The Maker of all things.

Stanza 3

Some closed their doors against Him; Some welcomed and believed. As children of the Father, His fullness they received.

Stanza 4

The witness claimed no glory: “Behold the Lamb of God.” The Spirit rested on Him; Disciples walked His road.

Stanza 5

“Come, see”—the call went outward; A stone received his name. Beneath the fig tree, known already, Nathanael’s faith became a flame.

Practical Application

Personal Life

Recognize Jesus as the eternal Word who gives life and light to your soul.

Embrace new birth through faith, becoming a child of God by receiving Him.

Respond to Jesus’ call to follow Him personally and intimately.

Community & Society

Bear witness to the Light in your community, inviting others to know Christ.

Encourage one another in faith, recognizing the power of God’s grace and truth.

Live as children of God, reflecting His light in relationships and service.

Global Perspective

Proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ as the true Light to all nations.

Stand against spiritual darkness by upholding the truth of the Word incarnate.

Promote unity in the body of Christ worldwide, drawn together by the Light.

Conclusion

John 1 unveils the majestic truth that Jesus Christ is the eternal Word, the divine Light shining into the darkness of the world. He is the Creator who became flesh to dwell among us, full of grace and truth. Through the testimony of John the Baptist and the calling of the first disciples, the chapter invites all to receive this Light and be born anew as children of God. This opening chapter establishes the foundation for all that Jesus will accomplish—bringing life, light, and salvation to a world in need.