John 1:1-5 KJV
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Where Christ was, you were sure to find the Apostle John. He was one of Christ’s twelve disciples and was an important leader in the early Christian church.
John was the son of Zebedee and the brother of James.
Both John and his brother James were fishermen by trade. James is almost always listed first, as James and John, which leads one to believe that John was the younger brother. They were born and lived in Galilee and fished there with their father.
John is identified in the New Testament as “the one whom Jesus loved.”
John was present at the transfiguration of Jesus, along with Peter and James.
John was present when Christ raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead, along with Peter and James.
John was with Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, the night before He was crucified, along with Peter and James.
The apostle John was the only disciple at the foot of the cross when Jesus was crucified. Jesus called to John instructions, to take Mary as his mother.
It is believed that John is the only disciple that was not martyred, dying a natural death.
Under the inspiration of God, the apostle John wrote the Gospel of John, 1st Epistle of John, 2nd Epistle of John, 3rd Epistle of John and the book of Revelation.
The Book of Revelation, written by John, reveals that he was exiled to the island of Patmos. According to most theologians and historians, he was exiled under the anti-Christian persecution of the Roman Emperor Domitian.
The God inspired apocalyptic writing in Revelation was a detailed account of what the Roman Empire was doing and going to do to the Christians and a detailed account of the Christian’s reward in Heaven. It was written in “code” so that the guards on Patmos would think it was gibberish and let it off the island to be reproduced and distributed to the church of Christ.
There are some primary themes and threads found in John’s Gospel and his three Epistles.
- Deity of Christ—As seen in the first few verses of John’s Gospel, the Word was with God and the Word WAS God.
John 1:14 KJV
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
- Christ the Messiah—John emphasizes that Christ is the long-awaited Messiah and that there is no other way a person can be saved, except through Him.
- Love—John emphasizes the love, mercy and grace that God shows humanity and how our relationship with Him should lead to our love for one another.
John 3:16 KJV
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
- Truth—Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. John teaches that we must walk in the truth which means being obedient to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
John 14:6 KJV
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
- Forgiveness—Through Christ and His sacrificial death, we have forgiveness for our sins.
- Eternal Life for the Christian—John emphasizes the glory that awaits those who believe in Jesus Christ, in our eternal heavenly home.
John 14:1-3 KJV
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
A great Bible study project is reading John’s Gospel and then his three epistles.
It is a great study of salvation, love, truth and forgiveness.
May God bless you in your study.
RVH