John 1:1-18: Light, Life, and God's Redemption

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Exegesis: John 1:1-18

Stephen Thoen

Redemption of Creation
Jonathan Moo
May 11, 2015

John 1: 1-18 focuses on how God is present in the world. John sees himself as a messenger for the word, which he can spread the good news about God’s creation. He knows he is not the messiah; however, he has goals of pointing people in the proper direction. At the beginning of the Book of John, there is a great amount of darkness that is over the world. People are stuck in the darkness, until they listen to word and follow the light of God. John tells the audience that true light is coming and will pour into their lives. Within the first few verses John shows that through God we can achieve great things. He shows brokenness in this …show more content…

John states, “the world did not recognize him.”1 The world at the time was blinded by the darkness. People were wrapped up in darkness which resulted in clouded vision of their true creator. Verse 11 states that creation did not receive its own creator. Due to the darkness and sin people did not accept Christ and rejected him for bringing people out of darkness. John Calvin in The Gospel According to John 1-10 says, “The Son of God had chosen a dwelling place for Himself in one nation; when He appeared there, He was rejected. And this shows clearly how vicious is men’s blindness.”4 The world at the time referred to the population of people that did not believe, which looked primarily at the Jews. Jews struggled to see God in the flesh, which resulted in non believers in Christ. This continued to be a problem as Paul struggled to believe as well. John Calvin also pointed out, “This is why we see Paul struggling so hard with this same problem (Calvin).” He is referring to being blinded by darkness. Even though man was seeing God in the flesh, the light needed power in fighting the darkness, due to sin and …show more content…

We have seen his glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”1 John is describing the Son of God. The Son of God who will carry out the word in the proper context. He will show the world how living in the light will lead to a fulfilled life. Jesus showed the people of the time, how interacting and loving creation brings hope to the darkness, moving out of sin and impurity and into the beauty of the light of God. God kept his covenant with Noah, and instead of wiping out the earth filled with darkness, he sent Jesus to purify the sins of the earth. Jesus would be able to seek out the darkness and being a shining light in those times. John Calvin said in his commentary, “Yet the Son of God stooped so low as to take to Himself that flesh addicted to so many wretchednesses.”4 God made it a priority to enter into the darkness, and move mankind into the light. Through moving into the light, people can live a fulfilled life in the Kingdom of

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