In John 1, we learn that God is here. And, while Solomon asked, as he dedicated the temple if God would dwell on the earth (1 Kings 8:27), the writer John affirms that the answer is yes as he gives us snapshots of our Lord’s life on earth. And as John, the beloved disciples, writes for both the Jew and Gentile audience, Jesus is presented as the Son of God. We know that John had Gentiles in mind as well as Jews because he often interpreted Jewish words for his readers (Jn. 1:38, 41-42). And, His purpose for writing was not only to show that Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophesies, but He also fulfilled the types. For example, He is the New Temple (Jn. 2:19-21) and He offers the new birth (Jn. 3:4ff). He is the serpent lifted up (Jn. 3:14) and He is the Bread of God that came down from heaven (Jn. 6:35ff). But overall, the major theme that runs throughout John’s account is: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and if you will commit yourself to Him, He will give you eternal life (Jn. 20:31).
In the First chapter, John records seven names and titles of Jesus that identifies Him as eternal God. In vs. 1-3, 14 Jesus is referred to as the Word. In much as our words reveal to others our hearts and minds, Jesus Christ is God’s Word to reveal His heart and mind to us. Thus, Jesus is the eternal, creative and incarnate Word. He was the Word made Flesh through the miracle of the virgin birth and took on Himself sinless human nature and identified with us in every aspect of life from birth to death. In essence, Jesus revealed God’s glory in His person, His works and His words and came with grace and truth (vs. 16).
In vs. 4-13, Jesus is referred to as the Light. Life is a key theme in John’s Gospel and thus Jesus is the Light of life and Light of the world (Jn. 8:12). We learn in 1:15 that God is light and how people either love the light or the darkness (Jn. 3:16-19).
In vs. 15-28, 49, John summarizes what John the Baptist had to say about Jesus Christ (vs. 15-18). First, that He is eternal (vs. 15). Second that he has the fullness of grace and truth (vs. 16-17). Third, Jesus Christ revealed God to us (vs. 18). In this last point, in essence, God is invisible, yet, Jesus Christ reveals God to us for He is the image of the invisible God (Col. 1:15) and the express image of His person (Heb. 1:3). He is the Son of God, which is recorded for us at least nine times in the book of John.
In vs. 29-34, Jesus is called the Lamb of God and it was repeated the next day (vs. 35-36). In the First century, the sacrificial lambs were brought to men, which could not take away sin. But here is God’s Lamb by God to men which could take away sin and His Lamb would shed His blood for the whole world. Jesus would die as that sacrificial Lamb of God (Isa. 53:7; Lk. 12:50) and it would be through death, burial and resurrection that the Lamb of God would fulfill all righteousness (Matt. 3:15).
In vs. 35-42, Jesus is called the Messiah. When John and Andrew were following Jesus, He asked them what they were seeking. And so, Jesus invited them to spend the day with Him and while with them, Jesus answered their questions. They were so impressed that they found their brothers and brought them to Jesus too. Andrew found Simon and John brought James. “We have found the Messiah!” is what Andrew said to Simon, meaning, they had found the Anointed, that is, the Christ. And, that conversation forever changed their lives.
In vs. 43-49, Jesus is called the King of Israel. When Jesus called Philip and He went to get his friend Nathaniel, Philip said, “Come and see” (vs. 39). And, when they came to Jesus, Nathaniel discovered that the Lord already knew all about Him. He told Nathaniel that he was an Israelite with no guile. And, when Jesus revealed His knowledge of Nathanael, this was enough to convince the man that Jesus was indeed the King of Israel. The King of Israel would be a title similar to Messiah or anointed One for the kings were always God’s anointed (Psa. 2:2-7). And, Jesus did present Himself as King (Jn. 12:10ff) and told Pilate that He was also born a King (Jn. 18:33-37).
The last name Jesus is called is found in vs. 50-51. He is called the Son of Man. This was one of the Lord’s favorite titles for Himself in which He is called by it 83 times in the Gospel accounts and thirteen times by John. This title speaks of both the Deity and humanity of Jesus. Being the Son of man, Jesus was showing Himself to be the living link or ladder between heaven and earth. In fact, He said, “No man comes to the Father, but by Me” (Jn. 14:6). The Jewish people also knew this phrase was a name for the Messiah (Jn. 12:34).
Thus, at the close of that day, Jesus had six believing men who were His disciples and eventually forsook all to follow Him. They had trusted in Christ and experienced His power. And in the next three years, they would grow in their faith; learn more about Him and one day take His place in seeking and saving the lost. Truly, Jesus of Nazareth is God come in the Flesh.