“A Journey with John” Day 2: The Word and His Witness (John 1:1-34)

Let’s head out together with John!

Jumping right in, we should first note that John wastes no time in making clear Who Jesus is. Indeed, He is God. He is the Word of God in the form of a Man. He is the Lamb of God. He will take away the sins of the world. As well, although He will be rejected by His own, He will give those who do receive Him, the right to be part of God‘s family. He will bring grace and truth. Additionally, He will baptize those who have received Him with the Holy Spirit of God.

John leads into his narrative of events by introducing us to John the Baptizer. Indeed, John the Baptizer was “the voice of one crying in the wilderness,” who had been prophesied to come (Isaiah 40:3). We don’t have to guess about this fact, because he introduces himself as the same when people were sent by the Pharisees to find out who he is. His whole purpose is to direct attention to Jesus by revealing Who He is and what He has come to do. He will prepare the way of the Lord. From John’s account we know that it was John the Baptizer who revealed Jesus as being the Lamb of God and declares Him as being the Son of God.

Our highlighted verses for today:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord,” ’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.””

‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭4‬, ‭6‬-‭7‬, ‭11‬-‭12‬, ‭14‬, ‭19‬, ‭23‬, ‭29‬, ‭33‬-‭34‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question for Reflection:

Do we share a similar view of Jesus with those who see Him as only a good man or as only a prophet of God? Why or why not?

Next time, we’ll meet the first disciples.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!