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John 1: The Word Became Flesh

The eternal Word who was with God and was God comes into the world as a man, full of grace and truth, and the first disciples begin to follow him.

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John 1 (WEB)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made.

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it.

6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.

7 The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him.

8 He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light.

9 The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him.

11 He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him.

12 But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name:

13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 John testified about him. He cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’”

16 From his fullness we all received grace upon grace.

17 For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

18 No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.

19 This is John’s testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

20 He declared, and didn’t deny, but he declared, “I am not the Christ.”

21 They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.”

22 They said therefore to him, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

24 The ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees.

25 They asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”

26 John answered them, “I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don’t know.

27 He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to loosen.”

28 These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

29 The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.’

31 I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel.”

32 John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him.

33 I didn’t recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water, he said to me, ‘On whomever you will see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’

34 I have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

35 Again, the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples,

36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

38 Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), “where are you staying?”

39 He said to them, “Come, and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about the tenth hour.

40 One of the two who heard John, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

41 He first found his own brother, Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which is, being interpreted, Christ).

42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is by interpretation, Peter).

43 On the next day, he was determined to go out into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”

44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter.

45 Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, wrote: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

46 Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”

48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!”

50 Jesus answered him, “Because I told you, ‘I saw you underneath the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these!”

51 He said to him, “Most certainly, I tell you all, hereafter you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Summary

John opens not with a manger but with eternity, declaring that in the beginning was the Word, who was with God and was God, and through whom all things were made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all people, shining in a darkness that could not overcome it. John the Baptist comes as a witness to the light, though the world does not recognize its Maker. Yet to all who receive him, the Word gives the right to become children of God. Then comes the wonder: the Word became flesh and lived among us, full of grace and truth. John the Baptist points to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Andrew, Peter, Philip, and Nathanael are drawn to follow, and Jesus promises they will see heaven opened.

Main Characters

  • Jesus — The eternal Word made flesh, the light of the world and the Lamb of God who takes away sin.
  • John the Baptist — The witness sent to testify to the light, who declares Jesus the Lamb of God.
  • Andrew — One of John's disciples who follows Jesus and brings his brother Simon Peter.
  • Nathanael — Skeptical at first, he confesses Jesus as the Son of God and King of Israel.

Key Verse

John 1:14 (WEB)

The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Lessons Learned

  • Jesus is not a created being but the eternal Word, fully God, present at creation itself.
  • In becoming flesh, God draws near to live among us, full of grace and truth.
  • Receiving Christ by faith makes us beloved children of God, born of him and not of human effort.
  • Jesus is the Lamb of God whose mission is to take away the sin of the world.
  • Jesus is eternal, divine, and the source of all life. John writes, 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God' (John 1:1, WEB), and through him all things were made (John 1:3, WEB).
  • God came near by taking on our humanity. 'The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory... full of grace and truth' (John 1:14, WEB), showing the unseen God in a face we can know.
  • Faith in Christ makes us children of God. 'As many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God's children, to those who believe in his name' (John 1:12, WEB), a birth that is God's gift.
  • Christ is the Lamb who carries away our sin. John the Baptist sees Jesus and cries, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!' (John 1:29, WEB).
  • Jesus invites ordinary people to come and see. When Nathanael doubts, Philip simply says, 'Come and see' (John 1:46, WEB), and an encounter with Jesus turns doubt into worship (John 1:49, WEB).
  1. What does John teach about the identity of the Word in the opening verses, and why does he begin in eternity rather than at Bethlehem?
  2. What does it mean that the Word became flesh and lived among us, and how is this full of grace and truth?
  3. How does someone become a child of God according to this chapter, and what does that birth depend on?
  4. Why does John the Baptist call Jesus the Lamb of God, and how do the first disciples respond when they meet Jesus?
  5. Where in your own life do you need to receive Christ more fully and let his light shine into your darkness?
  1. John declares the Word was in the beginning, was with God, and was God, the agent of all creation (John 1:1-3). He begins in eternity to show that Jesus is no mere prophet or teacher but the eternal God, the light shining in the darkness that cannot overcome him (John 1:4-5).
  2. John says the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we saw his glory, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). God did not stay distant; he entered our world to be seen, touched, and known, joining unwavering truth with abundant, undeserved grace (John 1:16-17).
  3. We become children of God by receiving Christ and believing in his name (John 1:12). This birth is not of blood, human will, or effort, but of God himself (John 1:13). It is his gift, not our achievement, opening the family of God to all who trust the Son.
  4. John calls Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29), pointing to his coming sacrifice. The first disciples respond by following, staying with him, and bringing others, until Nathanael confesses him as the Son of God and King of Israel (John 1:39-49).
  5. This is a personal application question. Invite members to consider where they have only partly received Christ, or where darkness still lingers. As leader, encourage honest, unhurried sharing, point back to verse 12, and never press anyone to share more than they wish.

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB), the King James Version (KJV), and the American Standard Version (ASV), all of which are in the public domain.