John, Chapter 1, A Brief Commentary— Meeting the Word Made Flesh

The Word Made Flesh: Encountering Christ in the Gospel of John.

The Gospel of John stands apart from the other Gospels. Written by the disciple whom Jesus loved, it’s a deeply personal account that gets straight to the heart of who Jesus is. While the other writers told the story of Jesus’s life from the outside, John takes us inside, revealing Jesus not just as a great teacher or a miracle worker, but as God himself.
John’s purpose was to convey a profound truth: that Jesus is the Divine Word, the one who existed with God from the beginning and through whom all things were created. In a world full of darkness, he is the true light, a beacon of hope for all who are willing to see.
This first chapter serves as a powerful introduction, presenting a series of testimonies about Jesus—from John the Baptist to the very first disciples—that invite us to see him as he truly is.

The Divine Word: The Foundation of All Things (John 1:1-5).

John opens his Gospel with a truth that echoes throughout eternity: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The term “the Word” is not just a title; it’s an explanation. Just as our words reveal our thoughts, the Son of God was sent to reveal the Father’s mind to the world.
This passage proves that Jesus is God. John asserts his eternal existence, his coexistence with the Father, and his role in creation. Everything that exists, from the highest angel to the smallest microbe, was made by him. He wasn’t just an instrument; he was the source. This shows his power and authority, and it also proves he is fully qualified to be our Redeemer and Savior.
The Word is also called the “true Light,” and this light shines in the darkness, but the darkness does not comprehend it. In the face of a world that struggles to understand spiritual truth, we are called to pray that our own eyes would be opened to this light so that we can walk in it and find salvation.

The Light of Humanity (John 1:6-14).

John the Baptist, a powerful and prophetic figure, was sent to bear witness to the Light. This highlights just how spiritually dark the world was—the light had arrived, yet people still needed someone to point it out to them. Christ is the ultimate light, and only those who are enlightened by him can find salvation.
This passage also reveals the incredible truth of the Incarnation. Christ was “in the world” he had created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to save a lost world, but even his own people did not receive him. This speaks to a universal human condition: many claims to know Jesus but are unwilling to accept him as their king.
But to those who do receive him, he gives the right to become children of God. This new birth is a spiritual reality, a transformation worked by the Spirit of God. While he had always been in the world by his divine presence, now he was God “manifested in the flesh.” Yet even in his human form, the divine glory shone through, seen most clearly by those who were closest to him. His grace was fully acceptable to the Father, making him the perfect advocate for us, and his truth was complete, fully revealing all that we needed to know.

The Testimony of John the Baptist (John 1:15-18).

John the Baptist was a prominent figure in his time, but he never took credit for himself. He consistently pointed to Jesus, declaring that while he came after him chronologically, Jesus was before him in every way. This confirms Jesus’s pre-existence and his eternal nature.
The passage also emphasizes that from Jesus, we have all received “grace upon grace.” The law, though holy and just, cannot provide salvation or strength. It can show us what to do, but it cannot give us the power to do it. Only through Jesus Christ do we receive God’s mercy, and only through him can we come to the Father. He is the only way to truly know God, for he is the only begotten Son who has revealed him.

John’s Public Proclamation (John 1:19-28).

As people came to John the Baptist with questions about his identity, he was quick to correct them. He wasn’t the Christ, nor was he Elijah or the Prophet they were expecting. He was simply a voice crying in the wilderness, preparing the way for the Lord. He baptized with water as a sign of repentance, but he told them of a greater one among them whom they did not know—one to whom he was not worthy to untie his sandals.

The Lamb of God and the First Disciples (John 1:29-51).

The climax of John the Baptist’s testimony comes when he sees Jesus and declares, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” This is a direct reference to the paschal lamb and the daily sacrifices, all of which pointed to Jesus’s ultimate sacrifice. John makes it clear that we find pardon and redemption not through our own works, but through Jesus alone. He bore our sin for us and takes it away, encouraging us to have faith in his atoning sacrifice.
As John pointed to Jesus, some of his own disciples, including Andrew, followed Jesus. This shows the true nature of ministry: to lead others to Christ. Andrew then found his brother, Simon, and brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus gave Simon the name “Peter” (meaning “rock”), he showed that he would make him a firm and steadfast follower. This reminds us that it is by God’s grace that we are able to be constant in our faith.
Finally, we see Philip, who was also called to follow Jesus, and he in turn brought Nathanael. Nathanael was initially sceptical, but when Jesus revealed his deep knowledge of his character and even his location under a fig tree, Nathanael declared him to be the Son of God. This illustrates that Jesus knows our hearts completely. Just as Jesus saw Nathanael’s uprightness, he knows what is truly in us.

Conclusion.

John, Chapter 1, is more than just a historical record. It is a series of testimonies that build on one another to paint a complete picture of Jesus. From the Word who created all things to the Lamb of God who takes away sin, Jesus is presented as both fully divine and fully human. The chapter encourages us to examine our own hearts, to see if we, like the first disciples, are ready to follow him and tell others about the one who knows us completely and loves us more than we can imagine.