The Gospel of John: John 1.14-18

Read and meditate on John 1.14-18.
John’s introduction to his gospel is now complete. He is upfront about the nature and importance of the story he will tell. It has eternal foundations. It aims to transform the world by bringing light and life, grace and truth, into our human experience. Most of all, John’s story will explain Jesus, Who will explain everything else to us – everything we need in order to live as sons and daughters of God.

¹⁴The Word of God, the Light and Life of men,
Creator of all things in earth and heav'n,
took flesh unto Himself, became a Man, 
and dwelled among us in this ancient land.
And we have seen His glory, glory as of
the Only Begotten of the Father’s love,
and full of grace and truth.
                                      ¹⁵John witnessed to
Him, crying out and saying, “He of Whom
I said, ‘He Who comes after me before
me is to be preferred, because before
me He existed’ – this is He!” 
                                               ¹⁶And we
have of His fullness grace for grace received.
¹⁷The Law of God through Moses’ hand was given;
but grace and truth have come to us from heaven
through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸No one has ever seen
the face of God; the Son of God has been
within the Father’s bosom, and has shared
His Deity. Him has the Son declared.

- John 1.14-18

Reflect
1.  This second part of John’s prologue follows a similar structure as the first part – same themes, progress and format (inclusio). How do you see that? How does this second part of the prologue develop more fully the themes introduced in verses 1-13?  Complete this prayer: Lord, thank You for the Good News of…

2.  Meditate on John 1.1 and 18. John leads us from the eternal God back to the eternal God through the medium of the Word-become-flesh. Can you see how this prologue provides a structural template for the rest of John’s book? Explain. Thank You, Lord, for using John, a humble fisherman, to tell this beautiful story. Use me, Lord, to…

3.  The coming of the Word into the world has consequences for the world. Explain. What is our responsibility who understand these consequences? Lord, help me to fulfill my calling as a conduit of Your grace by…

4.  Do you think the unbelieving people of the world understand that the message of Jesus is a message of grace and truth? Why or why not? Lord, how could I better get to know the people in my life, so that I could…

5.  John’s message is a simple declaration of His experience. He will not try to explain everything. He will simply tell what he knows to be true because of what he has seen, heard, and lived. As witnesses for Christ, it is not our responsibility to convince or convert people; our calling is to bear witness to what we have come to know as the truth. How would you describe the state of your witness for Christ at this time? Bring together into one prayer the prayers you wrote for questions 1-4.

Summary
“But the word ‘has declared’ shows the plainer and clearer teaching that he gave and established not to the Jews only but to all the world. Not even all the Jews listened to the prophets, but to the only begotten Son of God all the world yielded and obeyed. So the ‘declaration’ in this place shows the greater clearness of his teaching, and therefore he is called ‘Word’ and ‘Angel of great Counsel.’” John Chrysostom (ca. 344-407 AD)

The stage is set. Eternity and the unseen realm have been opened to us by the coming in flesh of the Word of God. John’s prologue is like a trumpet blast, heralding a great symphony about to begin. We should wrap ourselves in the tensions and mysteries and truths of this John 1.1-18, and live from within that framework as witness for Jesus Christ in our Personal Mission Fields. Have you mapped out your Personal Mission Field?

Closing Prayer
Praise the LORD!
Sing to the LORD a new song,
And His praise in the assembly of saints.
Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;
Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
Let them praise His name with the dance;
Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.
For the LORD takes pleasure in His people;
He will beautify the humble with salvation.
Let the saints be joyful in glory;
Let them sing aloud on their beds.
Let the high praises of God be in their mouth,
And a two-edged sword in their hand,
To execute vengeance on the nations,
And punishments on the peoples;
To bind their kings with chains,
And their nobles with fetters of iron;
To execute on them the written judgment—
This honor have all His saints.
Praise the LORD!

Psalm 149

Psalm 149 (Toulon: I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art)
Sing to the Lord a glorious song and new!
Praise Him you people, to Whom praise is due!
Let us rejoice, let us be glad in Him
Who has created us and cleansed our sin.

Praise Him with dance, with tambourine and lyre!
To be so praised is God’s one great desire.
Lord, beautify Your holy ones with grace;
Show us the mercy of Your saving face.

Sing to the Lord, exult with great delight!
Sing on your beds with joy to God by night!
Sing praise and take His Word into your hand;
Publish His grace and wrath in every land!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.