The Word Became Flesh 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him allthings were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it. 6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning thatlight, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to everyone wascoming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was hisown, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 14 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. 15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all receivedgrace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but theone and only Son, who is himself God and[b] is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. John the Baptist Denies Being the Messiah 19 Nowthis was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders[c] in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessedfreely, “I am not the Messiah.”21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”He said, “I am not.”“Are you the Prophet?”He answered, “No.” 22 Finallythey said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”[d] 24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Whythen do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”26 “I baptize with[e] water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do notknow. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan,where John was baptizing. John Testifies About Jesus 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away thesin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him,but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heavenas a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”[f] John’s Disciples Follow Jesus 35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”37 When the two disciplesheard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him.It was about four in the afternoon. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked athim and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter[g]). Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael 43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip foundNathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Jo-seph.” 46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said ofhim, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still underthe fig tree before Philip called you.”49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”50 Jesus said, “You believe[h] because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you,[i] you[j] will see ‘heaven open,and the angels of God ascending and descending on’[k] the Son of Man.” Jesus Changes Water Into Wine 1On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “Theyhave no more wine.”4 “Woman,[a] why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tyou.”6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.[b] 7 Jesus said to theservants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” Theydid so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who haddrawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” 11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. 12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a fewdays. Jesus Clears the Temple Courts 13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found peopleselling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, bothsheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”[c] 18 The Jews then respondedto him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was hisbody. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken. 23 Nowwhile he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name.[d] 24 But Jesus would not entrusthimself to them, for he knew all people. 25 He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person. Jesus Teaches Nicodemus 1Nowthere was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that youare a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no onecan see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a]” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter asecond time into their mother’s womb to be born!”5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of waterand the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ 8 Thewind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”[d] “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. 10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak ofwhat we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do notbelieve; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.[e]14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,[f] 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”[g] For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Soninto the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loveddarkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds willbe exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. John Testifies Again About Jesus 22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized.23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before Johnwas put in prison.) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to Johnand said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.” 27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am

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Within the first few sentences of John’s gospel account one can see there is a noted difference between his writing and that of the other three gospel writers. While Matthew, Mark, and Luke have different audiences in mind as they write, much of their content aligns collectively earning them the nickname the “synoptic gospels”, meaning that what they present is in sync.

John on the other hand, writes with a unique eye on Jesus. His writings exclude elements that we’ve come to expect in gospels. No parables. No sermon on the mount. No Lord’s Supper. Instead John gifts us with a miracle at a wedding (John 2), a deep conversation at a well (John 4), an early empty tomb (John 11), a high priestly prayer (John 17), and perhaps the best summary of the Gospel in all of the Scriptures (John 3:16).

As if almost anticipating the “why” John is direct in his reason for being so different.

[30] Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the

disciples, which are not written in this book; [31] but these are

written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son

of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

(John 20:30-31, ESV)

It seems that John takes pen to paper with the knowledge that some of the other disciples have already covered a lot of ground in their writings. His intention is to shift our focus to a specific element found in Jesus.

Life. It’s one of John’s favorite words. He uses it twice as much as the other three gospel writers combined. It’s what he’s found in Jesus. His desire is for others to experience that life through the words of Jesus as well.

Words of life. That’s what you hold in your hands as you read the Bible. Our goal in our summer sermon series and in this devotion is to go deeper into the Word with John as our mentor. Each week this devotional will provide 5 readings and reflections that relate to the previous weekend’s sermon. While it may hop around a bit, it will cover all 21 chapters of John’s gospel. It can be used as a private study, a guide for your small group, or a family devotion around the table.

In these words may you find life in abundance (John 10:10).

INTRODUCTION

WEEK ONE

[1] In the beginning was the Word, and

the Word was with God, and the Word

was God. [2] He was in the beginning

with God. [3] All things were made

through him, and without him was not

any thing made that was made.

(John 1:1-3, ESV)

In the beginning…

From the outset John makes a bold move. He knew using these words to start his gospel account would trigger thoughts and feelings about the Old Testament and the prophet Moses. The Hebrew word for the phrase “in the beginning” is just one word: Genesis. It is the beginning of all things. John is tapping into something ancient with this line. He is harkening back to the creative work of the God of the universe where all things came to be by God speaking them into existence. God says, “Let there be light,” and light appeared. He said, “Let there be water and land, fish and birds, livestock and wild animals,” and they burst into existence at His Word. Genesis shows us the power that His Word holds, but John takes us deeper. God doesn’t just speak words. He is the Word. He doesn’t just create light. He is light. He doesn’t just create life. He is life.

DAY ONE

[4] In him was life, and the life was

the light of men. [5] The light shines in

the darkness, and the darkness has not

overcome it. … [9] The true light, which

gives light to everyone, was coming

into the world.

(John 1:4-5, 9, ESV)

The Word has once again spoken for the purpose of creation. But this isn’t just about birds, land, and livestock. This is a wholly new beginning. Much like the spark of light that erupted into the darkness of the first page of Genesis, the Word of God is on the move, in the flesh.

His name is Jesus.

JOHN 1:1-18GENESIS 1:1-3

Reflection:

• John’s theme of a new creation is continued by other authors in the New Testament. Read 2 Corinthians 5:17 to see how Paul describes those who are in Christ. How has God created new beginnings throughout your life? Take some time today to thank Him for those new beginnings.

• Read 2 Corinthians 4:6. How does God “shine in our hearts” for His glory?

NOTES:

TODAY’S READINGS: JOHN 1:14 & COLOSSIANS 1:15-20

Being in the presence of someone has taken on new weight in the year 2020 hasn’t it? The epidemic of COVID-19 caused us all to make adjustments to our routines and behaviors. We have quickly realized how meaningful being in the presence of someone can be for our relationships. Grandparents not being able to see and hold their grandkids. Nurses and doctors having to distance themselves from their spouses. Friends and neighbors not being able to share a meal. Maybe more now than ever we value seeing our loved ones in person and sharing an embrace.

This is why John’s claim at the beginning of his gospel is so powerful. He says,

[14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have

seen his glory, glory as of the only

Son from the Father, full of grace

and truth.

(John 1:14, ESV)

John uses a specific word to describe what’s happening here. The word “dwelt” means to “pitch His tent”. It’s a reference to the tent, or tabernacle, that God gave to Israel while they wandered through the desert for nearly 40 years. The tabernacle was the place that God lived among them in their wandering (Exodus 25:8). It provided a way for them to get close to God through their worship and offerings.

The tabernacle also provided hope, letting them know that God was with them. That’s what they needed more than anything in their days of wandering. Even more than a way out of the desert, God knew their greatest need was an assurance that He was with them.

(continued on next page)

John claims that now God has done so much more. He’s actually become flesh and bone like you and like me. He’s not just with us. He’s one of us.

He thirsts. He gets hungry. He gets tired. He weeps. He is tempted. He gets stressed. He bleeds and He dies.In a great cosmic embrace the Word became flesh to let us know that we are loved and we are not alone.

NOTES:

Reflection:

• Why is it significant to you that God became flesh?

• What deserts are you walking through right now? How do you see God walking through them with you? If you feel alone, invite Him to come along with you.

• John tells us that when Jesus came not everyone received Him (vs. 11-13). What does it mean to receive Jesus? Is this something that you have done? What are some of the results of receiving Him according these verses?

John’s gospel is structured around a very specific set of sayings from Jesus known as the “I AM” statements. It’s one of the things that makes John’s gospel unique compared to the synoptic gospels. We have noted over the last few days that in his work John often makes connections to the Old Testament as a way of creating deeper meaning in the story that he is telling. By structuring his gospel around the “I AM” statements John takes us back to the book of Exodus, a shepherd, and a burning bush.

The story of Moses is perhaps one of the most well known stories in all of religious history. Born into slavery and narrowly escaping infanticide Moses grew up adopted in to the home of Pharaoh’s daughter. Moses lived in a world in-between. He wasn’t Egyptian by birth. That would have been evident by his stature, facial features, and skin tone. He wasn’t quite Jewish either because he was the adopted grandson of Pharaoh, which surely came with more privileges than his kin who were trapped in slavery.

TODAY’S READINGS:EXODUS 3:14-15 & JOHN’S I AM STATEMENTS

While we know very little of Moses’ life in the house of Pharaoh, we can imagine the internal turmoil that he must have wrestled through. Even though he may have been a bit guarded from it, the malice of the Egyptians towards the Jews would no doubt become personal on the regular. One such instance sent Moses fleeing into the wilderness with the label of “murderer” forever following him (Exodus 2:11-15, ESV).

Years later we find him far from Egypt, married, and tending the sheep of his father-in-law when God would once again call him to be a man in-between worlds. God was calling Moses to be the voice between Himself and man. When Moses asks God who He is God replies,

[14] … “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said,

“Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM

has sent me to you.’” [15] God also

said to Moses, “Say this to the people

of Israel: ‘The LORD, the God of your

fathers, the God of Abraham, the God

of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent

me to you.’ This is my name forever,

and thus I am to be remembered

throughout all generations.

(Exodus 3:14–15, ESV)

Notice how God gave His name in the context of relationships. He’s the God of their fathers. He knew Abraham as a friend. He guided and cared for Isaac. He loved and blessed Jacob. God revealed Himself to Moses as a caring, intimate God who loves His people and will provide for them.

(continued on next page)

This is always how God reveals Himself. It’s clearly what we see in Jesus throughout the gospel of John. Much greater than Moses, He is the man in-between two worlds bridging the gap between heaven and earth by caring for us deeply.

I AM the Bread of LifeJohn 6:35, 48, 51

I AM the Light of the WorldJohn 8:12

I AM the Door of the SheepJohn 10:7

I AM the Good Shepherd John 10:11-14

I AM the Resurrection and the LifeJohn 11:25

I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life John 14:6

I AM the True Vine John 15:1

NOTES:

Reflection:

• Take some time to read all of Jesus’s I AM statements

listed above. Pray before you do so and ask God to reveal

Himself to you. • How do each of these

statements impact how you see yourself in light how He

has revealed Himself?

User reviews have changed the way we interact with the world. If it doesn’t have more than four stars on Amazon we’re not buying it. Before we try out that new restaurant down the street we’re going to check Yelp to see how others have liked the food and the service. If we’re looking for a reliable contractor to build a fence in our yard we survey our Facebook friends to see who they have used and recommend. We don’t want to just read the menu or read the product description. We want to know people who have tasted the food, received the good service, or love the new product. Experience speaks loudly in a world of doubt.

The same is true when it comes to faith. We often have to experience it before we believe it deeply. Even Jesus’ earliest disciples felt this. As the first chapter of John closes we see Jesus begin to call His first followers to Him. Andrew, a fisherman, was the first to go. He was working alongside his brother Simon Peter who also joined in on the adventure. It seems as though both men took little

DAY FOUR

TODAY’S READINGS: JOHN 1:43-45

convincing to leave their family business behind. Not everyone was initially so eager.

[43] The next day Jesus decided

to go to Galilee. He found Philip

and said to him, “Follow me.” [44]

Now Philip was from Bethsai-

da, the city of Andrew and Peter.

[45] Philip found Nathanael and

said to him, “We have found him

of whom Moses in the Law and

also the prophets wrote, Jesus of

Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” [46]

Nathanael said to him, “Can any-

thing good come out of Nazareth?”

(John 1:43-46, ESV)

Nathanael doesn’t just say, “Can the Messiah come from Nazareth?” He says, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” While we don’t know exactly why, there was a deep-seated stereotype in Nathanael’s mind about Naza-renes. He rejects the offer to follow Jesus because of an “ism”. You know the “isms”. An “ism” is an oppressive and especially discriminatory attitude or belief toward a specific group of people. They are things like:

• Classism - Based on my heritage, I deserve more than you.

• Racism - Based on my skin color, I’m more valuable than you.

• Sexism - Based on my gender, I’m more important than you.

• Ageism - Based on my age, I’m more wise than you.

So don’t let this detail pass you by. Nathanael, one of the original 12 disciples, initially rejected Jesus based on an “ism” that he could not get around. Much like people who buy into the lies of the “isms” of our day, no amount of conversation or information would change his heart.

So what does Philip do?[46] “Philip said to him, “Come and see.” (John 1:46, ESV)

Philip doesn’t try to argue or reason with Nathanael. He just simply invites him to

come and experience Jesus for himself. This one invitation changed the course of

Nathanael’s life for eternity. Shortly after meeting Jesus Nathanael proclaims,

[49] …“Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

(John 1:49, ESV)

It seems that experience truly does speak loudly in a world of doubt.

Reflection:

• In what ways have you experienced Jesus in your life? What are some of the ways that Jesus calls us to experience Him on a daily basis?

• Have you ever struggled with an “ism”? What caused you to move beyond your view?

• What are some of the “isms” that keep people from following Jesus today?

• Have you ever invited others to “come and see” Jesus? In what ways can you do so? Pray that Jesus would give you those opportunities.

NOTES: HELL

O

John was perhaps the youngest of all of Jesus’ first disciples. Most scholars believe he was merely a teenager when he first began following Him. With youth comes immaturity. This can be noted in a few of the stories captured the gospels, but perhaps the best is when a Samaritan village decided to reject the offer to follow Jesus. Immediately John and his brother James try to call down fire from heaven to consume the village. This earned them the nickname “Sons of Thunder” (Luke 9:51-56). Why they believed this is something they could do or something that Jesus would want them to do is a mystery.

The years of following Jesus in His ministry on earth and after His ascension brought a maturity and a softening of John’s heart. In his old age he pens the words that became the Gospel of John and show us how fully he was changed by his interactions with Jesus.

Like many historical authors of his day, John does not place his name anywhere in his writing. Nor does he include the great tales of The Sons of Thunder! Perhaps it is for the sake of embarrassment that John does not include this event in his own gospel. Instead, as he recaps his time with Jesus he inserts himself into the story in a much more beautiful way. We see it first appear in the upper room of John 13. He writes,

[23] One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at

table at Jesus’ side,

(John 13:23, ESV)

John tells his audience, “I’m the one Jesus loves.” It was not a claim to be the only one Jesus loved. It was simply a way to identify the core reality of who John was. Everything John did, said, thought, and acted upon flowed from a deep knowledge that he was loved by Jesus.

That core reality is true of you too. You are the one that Jesus loves.

HELL

ODAY FIVE

TODAY’S READING: JOHN 13

Reflection:

• What is a part of your identity from before you

began to follow Jesus that is no longer a part

of you today?

• How does the truth that you are deeply loved by Jesus change the

way you think, act, and speak towards yourself?

Towards others?

NOTES:

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