John 1-2

1. John the Baptist testified of Christ (1.19-28). In the Prologue, the apostle had introduced John the Baptist by stating that while he was a witness to the light (v. 7), he was not the true light (v. 8). Perhaps John was so emphatic because many were perplexed about the Baptist’s identity—so much so that “Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, ‘who are you?’” (v. 19). The Pharisees were especially intrigued as to the identity of this leader, thinking him the Messiah, Elijah or the Prophet. John was none of these; he was rather one “sent from God” (v. 6), to cry out: “Make straight the way of the Lord” (v. 23; cf. Is 40.3)
2. Andrew and Peter met the “Lamb of God” (1.29-42). Andrew was one of the Baptist’s disciples, and when John again identified “the Lamb of God” (vv. 29, 36), Andrew turned to follow Him, and enjoyed the Lord’s company for the rest of the day. Telling it is that Andrew’s next action was to find his brother, Simon, and tell him of the Messiah
3. Jesus’ encountered Philip and Nathanael.  John testified that, “I didn’t know Him, but I came baptizing with water so He might be revealed to Israel” (v. 31). After Jesus found Philip, he in turn told Nathanael to come and meet the one from Nazareth. John records, “Then Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him and said about him, ‘Here is a true Israelite; no deceit is in him’” (v. 47). The purpose of John the Baptist’s mission was to help any faithful Israelite know the Messiah; Nathanael was a man who—like the Pharisees—could trace his lineage to Jacob, but who was void of the deceitfulness that so characterized both Israel the man and the nation that bore his name. While many of His own did not receive Him (v. 11), Nathanael did
4. God was revealed in Cana of Galilee, and the court of the Gentiles (ch 2). The two primary events of ch 2 have a related theme: Jesus’ authority over Judaism, and His concern for the Gentiles. Outstanding in the miracle at Cana is not so much that Jesus turned water to wine, but that the water jars under investigation had been placed at the wedding, “for Jewish purification” (v. 6). Jesus witnessed here to the wedding servants—who knew the origin of the water-turned-wine (v. 9). As the fine wine was enjoyed at the latter part of the wedding, Jesus’ entrance into the world excelled all of God’s previous revelation in the days of Old. While this display of His glory prompted initial belief among his disciples (v. 11), He displayed His authority over Judaism further still when He went up to Jerusalem (v. 13). There He cleansed the temple complex during Passover! Those regulating the festival had allowed merchants—providing commerce necessary for the Passover celebration—to set up in the court of the Gentiles. In Jesus’ understanding, the temple complex was part of His Father’s house—a place that during the Passover should have been a witness to the Gentiles of God’s power in the Exodus—as opposed to a rowdy market. Further though, in a statement that plainly declared the significant shift that was taking place in salvation history, Jesus stated that the true “sanctuary” (v. 19) was His very Being—which would be raised up in three days (cf. 20.11ff.). Jesus displayed such authority over Judaism because He was the fulfillment of it; some understood this and believed, but Jesus did not entrust Himself to these whose faith was prompted simply by His signs

1. When Moses requested to see the LORD’s glory, He said to Moses, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live” (33.20), and John wrote: “No one has ever seen God. The One and Only Son—the One who is at the Father’s side—He has revealed Him” (1.18). What Moses longed to see, Jesus displayed in full
2. When the LORD commanded Moses to make new stone tablets, He came down on Mt Sinai in a cloud and said, “Yahweh—Yahweh is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth” (34.6), and John wrote of Jesus: “We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth…Indeed, we have all received grace after grace from His fullness, for although the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (1.14b, 16-17)
3. Since Israel had sinned when Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days (cf. Ex 32), and Israel’s leader was concerned that the LORD had abandoned His people and would not accompany them toward the Promised Land, he felt it necessary when receiving the second set of tablets to request of the LORD, “If I have indeed found favor in Your sight, my Lord, please go with us. Even though this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wrongdoing and sin, and accept us as Your own possession” (34.9). The LORD replied with instructions for building the tabernacle so that Israel could have a physical assurance of His presence among them; John wrote: “The Word became flesh and took up residence among us” (1.14a)

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