Welcome to the first week of our 21-week journey through the book of John. Thank you for taking time out of your day to sit down with us as we venture through John together. As you read, you will notice that we use three different translations primarily, the NIV, NLT, and the AMP. We do this because the NIV and NLT are widely used, and the AMP adds more depth into what the writer, in this case, John the Apostle, is portraying, in order to better understand. Our hope is that this encourages you, uplifts you, and increases your walk with God.
Historical Context
The Gospel of John, the fourth book in the New Testament, provides a theological account of Jesus’ life, differing from the Synoptic Gospels by emphasizing his divinity through signs and discourses. It was likely composed in the late first century amid tensions between early Christians and Jewish authorities, after the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.
Authorship
Tradition attributes the Gospel to John the Apostle, the “disciple whom Jesus loved,” who resided in Ephesus. Early church fathers like Irenaeus linked it to him via Polycarp, though modern scholars debate if a community edited his material. Its intimate tone suggests eyewitness roots, preserved for believers facing expulsion from synagogues around AD 80-90.
Date
Most scholars date it to AD 90-100, post-temple destruction, with fragments like the Rylands papyrus (c. AD 130) supporting early circulation. Some argue for earlier (AD 64-70) based on references to Peter’s death and lack of temple fall mention. By AD 110, it influenced figures like Ignatius.
Historical Setting
Jesus’ ministry unfolds in Roman-occupied Judea and Galilee (c. AD 27-33), under emperors Tiberius and prefects like Pontius Pilate. Tensions arose from heavy taxes, Herodian rule, and messianic expectations amid Roman brutality. John highlights Jerusalem feasts and conflicts with leaders fearing Roman reprisal.
Purpose and Audience
John targets mixed Jewish-Gentile believers in Ephesus and the Greco-Roman world, explaining customs for Gentiles. Its aim: “that you may believe Jesus is the Christ” (John 20:31), countering unbelief post-synagogue expulsions. Unlike Synoptics, it stresses eternal life through faith amid growing church-synagogue divides.
Without further ado, lets dive into John Chapter 1.
In the opening chapter of his Gospel, John doesn’t ease us in with a birth story or a timeline. He takes us straight into eternity. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (NIV, John 1:1). John wants us to see Jesus before we see anything else; not just as a wise teacher or miracle-worker, but as the eternal Word of God. The NLT says, “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God” (NLT, John 1:1). And the AMP says, “In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself” (AMP, John 1:1). Jesus is not a created being. He is fully God, eternally existing with the Father and the Spirit, through whom all things were made. When we meet Jesus in this Gospel, we are meeting God.
John goes on to say, “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (NIV, John 1:4–5). Darkness in Scripture often pictures sin, confusion, and separation from God. Left to ourselves, we stumble through life, trying to define truth and purpose on our own. But Jesus enters that darkness as the true Light. He doesn’t just give us a bit of spiritual advice; He brings life itself—the very life of God—into human hearts. This is the heart salvation: we are not just “improved” by religion; we are rescued out of darkness and brought into new life through faith in Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit.
Then comes one of the most staggering verses in all of Scripture: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us”, (NIV, John 1:14a). The NLT says, “So the Word became human and made his home among us”, (NLT, John 1:14a), and the AMP explains that He “became flesh…and tabernacled—lived among us” (AMP, John 1:14a). God did not stay distant. He stepped into our world in the person of Jesus, taking on real human flesh and blood. We are told, “We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (NIV, John 1:14b). In Jesus, we see exactly what God is like—holy and truthful, yet overflowing with grace toward sinners. Jesus is fully God and fully man; God revealed in a way we can see, hear, and know.
John also shows us how people respond to this Light. “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him” (NIV, John 1:11). Many will see Jesus and turn away, preferring their own darkness. But that’s not the whole story. “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (NIV, John 1:12). Being God’s child is not automatic; it doesn’t come from family background, effort, or religious habit. John says these children are “born… of God” (NIV, John 1:13). This is the new birth that John will unpack more in chapter 3: a spiritual birth brought about by God’s Spirit when we repent and believe. That we are saved by grace through faith in Christ, made new by the Holy Spirit, and adopted into God’s family.
As you begin this 21‑week journey through John, it’s worth asking some honest questions. Do you see Jesus as He truly is—the eternal Word, God Himself, full of grace and truth? Or has He quietly slipped into a lesser role in your heart, more like a helpful advisor than the Lord of all? Have you truly received Him, trusted in His name, and experienced this new birth? Or have you admired Him from a respectful distance without surrendering your life to Him? “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known” (NIV, John 1:18).
This first chapter invites you to start with Jesus at the center. Before you study His miracles, His teachings, and His cross, you are called to worship: “The Word became flesh.” God has come near, and He has stepped into your darkness with light. He offers you the right to become His child. Over these weeks, we will see what it means to walk with Him, to live in His light, and to be filled with His Spirit. But it all begins here—with the eternal Word who became flesh for you.
Reflection Questions
- In what ways have I treated Jesus more like a spiritual helper than the eternal God who deserves my full worship and obedience?
- Have I personally received Jesus and trusted Him as Savior and Lord, or have I only admired Him from a distance?
- Where do I most need the light of Christ to shine into my heart, habits, or relationships this week?
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are the eternal Word who was with God and who is God. You stepped into my darkness to bring light and life. I confess that I have often made You smaller in my mind than You really are. Today I choose to honor You as Lord over every part of my life. Father, thank You that through Jesus I can become Your child, born of God. Holy Spirit, open my eyes to see Jesus more clearly and help me walk in His light this week. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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Again, thank you for your time, and your support of Jesus For Today! Stay tuned for more throughout the week, and join us again next Monday morning at 8:00 am, as we continue through John chapter 2.
God bless!
