Gospel of John Bible Study - Lesson 1

Gospel of John Bible Study - Lesson 1

Read the passage below using the 2 different Bible translations:

John 1:1-5 New International Version (NIV)

The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:1-5 Living Bible (TLB)

1 ^1-2 Before anything else existed, there was Christ,* with God. He has always been alive and is himself God. ³ He created everything there is—nothing exists that he didn’t make. ⁴ Eternal life is in him, and this life gives light to all mankind. ⁵ His life is the light that shines through the darkness—and the darkness can never extinguish it.

Note:

Here are the 3 questions for you to answer. I have given some basic answers below the questions to help understand the passage. Answer the questions first yourself before you look at my answers. Take a moment before you begin and ask God to help you understand what you are reading.

3 questions to answer:

1.    Content: What is this passage about?

2.    Lesson: What do I learn from this passage?

3.    Application: How can I apply what I have learned to my life?

Answers to the questions above and some background:

Content: What is this passage about?

·        In the beginning was the Word (Jesus)

·        Jesus is the divine creative power behind the creation of the universe, time, matter, space, scientific laws etc.

·        Everything we can observe today was part of God’s original Creation.

·        God spoke the universe into existence

The passage below explains how God created the heavens and the earth:

Genesis 1:1-4 New International Version (NIV)

The Beginning

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ² Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. ³ And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. ⁴ God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.⁵ God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

Lesson: What do I learn from this passage?

·        There was a beginning

·        Jesus played a role in creation “Through Him all things were made”

·        In Jesus we can find life. Jesus is the light of all mankind.

·        Darkness cannot overcome the light.

Application: How can I apply what I have learned to my life?

·        We know how we got here.

·        God created the earth and people for a purpose.

·        In Jesus we can find life, and He can help us have real life in a world that has fallen into darkness.

Background:

Who wrote this Gospel (The Good News)?

·        John an Apostle one of the original 12 disciples of Jesus

·        (Note: During the life and ministry of Jesus in the 1st century AD, the apostles were his closest followers and became the primary teachers of the gospel message of Jesus)  

John was present during Jesus’ 3 year ministry and was a witness to Jesus’ death on the Cross and Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus told His disciples He would be killed and on the third day he would come back to life (read verse below)

Matthew 16:21 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Predicts His Death

²¹ From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

·        The Book of John is the 4^th Gospel in the New Testament

·        John’s  Gospel is an eyewitness account of Jesus’ ministry

·        Written sometime in the 1^st Century AD some claim as early as 20 years after Jesus’ death and Resurrection

John’s main purpose in writing this Gospel:

·        To tell the world that Jesus is the Messiah for the Jews and Gentiles

·        The events were recorded so that we might believe and have eternal life

John 20:30-31 New International Version (NIV)

The Purpose of John’s Gospel

³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹ But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Questions to ponder:

·        Is it possible that an eternal all-powerful God created the universe by speaking it into existence?

·        It is possible that Jesus could be the Word, The Messiah?

·        Are will you be willing to investigate what the Bible says about who this Messiah really is, and why He was sent?

·        Do you desire to get truthful answers about life and death?

·        Will you be open to hearing what God has to say about His plan for your life?

Have a great week…………….Dave