John 1 reminds me of the power of the written word to crystalize ideas. I literally wrote out a list of qualities and characteristics for my perfect wife. My checklist was developed through a painful process of trial and error that hurt others along the way. I waited a long time, but when I found her, I was certain. The gospel of John is the fulfillment of God’s promise to His beloved. John begins with the concept of God’s Word. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”. It is important to understand that God spoke creation into existence. That means there is God, and there is His creation and the two are separate. The Word was a Hebrew reference to God Himself. John linked Jesus to the creation as part of the preexistent Godhead. “He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made”. John then explained the purpose of His birth, “In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind… He came as a witness”. God became Man to be both just and the One who justifies. Only a sinless man can pay the debt of others. “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us”. John drew a distinction between all of the prophets that preceded Him, “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ”. Grace is a free gift to all who ask. Finally John made a claim that he defended with his life, “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God”. He is the fulfillment of God’s promise. Do you recognize Him?
Next John provides his personal observation of John the Baptist, even recounting conversations with the Jewish leaders. “I am not the Messiah”. “Are you Elijah? Are you the Prophet? Who are you?” “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord’”. John announced Jesus as the sacrifice for all mankind, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John also claimed Jesus was Messiah, “I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One”. The Jewish leaders were looking for a political king, but those under the burden of the Law were looking for a Redeemer. Jesus taught from God’s written Word, but spoke the language of the common people. Each of the apostles recognized Him when they heard Him. Friend, have you stopped looking for peace?
Jesus asked the first two disciples, “What do you want?” If you are living under a burden of uncertainty, He says to you too, “Come, and you will see”. After listening to Jesus, “The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon”. He said, “We have found the Messiah”, “And he brought him to Jesus”. In this meeting we see an example of transformation. Jesus said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas (which, when translated, is Peter)”. Note that “Simon” means “hearer”, while the root word for Peter means “rock”. I believe Jesus was saying you will become a leader instead of a follower. What made the difference? A firm foundation of understanding makes us strong and stable. What did Peter learn? All have sinned and fallen short of perfection, but, “In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). The Gospel of John will teach that God’s forgiveness is free to all that ask because God loves us more than we can conceive. Do you know what you are looking for? Trial and error are a painful way to find contentment. I looked for fulfillment in many places and found only disappointment. The Word of God became a mirror revealing my failures, but it also contained the unbreakable promises of my Savior. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). We love because He first loved us. My friend, will you come and see?