The Gospel Of John
74First Monologue-Ch. 1 vs. 1-5
Jn 1:1 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, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
The Holy Bible : English Standard Version., Jn 1:1-5 (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001).
John begins his gospel with the clearest claim of divinity of Jesus he can. He identifies Jesus as the Logos, the Word, and this Word not only was in the begining with God but He is God. We know that Jesus is this Word because in verse 14 we see that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We see here a blissfullness in the eternal relationship between the Father and the Son. Having this clear in our minds helps us then appreciate how much of a sacrifice His condescending to become one of us is.
John makes it clear Jesus is not a subordinate or inferior player in this Godhead. He states unequivically ALL things were created by Him (vs. 3). The trinity, all three members were active in creation however this verse also serves another purpose, to confirm that Jesus himself was NOT a created being.
There are two major themes John establishes and returns to throughout his gospel. In verse 4 light and life are set up as who Jesus is. Jesus as life begins and ends the beloved disciples evangel.
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
The Holy Bible : English Standard Version., Jn 1:4 (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001).
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
The Holy Bible : English Standard Version., Jn 20:30-31 (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001).
Of course we have Jesus claiming to be the source of life in chapter 14.
6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
The Holy Bible : English Standard Version., Jn 14:6 (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001).
The word life occurs more than thirty-five times in John's gospel. But what does it mean that Jesus is the source of life? John is purposely bringing to mind the opening verses of Genesis and the start of his book. It is no coincidence that both books start with "In the beginning." Now when we read the first book of the Bible in light of this new revelation we see Jesus when we read:
7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
The Holy Bible : English Standard Version., Ge 2:7 (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001).
This is what John means when he portrays Jesus as the source of life.
What is meant now by light? Jesus as the light shines forth and shows fallen man their true state. But men love darkness (John 3:19-21) so they will not come to this light unless Christ himself brings them to it.
44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
The Holy Bible : English Standard Version., Jn 6:44 (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001).
In verse 5 the light shifts from the imperfect tense in verse 4 to the present tense, showing that not only was Jesus the light but He is the light. This light is shining into the darkness but this darkness does not overcome it. This darkness has a specific meaning. It is not some nebulous evil somewhere "out there" it is fallen mankind, sin, it is every one of us. This darkness is synonomous with the world in verse 10 again speaking of fallen man John says:
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.
The Holy Bible : English Standard Version., Jn 1:10 (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001).
Notice that the darkness(fallen mankind) does not overcome the light. This is an active verb meaning the darkness tried, is trying, and will continue to try and overcome the light(Jesus). We, as fallen men, are actively antagonistic toward God in Christ. We hate Him and want him to go away.
20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
The Holy Bible : English Standard Version., Jn 3:20 (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001).
And who does wicked things? We all do and it is only the grace of Christ drawing us to Himself that save us.
Leave me a comment and let me know what you think of this. It is something I did in much pain and is a hasty exegesis.
In Christ
Alan
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Hi TLMinut,
I believe this is the passage you are referring to:
Mark 10:17-22.
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good-except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'"
"Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."
Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Read that line again, "No one is good except God alone." He didn't say not to call him good, but pointed out that because the man had called him good, the man was acknowledging that he (Jesus) was God.
I found a quote from John Calvin that helps explain why "only the father knows":
For we know that in Christ the two natures were united into one person in such a manner that each retained its own properties; and more especially the Divine nature was in a state of repose, and did not at all exert itself, whenever it was necessary that the human nature should act separately, according to what was peculiar to itself, in discharging the office of Mediator. There would be no impropriety, therefore, in saying that Christ, who knew all things, (John xxi.17,) was ignorant of something in respect of his perception as a man; for otherwise he could not have been liable to grief and anxiety, and could not have been like us, (Heb. ii.17.) . . . And if Christ, as man, did not know the last day, that does not any more derogate from his Divine nature than to have been mortal.
John Calvin, Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, and Luke, trans. William Pringle (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1949), 3:153-154.
Jesus truly was man, but Jesus truly was and is God.
Mrs. Gielczyk
TLMinut 3 years ago
If John was clearly claiming divinity for Jesus, why did Jesus claim otherwise? He said not to call him good because only the Father was good; he said the Father is greater than he is; he said no one knows when the time for his return is to be, only the Father knows.
There must be some other way to understand what John was saying with that statement.