Prologue: (Part 1) John 1:1-5

The Gospel of John is a book written in simple language. The form of Greek used in John is much lower and easier to read than most of the other writings in the New Testament. It is filled, however, with unfathomable mysteries and profound truth. Despite its relatively accessible format, the book has the most complex, defined theological concepts, and highest Christology out of the four gospel accounts.

Perhaps this is a good way for us to approach the Gospel of John. There is a meaning in the text that is clear as day – “Believe in Jesus, and you will have eternal life.” But the depth of that simple concept is inexhaustible.

The story begins with a thundering prologue that encapsulates the major point of the Gospel: That Jesus is the pre-existent Logos (Greek for “Word/Wisdom”) made flesh and walking around with ordinary folk.

 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.”

The pre-existence of Christ is clearly spelled out by John in a way that is unique among the gospels. In Matthew and Luke, the story begins with Jesus’ birth and earthly genealogy. Mark begins with John the Baptist preparing the way. John, however, begins his “Jesus story” with His role in creation, and his existence pre-Creation.

“Through him all things were made. Without him, nothing was made that has been made.”

Interestingly, the author of John goes all the way back to the beginning of time to first describe Jesus. He’s basically saying… “Look, if you want to understand who Christ is, you have to go way back before creation… before even time itself existed.” Christ was present at creation. Indeed, all creation came through Him. I find it interesting that in Matthew and Luke, the story begins with Jesus’ mother. An angel visits her and tells her that through her womb, God would shake up the entire established order. The Messiah would be born, through a woman. John, however, starts off with creation saying that all things were created through Christ. In Matthew Jesus is delivered to earth through Mary. In John, the earth is delivered into existence through Christ.

“In him was life, and that life was the light for all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.”

Two major motifs are introduced in these sentences which will come up over and over again throughout the gospel of John: life and light. Jesus is both the life and light for mankind, and though related, these are actually quite distinct concepts. Life refers to the eternal life that Jesus makes available to everyone who believes (3:16). It is both a promise of a future life post-mortem, and a quality or value added to this mortal life. The life Christ brings to those who believe is both a promise and a present reality. Light is a metaphor for revelation or enlightenment, and shines on those in the darkness (ignorance, sin, unbelief). Throughout the gospel of John, we will see Jesus having many encounters with people living in darkness, and some respond to the light and are a born again to a new life, but some remain obstinately clutching onto their old way of living, choosing the darkness rather than the light, or simply failing to understand who Jesus is and what He is saying to them. Those who do not believe are those who have seen the Light of the World, but choose to continue on groping in the darkness, rather than entering into the Light.