Musings from Gospel of John – Number 1

by Bruce Cooper

I love the Gospel of John. I have a deep appreciation for the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke but the Gospel of John seems to touch my heart strings like no other. Sometimes the words in the Gospel of John seem to literally just jump off the page and I think the reason for that is that the Gospel of John seems to repeatedly focus on who Jesus is, time and time again.

You will note that I put a number on this post, there will be others as I intend going through the entire Gospel with different musings that catch my eye, so to speak. Hopefully, some of the things that catch my eye will strike cords with your hearts too.

As you read through these posts on the Gospel of John, you’re going to notice how the format changes. I started out commenting on the Gospel of John, indicating that I would just comment on particular Scripture verses that “caught my eye”, so to speak, but this changed after the first couple of posts, because there are so many little things in this Gospel that can easily be overlooked, if one is not careful. And, sometimes those “little things” can be extremely important.

The Gospel of John is personal. Think of it as letter from the Apostle John sent directly to yourself. Every word that John uses is carefully weighed, and skillfully used to convey an extremely important realization, sent directly to you. If you haven’t read through the Bible before, you’re going to read words that you may not be familiar with, like the word “Messiah” for instance. The “Messiah” was the promised deliverer of the Jewish nation as foretold in the Hebrew Old Testament. Don’t be discouraged when you encounter words that you are not familiar with. You will pick them up over time. The Hebrew word that is translated as “Messiah” actually means “anointed” and this Messiah was very special.

Ask God to open your mind and heart to the truths of what John is conveying to you. Many of the words that John writes are direct quotes that Jesus spoke. Jesus’ words are personal too. Take your time, read slowly and the message that John wants to convey to you, will unfold.

John 1:1-3 NASB

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.”

Tell me who doesn’t love this verse!

Jesus , the Son of the living God, has eternally been one with the Father and Holy Spirit forever. Everything that has ever been created, has been through Jesus. That literally means that all that we see in this universe, this galaxy, this solar system and this planet, came about through Him. That means every molecule, every atom, all that we see and all that we are. And I would also think that includes all that exists in the heavenly realm, exclusive of the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, the Son of God, is inseparable from the Father and the Holy Spirit. That’s big, real big. This morning as I walked and said my prayers, the reality that all that my eyes behold, all that I am, came about because God our creator, created it all, crossed my little mind. And He hears our prayers. Sometimes it’s just kind of hard to comprehend. God didn’t have to do any of what He has done, but He did.

John 3:16 NIV

“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.“

When the disciples asked Jesus to show them the Father, Jesus replied that He who has seen Me has seen the Father (John 14:9) That’s Jesus, the Son of God, in the flesh, here, among us, on this very earth that we live on. Wrap your head around that puppy. But this is indeed what John the Apostle is telling us in this Gospel. This is the Apostle John’s testimony.

John 1:10 NASB

“He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.“

John 1:14 NASB

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

And then we have the witness and testimony of John the Baptist.

John 1:33-34 NASB

“I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

John the Baptist testifies that Jesus is the Son of God. Foretold through the Prophet Isaiah Isaiah 40:3 NASB

“A voice is calling,
“Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness;
Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.“And when the Priests and Levites are sent out from Jerusalem to find out who John the Baptist is, he replies:

John 1:23 NASB

“He said, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

Those whom Jesus selected to be his disciples knew that a Messiah was to come, it had been foretold in the Law and the Prophets, and they were watching and waiting.

John 1:41 NASB

“He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ).” (Christ is the Greek word for “Anointed One”)

John 1:45 NASB

“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.”

John 1:49 NASB

“Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.”

Were they excited, I’m thinking they were, but the ministry of Jesus had not started yet.

And then we have the first miracle where Jesus changes the water into wine at the wedding in Cana. But when Mary, His mother tells Jesus that they are out of wine, He responds: John 2:4 NASB

“And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” And this is true because the “hour” is the period of time when Jesus is arrested, lead away and crucified (John 12:23-34)

But Mary must know something that we are not told because she tells the servants “Whatever He says to you, do it.” (John 2:5)

And Jesus then performs His first miracle, turning water into wine.

Is there a significance of Jesus turning the water into wine? I think there is.

Jesus turned water into wine to show that the old covenant under the Law lacked the resources to meet Israel’s spiritual needs. The stone pots were used for ceremonial washing of people and utensils, Jesus had them filled to the brim with water to show that He fulfilled and overfilled ceremonial cleansing; then He had the servants draw water turned into wine from the pots to illustrate that God’s new life came from a different source – Christ Himself. Wherever the Old Covenant failed to meet the spiritual needs of God’s people, Jesus Himself now fulfilled. Water – a symbol of cleansing under the Law, wine – a symbol of the shed blood of Jesus Christ, who died for us so that we might live in Him.

Luke 22:19-20 NASB

“And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.“

And the ministry of Jesus had begun.

John 2:11 NIV

“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.“

More to follow.

Worthy is the Lamb! Blessings!

When Bruce Cooper became a Christian he had a thousand questions. One objective for his blog is to provide answers to many of the questions that he originally had. His “Christian Resources” and “Defending Your Faith 101” pages provide many facets of Christian Apologetics. Bruce is an ordinary Christian layperson and his blog is the result of his conviction. Teaching Christians to know why they believe, and what they believe has helped him build on his conviction. Bruce served 35 years in the Canadian Armed Forces. He has worked as an Information Technology (IT) Network Administrator, and a Certified Google Apps Deployment Specialist. He retired at the age of 70 and now works part time with the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires. Bruce, A.K.A. Papa, and his wife Peggy live in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Their five children are grown and have gifted them with 7 wonderful grandchildren.

Worthy is the Lamb! Blessings!