FaithBindsUs Bible Study — The Gospel of John Chapter 1
John 1: The Word Became Flesh Date: Monday, October 20, 2025 Series: FaithBindsUs Structured Bible Study - Theme: Light has entered the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Overview
This is a series that will run twice a week. It provides the reader with a structured and interpretive guide to learning. Based on comments, we will adapt the series to the readers’ preferences. Our goal is to get you involved in learning the Word and integrating it into your life!
The Gospel of John opens not with genealogy, but with eternity. Before creation, before time, before light itself — “the Word” already was. John reveals that Jesus Christ is not merely a man who appeared in history, but God Himself made known in human form.
John writes with purpose:
“These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:31, NKJV)
This first chapter sets the foundation for the entire Gospel. It declares Jesus’ divinity, His role in creation, His incarnation, and His mission to reveal the Father and redeem humanity.
Key Verses (NKJV)
(John 1:1–3)
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 the beginning” echoes (Genesis 1:1), deliberately drawing a parallel to the creation account, but now focusing on the pre-existence of the “Word” (Greek: Logos). “The Word” (Logos) is a title for Jesus Christ, used to emphasize His role as the ultimate communication or expression of God. “Was with God” highlights a distinct relationship between the Word and God, as well as the coexistence and distinction of persons. “Was God” affirms the deity of the Word, declaring that the Word was fully divine, not just a creation or reflection of God. This verse upholds both the unity and distinction within the Godhead and is central to the doctrine of the Trinity.
(John 1:14)
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.The Word became flesh”: This is the heart of the Christian doctrine of the Incarnation. The “Word” (Greek Logos) refers to Jesus, who was with God and was God (John 1:1). He entered human history by becoming fully human and without ceasing to be God. “Dwelt among us” means “tabernacled” or “pitched His tent.” This recalls the Old Testament tabernacle where God dwelt among the Israelites, now fulfilled in Christ, who dwells among people in a personal and visible way. “We beheld His glory” refers to the eyewitness testimony of the disciples. They saw His divine nature through His teachings, miracles, and especially His death and resurrection. “Glory as of the only begotten of the Father”. “Only begotten” (Greek monogenēs) emphasizes the uniqueness and intimacy of the relationship between the Son and the Father. “Full of grace and truth”, Jesus perfectly embodies God’s grace and ultimate reality (truth). He reveals the character and essence of God.
(John 1:29)
Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!The day after his previous encounter with the Jewish leaders, John the Baptist sees Jesus approaching. He declares: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” This is a theological statement where the “Lamb of God“ alludes to the Old Testament sacrificial system (e.g., the Passover lamb in Exodus 12; the daily sin offerings). It portrays Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice, God’s provision for atonement, not just for Israel but for the entire world.
Context & Insight (Henrietta Mears Perspective)
Henrietta Mears reminds us that John’s Gospel is not chronological—it’s theological.
Where Matthew presents Jesus as King, Mark presents Him as Servant, and Luke presents Him as Man, John reveals Him as God incarnate.
Mears wrote:
“John does not tell us what Jesus did, but who Jesus is.”
This chapter transitions from eternity (vv. 1–5) to history (vv. 6–14), then to ministry (vv. 15–51), illustrating how divine purpose is woven into human experience.
Every miracle, every word, every act of compassion that follows in John’s Gospel flows from this opening truth: Jesus is the eternal Word who created, sustains, and redeems.
Faith & Reason (Apologetics Note – Norman Geisler)
In The Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics, Norman Geisler underscores the philosophical depth of John’s claim. Ancient thinkers used the Greek term “Logos” (Word) to describe the rational principle behind the universe, the ordering force that gave meaning and coherence to everything.
John boldly declares that this Logos is not an idea or principle, but a Person, Jesus Christ. This statement would have stunned both Greek philosophers and Jewish theologians alike.
Geisler writes that “The reason for accepting the authenticity of John’s Gospel are as good or better than those supporting the Synoptics”. All can be accepted in good conscience as historical,” connecting the Creator of Genesis 1 with the Redeemer of the New Testament.
Thus, Christianity does not begin with blind faith, but with a historical claim rooted in both reason and revelation:
The God who created the universe stepped into it.
Personal Application
John 1 invites us to move beyond mere belief in Jesus to a personal belief in Him.
He is not distant. He is not an abstract idea.
He entered our world — and your story — to bring light where there is darkness, grace where there is guilt, and truth where there is confusion.
Ask yourself this week:
Have I allowed the Word to dwell richly in my life, or do I merely acknowledge Him from afar?
Belief, in John’s Gospel, is not passive acknowledgment but active trust.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus,
You are the Word made flesh, the light that shines in my darkness, and the truth that anchors my soul. Help me not just to read about You, but to walk with You. May Your grace and truth dwell richly in me this week, and may my life reflect Your light to others.
Amen.
Additional Resources, Scripture Commentary & Reflective Questions: Please Use It!
Gospel of John Reference Page (click)
What Have We Learned?
Jesus as the Lamb of God
The title “Lamb of God” is central to Christian theology. It points to Jesus’ sacrificial death for the sin of the world—a redemption not limited to Israel, but extended to all humanity.
John the Baptist’s Role
John the Baptist was a divinely appointed forerunner to Jesus. His entire ministry centered on preparing people to meet the Messiah, emphasizing that his insights came through divine revelation, not human reasoning.
The Revelation of Jesus’ Identity
The descent of the Spirit upon Jesus was a supernatural confirmation of His divine anointing. It revealed Him as the promised Messiah and affirmed the connection between heaven’s authority and earthly mission.
Jesus and the Holy Spirit
Jesus is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit, while John baptized with water.
This marks the transition from the Old Covenant’s external purification to the New Covenant’s inner spiritual empowerment—a movement from ritual to relationship.
Jesus, the Son of God
John’s testimony supports the Gospel’s enduring theme: Jesus is divine, the Savior of the world. His words and actions testify that salvation is found in Him alone.
Witness and Discipleship
John the Baptist’s example teaches that faithful witness points others to Christ.
Discipleship begins with testimony and matures through response—when we hear Jesus’ invitation, “Come and see.”
Responding to the Call
Discipleship is an active journey. It involves seeking, following, and staying in His presence. Jesus changes lives—just as He changed Simon’s name to Peter, He gives a new identity to all who believe in Him.
Encounters with Jesus always bring transformation (as seen in Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman, and countless others).
The Ripple Effect of Faith
Andrew brought Peter; those disciples brought others.
Faith spreads not only through preaching but through personal connection and genuine testimony.
The Calling of Philip and Nathanael
Jesus personally sought out Philip, highlighting the sovereignty and grace of God in calling His followers. Philip, in turn, invited Nathanael—showing how the gospel moves heart to heart, one relationship at a time.
Jesus, the Fulfillment of Promise
In this passage, Jesus is revealed as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets (v. 45), the King of Israel (v. 49), and the bridge between heaven and earth (v. 51).
Nathanael’s journey from doubt to faith reflects how revelation grows through encounter.
Divine Insight and Human Hearts
Jesus’ supernatural knowledge—His awareness of hearts and minds—points unmistakably to His divine nature. He knows us fully, yet calls us lovingly, inviting each of us into more profound belief.
Reflection Thought:
Every encounter with Jesus calls for a response, faith that transforms, love that shares, and obedience that bears witness to who He truly is.
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Thank you, Jayson!
I truly enjoy your readings, thank you much.