Series Overview: The Writings of John
- Gospel of John: Word Made Flesh
- The Letters of John: That You May Know
- Revelation: Behold, He is Coming
I'm excited to get back to book study. It's more exciting to preach out of one context, and John is an incredible book to study. However, John is a unique gospel—it stands apart from the others in profound ways.
Understanding the Gospels
During our midweek Deep Bible Study series, we discussed the types of genres in the Bible. The Gospels have a similar feel to these genres, each with its own distinct character:
- Matthew is like an Epic Historical Drama—think Gladiator. It opens with a genealogy to establish the hero's royal bloodline.
- Mark is like an Action Blockbuster—think Fast and Furious. The Greek word "immediately" appears more than 40 times. There's no birth story; it starts right in the middle of the action.
- Luke is like a Documentary—meticulous, capturing day-in-the-life moments. It focuses more on the marginalized and claims to give an orderly account.
- John is like an Arthouse Philosophical Film—think 2001: A Space Odyssey. Cerebral, visual, and metaphysical. It doesn't stick to the traditional order of the others. Poetic opening, long meditative dialogues, contemplative and layered. It rewards rereading.
Time Will Tell
Think about significant events in your life—like 9/11. It's been over two decades since that event. If you had to go back and share about it, how would your story be different now? Time gives us more depth to our experiences.
That is where we find John when writing his gospel. John's gospel comes many years after the other three gospels. It is written with 60 more years of Christian life lived. It's a gospel written by the mature Christian.
- Origen described the Gospel of John as "the firstfruits of the Gospels"
- Clement of Alexandria described it as "the spiritual Gospel"
"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, and I made plans like a child. When I became a man, I stopped those childish ways. It is the same with us. Now we see God as if we are looking at a reflection in a mirror. But then, in the future, we will see him right before our eyes. Now I know only a part, but at that time I will know fully, as God has known me."
— 1 Corinthians 13:11-12 (ERV)Paul simply teaches that the older he gets, God's wisdom is made more clear. Over time we see and experience much more that adds wisdom to our lives. Someone who has lived life for many years speaks with generations of lessons behind them. John's life experiences in his older age showed God in a greater light—that is why his gospel feels more philosophical and deep.
Alien Encounter
How would you describe the most significant experience of your life having years to think about it? Look at how John describes Jesus:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 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."
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
— John 1:1-5, 14 (NIV)How John describes Jesus feels like a sci-fi intro to a movie. Jesus is described as this mysterious force called "Logos." Logos is connected to the divine God. But it doesn't stop there—this Logos then becomes flesh and walks among us!
Understanding the Logos
This is all intentional given John's audience and his years of being a Christian in the Greco-Roman world. The idea of the Logos is deeply embedded in Greco-Roman culture. John is addressing that idea and revealing something more special.
Logos meant the rational principle governing the universe—the underlying order behind apparent chaos. It was universal reason that structures reality—not personal, but an impersonal law or pattern. Stoic philosophy dominated the education of Greeks and Romans about the Logos.
"Everything is interwoven, and the web is holy; none of its parts are unconnected. They are composed harmoniously, and together they compose the world. One world, made up of all things. One divinity, present in them all. One substance and one law, the Logos common to all intelligent beings."
— Marcus Aurelius, MeditationsThe True Logos Revealed
John deliberately chose "Logos" because it was philosophically loaded—his audience would immediately recognize the term. But John radically redefines and fulfills what Logos means:
Common Ground with Greek Philosophy:
- Logos is the rational principle behind creation (v. 3)
- Logos is divine in nature (v. 1)
- Logos provides light/illumination to humanity (v. 4-5)
- Logos is pre-existent, eternal (v. 1-2)
What's Radically New:
- Logos is Personal and Knowable
- Logos is Distinct Yet Equal to God
- Logos Became Flesh
This blew the minds of John's audience. It would be like all theories of physics about the known universe taking shape as a person and entering our existence—a "Theory of Everything" made flesh.
"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned... For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
— Isaiah 9:2, 6 (NIV)He is now here entering human history! And the Logos says it himself in John's gospel:
"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness."
— John 12:46 (NIV)Is this not incredible! John has had all this time to think about the impact Jesus has had on his life and for all humankind. He has had years of seeing great miracles and lives changed. And he comes away with the answer: the force holding the whole universe together, even life itself, was Jesus.
What Does This Mean?
How did John contextualize this moment? Let's go back to John chapter 1:
"There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world."
— John 1:6-9 (NIV)Conclusion
We are witnesses to share about this Logos of light. We are called to dedicate our lives preaching the light of Christ—through our example, through our words, through our love.
Questions to Consider
- Do you see Jesus as the light of your life?
- How are you preaching his light to the world around you?
- Let 2025 be a year of sharing the Light of the gospel message—telling everyone about God's word, His Logos.
The answer to the universe was and is here, and he wants to bring light to your life.