1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that hath been made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not. There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light. There was the true light, even the light which lighteth every man, coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and they that were His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on His name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, glory as of the Only-Begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth."
Golden Text.—"In Him was life; and the life was the light of men." Verse 4.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) What was in the beginning? Where was the Word? What was the Word? Vs. 1, 2. Note . (2) What was made by Him? V. 3. Note . (3) What great universal principle was in Him? What is that life to us? V. 4. (4) Where does the light shine? With what result? V. 5. Note . (5) What man was sent from God? V. 6. (6) For what purpose did John come? Vs. 7, 8. (7) What is the special characteristic of that light? V. 9. (8) With what ignorance did He meet? V. 10. Note . (9) How did "His own" treat His overtures? V. 11. (10) What did He give to them that did receive Him? V. 12. (11) How are these children born? V. 13. Note . (12) What did the Word become? Of what was this flesh full? V. 14. Note .
NOTES.
1. "In the beginning."—We learn nothing from this expression as to definite length of time in the past. If we consider the beginning of things to us visible, or to the beginning of all created beings, at the remotest time of which we can conceive in connection with any material existence, the Word was, implying a pre-existence. The Word was co-existent with God, for "the Word was God."
2. "Were made."—That is, "all things" came into being by Him, or through Him, or from Him; and apart from Him nothing came into being.
3. "The Light."—Jesus says, "I am the Light of the world; he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 8:12. And John says, "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all." 1 John 1:5. "Apprehended."—The common version has "comprehended," and the margin of the R.V. has "overcame."
4. "Every man" endowed with ordinary reason has some light from God, which, if followed, would lead him to the fuller light of truth and salvation. Even those who have only the knowledge of God through His visible works are "without excuse" if they reject the Light. See Rom. 1:18-25.
5. "Not born of blood."—"Ye must be born again," but the second birth is spiritual. John 3:3-6; Rom. 8:5-15. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature." 2 Cor. 5:17. "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." 1 Cor. 15:22. For results in this life, see 1 John 5:1-5, 12, 18.
6. "The Word became flesh."—This verse is the fullest proof that the Word referred to in the previous verses is Christ. He dwelt "among us," and He was "full of grace and truth," as none other ever was upon the earth. As He "dwelt among us," so "in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And so ye are complete in Him." Col. 2:9, 10. Therefore, "as He is, so are we in this world." 1 John 4:17. This is true if we really have the Spirit of Christ. "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God," etc. See Col. 3:1-17.