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The Text
John 1:1-28
Background on John the Apostle
Personal, first-hand account, and yet at some distance from the events because he writes to correct false accounts that have been passed on. Called as a fisherman.
1-5 Creator
When John opens his Gospel, he introduces us to the Son as the Creator. These first few verses are packed full of references to Genesis 1 and are meant to reveal to us something critical about who Jesus is – he is our Creator. And we should understand that the act of creation is a revelation of divine authority. The act of creation uniquely belongs to God. And the fact that the Father created by means of the Son is a testimony to the full divinity of the Son.
6-13 John the Witness
John the Baptist, who was introduced to us at the end of Malachi, was sent as a witness to Jesus. He was sent before, so that he could stand and point at Jesus and declare just who he was. But here, John the Evangelist introduces us to a dilemma, namely that we can have someone sit and point clearly at an obvious and brilliantly lit up truth, and we can still not see it.
14-18 The Word Became Flesh
We cannot overcome our own spiritual blindness. We require the grace of a loving God who stoops and reveals himself to us. This is what the incarnation was, God revealing himself to a blind people by sending his Son in the flesh. And we behold his glory because he gives us eyes to see it.
19-26 John the Baptizer
So how do you open your eyes to this? It is worth noting that the one who came to prepare the way for the Son came with a baptism of repentance. You get ready for Jesus through repentance.