This first chapter of John’s Gospel was one I memorized through a memory program we had in our church when I was in elementary school. It’s a chapter I can still roll off my tongue and at any moment without any prep. Several years ago I memorized Romans 12. I was in my sixties. Guess what? I can recite parts of it today, but not the whole chapter. What we learn as children sticks with us our entire lives. John 1 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible for that reason.
There is another reason, however, why this chapter is such a favorite to me and others. In these fifty-one verses one finds the essence of the gospel. You find how the world was created and what one must do to receive the free gift of eternal life. We may find out more — in this one chapter — about whoe Jesus is and where he comes from and what he did in creation than the rest of the Gospels combined. It is a powerful chapter. We find in the chapter the following:
- Jesus is the Word
- Jesus was in the beginning with the Father
- Jesus is God
- Jesus is the light of the world
- Jesus is the creator of the world
- Jesus is full of glory
- Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world
- Jesus has supernatural powers to see us from afar
- Jesus called individuals to follow him
All these things about Jesus in this first chapter of John. So what about us? This chapter is filled with who the God of the universe is and our response is to put our trust in him for our eternal destiny. When we read these fifty-one verses we are given strength and confidence to share Jesus’ story with others.
Father God thank you for the revelation we find in your word about the second person of the trinity… Jesus himself. I pray that we would be strengthened and emboldened to share what we have read and experienced with other. In your precious Name we pray, Amen.
Sixty-six books in a year 