The Gospel according

to the apostle John 

by 

J.W.Weeda

 

Introduction:

 

This Gospel which is a describing of our Lord's Ministry on Earth was written of the apostle John. He John was the apostle from which we also read in Galatians 2 verse 9: And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the Grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen and they unto the circumcision. This is the definitive agreement Paul made with James, Cephas and John. Cephas is Peter. John describes in this Gospel Jesus Christ as the Son of God. In this light John describes Him!

 

We have the Prologue

Chapter One : Verse 1-18

The Word became flesh

 

I PUBLIC MINISTRY OF JESUS TO THE JEWS

Chapter 1 verse 19 until Chapter 13

First signs witness and contacts Chapter 1 19 till chapter 5 

Further signs witness and conflicts chapter 5 till chapter 11

Final sign witness and cleavage chapter 11 till chapter 13

 

II PRIVATE MINISTRY OF JESUS TO HIS OWN

Chapter 13 until chapter 19

Presage of His own departure Chapter 13 till chapter 14 verse 16

Promise of the coming Spirit Chapter 14 verse 16 till chapter 17

Prayer for them to God the Father Chapter 17

 

III PASCHAL CLIMAX: TRAGEDY AND TRIUMPH

Chapter 18 till end chapter 20

Apprehension and prosecution Chapter 18 till chapter 19 verse 16

Crucifixion and entombment chapter 19 16-42

Resurrection and reappearance chapter 20 1-31

Epilogue chapter 21: Till I come

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The Gospel according to the apostle John

Chapter I verse 1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God

and the Word was God

 

Verse 1: In the beginning was the Word. At the very first time the Word was there. In Genesis 1 verse 1 we read: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" God, Elohim, Father, Son and Holy Spirit in One God were in the beginning. The Word was with God. This speaks about God the Son and thre est too: The Word was God. In Hebrews 1 verse 8 we read: "But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God is for ever and ever; a sceptre of righteousness is the scheptre of Thy Kingdom" You see here my brothers and sisters: God the Father saith to His Son God. In Ephesians 3 verse 9 we read: And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, Who created all things by Jesus Christ . And in Colossians 1:16 we read: "For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers, all things were created by Him, and for Him" God the Father and His Son are One and also the Holy Spirit. God is a Trinity. The Word was God. Jesus Christ was and is God Himself. He was and is God in the flesh like men without sin and the purpose was to die for sinners and that happened on the cross my dear brothers and sisters. He died for you and me there on Calvary. He Just for us unjust, He without sin for us sinners. He paid the price with His own life for us. Think about this! I Corinthians 15:3-4, Romans 5:6-8. He came into this world to save sinners like you and me I Timothy 1:15

 

Chapter 1 verse 2

The same was in the beginning with God

 

Verse 2: The Word was with God and the Word was God. God was in the beginning. He was before the world. He created everything through our Lord Jesus Christ His Son. God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit/Ghost. God is Trinity. God is eternal! He lives from eternity to eternity. He exists always. He lives forever and ever. Everything He has created. Nothing is invisible for Him. 

Chapter 1 verse 3

All things were made by Him; and without Him was not 

anything made that was made

 

Verse 3: What we have seen in verse 1 already my dear brothers and sisters is this that all thing were made by Him. Not anything was not made by Him. He created everything. He created the heaven and the earth. That was first what God created! He created all things by Jesus Christ! Ephesians 3:9. Without Him, that is Jesus Christ was not anything made that was made. This is very special! The whole Universum, all the planets inclusive the Earth to live on because planet Earth is the lively planet. On the Earth there is life possible. It is the only planet in the whole Universum  where life is possible!!! Think about this!

 

Chapter 1 verse 4

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men

 

 Verse 4: Who is Him in this verse. Well this verse continues where verse 3 ended. Him is our Lord Jesus Christ. In Him was life. “In Him was life” (John 1:4), speaking of Christ after He came to earth, and referring to eternal life. While we too have eternal life in us, we just have it, while the Lord could give it (ICor.15:45) But what does it mean when John says that the life that was in the Lord “was the light of men” (John 1:4)? Well, in John 8:12, the Lord said that “he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” But what kind of light does eternal life give, and what kind of darkness were you in before you got it? Well, in John 12:35 the Lord said, “he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth,” and if you don’t have eternal life, you don’t know where you are going after you die. What’s the solution? In John 12:46, the Lord said, “whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.” 

When our Lord Jesus Christ was on earth He said these words in John 14 verse 16 the following words: Jesus saith unto him Thomas, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" This is eternal life my dear brothers and sisters. What applied to Thomas now also applies to us my dear brothers and sisters. No man cometh unto the Father but by me Jesus Christ. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No doubt about that. In John 3 verse 16 we read: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" Oh another beautiful verse we can read my dear brothers and sisters in Romans 6 verse 23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" In Him was and is life, everlasting life!!! That life was the light of men! Jesus Christ is the Son of man and He is God in the flesh! In I Timothy 6 verse 16 we read about our God the following verse: "Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see, tho whom be honour and power everlasting Amen" “In Him was life” (John 1:4), speaking of Christ after He came to earth, and referring to eternal life. While we too have eternal life in us, we just have it, while the Lord could give it (ICor.15:45) 

      If you are not saved my dear friend you are in darkness, but you don’t have to abide there!  There is Good News: Trust Christ as your Savior right now and thou shall be saved forever and have also eternal life Acts 16:31. 

Chapter 1 verse 5

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not

Verse 5: My dear brothers and sisters: Light shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehended it not” What does that mean? Some of the people in Israel comprehended it but this is referring to the whole nation Israel. Why didn't they comprehend it? Well they were looking to a different Savior because Christ was in their eyes not the Savior they were looking for. They thought that He came to them to save them from their enemies and in the time of Jesus Christ on earth that were the Romans. God saved Israel many times from their enemies like the Egyptians when God parted the Red Sea for them, “He saved them.”  They didn't know that first He came to save them from their sins and after that He would come as King to reign over them 1000 years. That’s why He preached “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt.4:17), just as John had (3:2). And so all Israel came to John “confessing their sins” (Mt.3:5,6). How would this help? Leviticus 26:38-42 stated that they could be saved from their enemies by confessing their sins and getting forgiveness (I Kings 8:33,34). But whole Israel didn't comprehend it. Litteral it means laid not hold of it. 

Chapter 1 verse 6

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John

 

Verse 6: Now the apostle John is speaking about someone else who was send by God. His name was John or John the Baptist. People began to ask him when he preached in the wilderness and near the river Jordan who he was. They thought he was Elias but he said no and in verse 23 he said to them: "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. He John bare witness of Him and cried saying. This was He of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for He was before me verse 15. Send by God to make straight the way of the Lord. That was his task or ministry. Malachi also predicted that John would come and “prepare the way” before the Lord (3:1), and calls him “Elijah” (4:5 ,6). Elijah and John were similar. Elijah was hairy and wore a leather girdle (IIKi.1:8), John wore camel’s hair and a leather girdle (Mt.3:4). They both stood for a wicked king. Elijah stood for Ahab and John for king Herod. Elijah called fire down on God’s enemies  We read that in IIKings 1:9-12, and John predicted the Lord would baptize His enem-ies with fire. This we can read in Matthew.3:11. Elijah went before a type of Christ named Elisha, and John went before Christ.

But Israel didn’t receive it what John said to them, so John wasn’t Elijah.

Was Malachi wrong in saying Elijah would come before the Lord (4:5)? No, not at all for John was sent “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Lu.1:13-17). So Israel has no excuse for rejecting Christ!

Chapter 1 verse 7

The same came from a witness to bear witness of the Light, that

all men through Him might believe

Verse 7 What people need  someone to bear witness of the Light here in this verse? Who does not know what light is? The answer for that is blind people!  Israel was spiritually blind my dear brothers and sisters and John came for a witness to bear witness of the Light. That Light was and is Jesus Christ! So that they might believe. Believe is 100 times mentioned in the Gospel according to John. Believing in Christ we see in the Gospel according to John means believing that He is the Christ. John never spoke to the people that Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose from the grave the third day according the Scriptures I Corinthians 15:3-4. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. No this was not revealed at that time John lived and wrote to the Jews. It was not made known to people. It was at that time hid by God. So they must in that time believe in His Name and that He was the Christ! 

Chapter 1 verse 8

He was not the Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light

Verse 8: The apostle John is talking about John the Baptist my dear brothers and sisters: he, that is John the Baptistwas not the Light. In verse 15 of this same chapter 1 we read: "And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet" Indeed John the Baptist was the one, send by God to bear witness of that Light and the Light is Christ. In Acts 19 verse 4 we read: "Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance saying unto the people, that they should believe on Him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. Just as every groom has a “friend” who is a “witness” at the wedding, so our Lord Jesus Christ on earth had John the Baptist to “bear witness of that Light”

Chapter 1 verse 9

That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into 

the world

Verse 9: The apostle John is speaking here again about Jesus Christ, the Son of God Who was the true Light that came into the world. The world here means kosmos= world of men, humanity. John called our Lord Jesus Christ “the true Light” (1:9)!  John  he was warning the believeing Jews that there  will be in the future with the Tribulation a false light!  That is the Antichrist  and he will claim to be Israel’s true light. But Tribulation saints Jews,  will “know Him Jesus Christ that He is the true LIght” (I John 5:20). We know brothers and sisters that Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners like you and me I Timothy 1:15 tells us: This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation , that Christ Jesus  came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief" Here Christ is the true Light and lighteth every man and He came into this world world of men, humanity. We know and believe now under the Dispensation of Grace my dear brothers and sisters the purpose of His coming to this world: to save us sinners!  

Chapter 1 verse 10

He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, 

and the world knew Him not

 

Verse 10: He, Christ was in the world or kosmos is world of men. He was among them! The four gospels tells us about it. By Him the world was made. Again Colossians 1:16 we read: "For by Him were all things created, taht are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him" For His glory everything was made or created and also the world, the kosmos, the humanity was made by Him. And the world knew Him not. Men knew Him not. They didn't know Him. Now comes the question: Do you know Him, do you know Him as your personal Savior my dear reader? This verse is speaking of the past. We live now and under a different Dispensation namely the Dispensation of Gods Grace Ephesians 3:1-3. Men can know God through His Word Romans 10:17

Chapter 1 verse 11

He came unto His own, and His

own received Him not

Verse 11: Christ came unto His own. Who were His own. Answer: His own people! Who were His own people? The Lord’s “own” (John 1:11) refers to His own people, Israel.  Let us read it in Romans 9: 4 and 5: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth  the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving ot the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, Who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. They didn't receive Him because they thought that He came in the first place to save them from their enemies. They didn''t know or understand that He had to die first for the people and later would come as King and save them from their enemies. So they didn't believe in Him. While the nation as a whole didn’t receive Him, some individuals did. 

 

Chapter 1 verse 12

But as many as received Him, to them gave He power

to become the sons of God, even to them

that believe on His Name

Verse 12: According to verse 11 the nation as a whole didn't receive Him but many as received Him to them individuals He gave power. Power is authority He give to them that received Him and to become sons of God. And even to them that believe on His Name. Thus men who believed on Him became His children, but were not yet sons. What’s the difference?

Well, a child is like a servant (Gal. 4:1,2), in that both get told what to do.  The children of Israel were driven by the law, but in the kingdom they’ll be led by the Spirit. They only must believe in His Name. Now we are sons and daughters of God and we are led by God's Spirit Romans 8:14. We received God's Spirit when we get saved Ephesians 1:13-14 and we are sealed with that Spirit. Israel has to wait for the future this to become the sons of God. At Pentecost in Acts 2 you have a foretaste of this Kingdom. Those who believed on the Lord “were born” (John 1:13), with other words : born again.

Chapter 1 verse 13

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man, but of God

 

Verse 13: Born of God and that means here that someone who is born of God cannot sin anymore. He or she is under control by the Holy Spirit so he or she cannot sin like the people at Pentecost did nothing wrong and were born of God. At Pentecost you see a foretaste of this. This will be in the future when the Kingdom will be here on earth and Christ as King a 1000 year.  Under this Dispensation of Grace we as members of the Body of Christ can sin. We have to be filled by God's Spirit everyday and that is complete different. We have to do with our flesh and our own will, the will of man, our own old nature and we can choose my dear brothers and sisters: we can serve the Lord instead to serve our flesh. We can do His will and choose to listen to His Word through His Spirit. Read for yourselves my brothers and sisters Romans 8:13

 

Chapter 1 verse 14

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,

and we beheld His glory, the glory as for the only

begotten  of the Father, full of Grace and Truth

Verse 14: Jesus Christ was made flesh. He dwelt among the people of Israel and they saw His Glory, the glory as for the only begotten Son of the Father, full of Grace and Truth. God in the flesh through Jesus Christ His only begotten Son. How wonderful this was and is. He became Man to save men from all eternity. He paid the price on that cross on Calvary and this was for us my dear brothers and sisters. He came to His own, the people of Israel. He dwelt among them and people in Israel could see His glory and Grace and Truth. In Hebrews 2 verse 9 we read: "But we see Jesus, Who was made a little lower thatn the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the Grace of God should taste death for every man" That was the purpose why He came and we know it now because we have the whole Bible. Israel didn't see it and rejected Him with the Gentiles. They crucified Him with the Romans. He rose from the grave and is alive my dear brothers and sisters and in Him there is eternal life!!! Romans 3:23 and 24

Chapter 1 verse 15

John bare witness of Him, and cried saying

This was He of Whom I spake, He that 

cometh after me is preferred before me:

for He was before me

Verse 15: John the Baptist was sent  to bear witness of that Light and the Light was Christ and Him. He cried to the people and said that the One Who came after him was before John. From all eternityGod has always existed and will always exist. God the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit is a Trinity. God the Son Jesus Christ existed before John. The purpose of His coming was to save sinners we know now because we can find that in I Timothy 1:15. Sinners like you and me. In the time when our Lord was on earth people didn't know that. God's truth about this was not yet revealed to men in that time. Through the epistles of the apostle Paul we see the truth and purpose of  His first coming to this earth and as believers, members of His Body, the Church we can more appreciate this and be thankful for it!!!

Chapter 1 verse 16

And of His fulness have all we received, and Grace for Grace

 

Verse 16: These are the words of John the apostle and noot of John the Baptist. carrying on his account of Christ, after he had inserted the testimony of the Baptist, in connection with ( John 1:14) where he is said to be full of grace and truth; and which fulness is here intended; for the fulness of the Godhead. Grace for Grace. It means His Glory was full and the people of Israel John is speaking to have all received this fulness of the Godhead trough God's Grace for Grace. 

Chapter 1 verse 17

For the law was given by Moses, but Grace and Truth came

by Jesus Christ

Verse 17: The law was given by Moses. Moses got the whole Law from God. The law was not given at the time of his birth. Nor 40 years later when Moses fled from Pharaoh but much later at Mount Sinai. There he received the Law from God's hands. Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ we know but not at His birth. Even not when He died on the cross and rose again. After his ascension that Jesus Christ committed  this to the apostle Paul to give it out, to dispense. Read Ephesians 3: 1-4. The law was given by Moses and the Gospel of Gods Grace and His Truth was committed by the glorified Lord to Paul .  With Moses strict obedience  was commanded. Read Deuteronomy 4:26: I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed" The folk Israel. was disobedient and so they couldn't enter the land Canaan.  How different is the Gospel of Gods Grace my dear brothers and sisters. Salvation is a free gift Romans 3:25. The Law was the Ministration of death II Corinthians 3:7 and the ministration of condemnation II Corinthians 3:9. My brother and sisters: we live under God's Grace and not under God's Law. Christ hath redeemed us form the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us" Galatians 3:13

Chapter 1 verse 18

No man hath seen God at any time; 

the only begotten Son , Which is in the bosom

of the Father, He hath declared Him

Verse 18: This is a general truth my dear brothers and sisters: no man hath seen God. I Timothy 6 verse 15 and 16 tells us the following: "Which in His times He shall shew, who is the blessed an only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting Amen. Yes we cannot see God how He is. No man hath seen God at any time” (John 1:18) because no man can see Him and live. In Exodus 33 verse 20  we read: And He said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live" We know whom He is and what He has done for us through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ His only begotten Son Who is in the bosom of the Father Hath declared Him. The bosom was the place of the most intimate relationship imaginable, and that is what John is telling us here in this verse Christ has with the Father.

Christ was and is God in the flesh. So people could recognize that Christ was not such a man like they were as Israel in that time.  He was in the likeness of men: He was 100% Man and 100% God without sin. We cannot imagine what this is without sin and He declared God the Father!

Chapter 1 verse 19

And this is the record of John , when the Jews

sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to 

ask him, Who art thou?

 

Verse 19 This is the record of John: John is using official language because a King is being introduced! Israel will never be able to say they didn’t recognize their King because He wasn’t given a proper introduction. The Jewish authorities  send priests and levites from Jerusalem to ask John the Baptist who he is. They didn't really not know who he was. In Luke 3:15 we read: And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not" It was for them the folk of Israel strange to see such a man near the Jordan river and preaching the baptism of repentace for the remission of sins. In the time John the Baptist came into all the country about Jordan two high priests were in Israel Annas and Caiaphas. Read Luke 3: 2 and 3!

Chapters 1 : 20

And he confessed and denied not but confessed, I am not the Christ

Verse 20: My brothers and sisters in Christ. John the apostle is speaking about John the Baptist. He confessed and didnt lie. That is important what we see here. They the Jews of Jeruzalem the Levites and priests thought that he John was the Christ but he John the Baptist said he was not Christ. No he was send by God as the forerunner of Christ. That he was my brothers and sisters. Read also verse 30 of this first Chapter. 

Chapter 1:21

And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias. And he said

I am not. Art  thou that prophet? An he answered No. 

 

Verse 21:The Levites and priest from Jerusalem kept asking because they wanted to know who John was. They were not satisfied with the answer that he said I am not the Christ. They really wanted to know who he was. Was this to know only because of curiosity or were they really interested in him and what he preached to the people in the wilderness near the river Jordan. No my opinion is that they were not really interested in him because of the fact that they asked him later in verse 25 why he baptized people if he was not the Christ or Elias and neither that prophet was. It was only because of curiosity. Art thou Elias. He said honestly to them that he was not Elias and not that prophet what they thought he was. He say them the truth later in the chapter who he was. That Prophet comes from Deuteronomy 18 verse 15 where we read: The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me: unto Him ye shall hearken" That Prophet with a big P is our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Chapter 1:22

Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give

an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

 

Verse 22: The levites and priests who were send from Jerusalem asked again John the Baptist: who art thou? Because that was their task to tell the authorities in Jerusalem who he was: that they could give an answer to them that send them. An then in the end what sayest thou of thyself. What you can see here is that more or less they forced him to say who he was. It was important for the authorities to know who he was. The authorities were the Pharisees. A religious group in Israel at the time when Jesus Christ was on earth. The Pharisees believed in resurrection and angels. Read Acts 23:8!

The apostle Paul originally before his conversion was also a Pharisee. Listen to his words: But when Paul received that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council. Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question Acts 23:6

 

Chapter 1:23

He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness,

Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the 

prophet Esaias

 

Verse 23: This verse let us see the words of Esaias: For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet esaias, saying

The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight  Matthew 3:3 Esaias 40: 1-5. John was the voice of one crying and to prepare the way fo the Lord. Make straight in the desert a highway for our God" The purpose of John the Baptist was to receive the Messiah!  The folk Israel was in need of repentance and cleansing from sin  Read Matthew 3:2; 4:17,23!  John preached “the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3). Therefore, came Jerusalem and all Judea to John “and were baptized by him in Jordan, confessing their sins” Matthew 3:5,6). So to prepare Israel for their Messiah and entrance into the promised Kingdom, this purifying and cleansing ceremony of the Mosaic Law became especially important! 

Chapter 1:24

And they which were sent were of the Pharisees

Verse 24: To explain again. The ones who were send from Jerusalem were send by the authorities of the Pharisees propably the High Priest at Jerusalem. They had the assignment to find out whom this man John was and than to turn to Jerusalem to tell the leaders of Jerusalem whom he was. They came not in the first place to be baptized by Him because they didn't believe and had no sorrow about their sins. In Matthew we can see and read what John the Baptist said unto them there: But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come unto his baptism, he said unto them. O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance. And think not say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham" Matthew 3: 7-9

Chapter 1:25

And they asked him, and said unto him,

Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that

Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?

 

Verse 25: From this verse we can conclude that they really didn't know why John was baptizing people with water if he was not Christ or Elias or that prophet after he explained who he was. We know that water baptism was nothing new for the folk Israel  since they did not ask John what he was doing (John 1:25). The many Old Testament ceremonial washings of the Jews were baptisms. And we’ve already seen “why” he baptized: to identify Israel as God’s priests to the world (Ex.19:6; 29:4). That was it but those from the Pharisees didn't understand it. You see the blindness of them, spiritual blindness. They were religious and believed in the Law of Moses and in the works to do. They brought no fruits meet for repentance. It was a generation of vipers. They were hypocrites. That brings religion with him.  

 

Chapter 1:26

John answered them, saying, I baptize

with water: but there standeth One

among you, Whom ye know not

 

Verse 26:John the Baptist answered them , the Jews, again and said unto them: I baptize with water. In Luke 3 verse 16 we read a similar verse: "John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I cometh, the latchet of Whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire" At the time John told them the One and that is Jesus Christ was among them" He was already in the world but the world didn't know who He was and also the Israelites,Jews didn't know Him. They didn't know that He was their Messiah. Today under this Dispensation of Grace under which we live, a lot of people in this world doesn't know who He is. He is the Savior of this world! Now Christ is in heaven on the right Hand of God. He sits there and He is still rejected by this world. He loves you my dear reader and want

to save you if you have not accepted Him as your Savior. He gave His life for you, yes for you and me He gave His life on Calvary. Don't put off until tomorrow because tomorrow can be to late. Recognize that you are a sinner and that the Lord Jesus Christ died for your sins and that He died to save sinners like you and me. Romans 5:12, Romans 5: 6 and 8, I Corinthians 15:3 and 4. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Acts 16: 31

Chapter 1 verse 27
He is it, Who coming after me is preferred before me,

whose shoe's latchet i am not worthy to unloose

 

Verse 27: John the Baptist here in this verse is speaking about our Lord Jesus Christ who will come after him, John. Our Lord Jesus Christ was before John the Baptist. God lives from eternity to eternity. Christ is God in the Flesh. He is the Son of God. He was before the world began. Through Him everything is created by God. John the Baptist was the greatest man ever born (Mt.11:11), and so if he wasn’t fit to untie the Lord’s shoe (John 1:27), neither are we my brothers and sisters. If you are not saved, you need to trust Christ as personal Savior Acts 16:31. He is worthy and we are unworthy. God loved us that's why Christ came to earth to die for sinners like you and me and to give us eternal life my dear brothers and sisters. I Timothy 1:15, I Corinthians 15:3-4. 

Chapter 1 verse 28

These things were done in Bethabara beyond

Jordan where John was baptizing

 

verse 28 : What John said to the Pharisees and what he did: baptizing people  was done in Bethabara beyond the river Jordan. All things happened there what we have seen in the verses before this vers. It was in the wilderness and John baptized the people of Jerusalem and Judea.“Bethabara” means “house of passage,” because Israel had to pass over the river Jordan to enter the Promised Land. Exactly the same place John baptized people there with water.  Passing over the river Jordan symbolized death, passing into the next life. John baptized in Bethabara, for baptism was required for salvation (Mark 1:4; 16:16; Acts 2:38), otherwise people couldn’t pass over into eternal life without waterbaptism! They came to him to be baptized and confessing their sins near the river Jordan. The baptism with water was for the forgiveness of sins.  

 

Chapter 1 verse 29

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him,

and saith Behold the Lamb of God, which

taketh away the sin of the world

 

Verse 29: John the Baptist saw the next day Jesus coming unto him. In Matthew 3 verse 13-17 we read the following verse: Then cometh jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be baptized of him. But John forbad Him, sayng I have need to be baptized of thee and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.Then he suffered Him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and , lo , the heavens were opened unto Him, and he saw the Spirit of God, descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: and lo a voice from heaven saying, this is my beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased. This is what happened when John saw Jesus coming unto him and here in this verse he said Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. On what manner the Lord Jesus taketh away the sin of the world that's not told here. This was not revealed to men. They knew only that He was the One Who taketh away the sin of the world. This was His purpose first to taketh the sin of the world. First He had to die for this world, for the folk Israel and later to come back and begin the Kingdom as King and reign as King 1000 years. That was and is the plan for Israel. The people of Israel didn't understand this. They thought He was coming only to save them from their enemies the Romans. They didn't understand that first He had to die on the cross. That's why they rejected Him together with the Romans and later they crucified Him on the cross on Calvary. This was the most cruel death ever. In the epistles of the apostle Paul we know now why our Lord died on that cross on Calvary. In I Timothy 1:15 we read: "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" Yes Jesus Christ is the perfect Lamb of God Who died for you an me. Animals blood couldn't take away sin of men. But Jesus Christ His blood is for the forgiveness of sins. Yes He died for you and me on that cross on Calvary because we are sinners my dear brothers and sisters. He took all our sins in His body on that cross on Calvary and paid the full prize for us there. If you don't believe in Him yet why not to believe in Him? Why not believe that He died for you too on that cruel cross on Calvary? "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" Acts 16:31 If you do that you are saved for all eternity and you will become a new man in Him and your sins be forgiven forevermore. 

Chapter 1 verse 30

This is He of Whom I said, After me cometh a

Man Which is preferred before me: For He was

before me

 

Verse 30: In this verse 30,31  there is another reason to give us why John baptized people: to make Christ “manifest to Israel.” 31. After Him Christ would come and Christ was before John the Baptist and the Chosen One to do the will of the Father and fulfill all righteousness! 

Chapter 1 verse 31

And I knew Him not: but that He should be made manifest to 
Israel, therefore am I com baptizing with water

 

Verse 31: In all his life John the Baptist didn't know the Lord before the Lord Jesus Christ came to him in the river Jordan. He had never seen the Lord Jesus Christ in his life. He John was send by the Lord that Christ should be made manifest to Israel. He, John baptized the people with water and this was for the forgiveness of sins. 

 

Chapter 1 verse 32

And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit

descending from heaven like a dove, and it 

abode upon Him. 

 

Verse 32: What does it mean when John the Baptist say here in this verse he bare record? It means John the Baptist was witness and said I saw the Spirit. That is the Holy Spirit. That Holy Spirit of God descend from heaven like a dove. It was not a dove but like a dove. A dove represents peace of the deepest kind. That's what the Spirit of God was when John the Baptist saw Him descending for heaven. And this Spirit came stayed upon the Lord Jesus Christ. On the moment John had baptized our Lord Jesus Christ. In Luke 3 verse 22 we read: "And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in Thee I am well pleased"

 

Chapter 1 verse 33

And I knew Him not: but He that sent me to baptize with water,

the Same said unto me, Upon Whom thou shalt see the 

Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the Same is He 

which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost

 

Verse 33: Again we see the same words: I knew Him not. John had not seen the Lord Jesus Christ to man and family John was 

the cousin of the Lord Jesus Christ. Still he had never seen Him before and knew Him not but God Who send John to baptize with water for the forgiveness of sins that same God said unto him. Let him know: upon Whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on Him, He is the Same Who will baptize with the Holy Ghost. We see here in this verse something which is not said: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire. We read the last verse in Matthew 3 verse 11. Here in this verse 33 it is missing. We know now why the Lord Jesus Christ not yet had baptized with fire. This had to do with the Judgment Day. This has not yet come and God dealings with Israel to whom John the Baptist spoke is stopped because of their unbelief of their fall Romans 11:11, 25. We live now in a another Dispensation: the Dispensation of the Grace of God Ephesians 3;1-3 my dear brothers and sisters. We are members of the Body of Christ, the Church I Corinthians 12:13 and Israel is for a time set aside. God has inserted this oikonomia, this Dispensation of Grace. This Dispensation whereunder we now live takes now nearly 2000 years. 

Chapter 1 verse 34

And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God

 

Verse 34: With the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ John saw and witness that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He heard also that voice from heaven which said: "Thou art my beloved Son; in Thee I am well pleased". So John saw and hear it after the baptism of water: the voice he heard saying this that our Lord was the beloved Son and that God was well pleased in Him. 

 

Chapter 1 verse 35

Again the next day after John stood, and 

two of his disciples

 

Verse 35: John the Baptist had also disciples. What is a disciple? A disciple is a learner. A scholar, sometimes applied to the followers of John the Baptist (Matthew 9:14). And two of his disciples were the next day after that John had baptized the Lord Jesus Christ and they were looking. What they were looking at we see in the next verse. 

Chapter 1 verse 36

And looking upon Jesus as He walked, he saith. Behold the Lamb of God

 

Verse 36: They looked upon Jesus. It must have been a special sight my dear brothers and sisters. We haven't seen Him. We don't see Him on earth. Our Lord Jesus Christ is in heaven on the Right Hand of the Father. Still He is with us because of His Spirit Which lives in us Ephesians 1:13,14. We are sealed by His Spirit. But those disciples of John saw the Lord Jesus Christ on earth, They saw Him walking and John saith to them: Behold the Lamb of God. Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God, the Perfect Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of this world. 

Chapter 1 verse 37

And the two disciples heard Him speak and they 

followed Jesus

 

Verse 37: My brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ. The two disciples of John the Baptist, two of his scholars who learned a lot of him heard Christ speaking! They left John and followed Jesus Christ on earth. It must have been something special that they saw Him and heard Him speaking!  He spoke sound Words, really sound Words and the Truth He spoke that's why they followed Him. Later in this chapter we read the Names of the disciples

Chapter 1 verse 38 

The Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, 

What seek ye? They said unto Him, Rabbi, (which is to say,

being interpreted, Master) where dwellest thou?

Verse 38: Our Lord turned around because He knew that He has been followed. He knows and knew everything. God knows the hearts of men and what they are doing. Nothing is hidden for Him. He saw them following and asked them where they were looking for. Their answer was unto Him Rabbi. They recognized that He was a Rabbi, a Master and asked Him because they wanted to follow Him and said where dwellest Thou? They wanted not only to know where He lived but also to be with Him. They longed to be with Him that's why they asked Him this. The Words that He spoke were so powerful and mighty and we know Gods Word is. In Hebrews 4 verse 12 we read: "For the Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the divding asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart"

Chapter 1 verse 39

He saith unto them, Come and see. they came and saw

where He dwelt, and abode with Him that day: for it was

about the tenth hour

 

Verse 39: Our Lord Jesus Christ showed the two disciples of John the Baptist the place where He on that moment dwelt. They asked Him to be with Him that day. Where  are You dwelling may have suggested, if you are to busy now, we can visit later. It was 10 AM. They were so impressed of Jesus Christ. They called Him Rabbi or Master. He told them a lot of Gods Word and this touched their hearts. They wanted to hear more of Him so they asked Him to stay with Him. They were convinced that He was the Messiah, that they found Him!!!

Chapter 1 verse 40
One of the two which heard John speak, and followed Him, was

Andrew, Simon's Peter's brother

 

Verse 40: One of the Disciples of John the Baptist who followed out Lord Jesus Christ on earth was Andrew the brother of Simon Peter. Andrew was with the other disciple so impressed of our Lord Jesus Christ that he found later his brother Simon Peter and brought him to Jesus Christ and the same happened with John who brought his brother James to the Lord. We do not know so much about Andrew but what we see here is very great: To invite his brother Simon Peter to come to the Lord Jesus Christ and be also a disciple of Jesus Christ on earth. Both Andrew and John were their brothers keepers. Not as Cain said to the Lord in Genesis 4:9: And the Lord said unto Cain. Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?  Cain lied to the Lord. He had murdered his brother to death and now he lied too that he didn't know where is brother was and that he have to take care about him. In general my brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ this is the mentallity of the sin nature of men in general: I don't care about anyone else. But here we have these men who followed our Lord on earth much cared about their brothers and brought them to the Lord. It is a real testimony and something to think about it that we as members of the Body of Christ do care about each other and also about unbelievers in this world! Let us not be selfish but let God do the work and love through us to others and share the wonderful Gospel of the Grace of God Acts 20:24, Romans 16: 25-26, I Corinthians 15:3-4, Romans 5:8! 

Chapter 1 verse 41

He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have

found the Messias, which is being interpreted, the Christ

Verse 41: He, that is Andrew, found his brother Simon. Andrew was looking for his brother and found him! And now he surprises his brother very enthousiastic and full sure that he and John had found the Messias. This was really a witness. Messiah is a Hebrew word and means anointed and the Greek word for this is Christ!  Hebrew originally word Mashiach, Messiah. It was really special that Andrew and John former disciples of John the Baptist found the Messiah, Christ and they were convinced of that so they told their brothers too that they have found Him and that they should also follow the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the Word of God which convince us too my brothers and sisters to believe in it! Romans 10:17

Chapter 1 verse 42
And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, He 

said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called

Cephas, which is by interpretation , A stone. 

 

Verse 42: After Andrew had found his brother Simon and told him about the Messiah, Christ which is Anointed One, he brought Simon or Peter to the Lord Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ beheld him, Simon. What does the word beheld mean?  To gaze upon ! So our Lord was gaze upon Simon when Simon was brought by his brother Andrew to the Lord. He, our Lord said something very special to Simon. He knew that Simon was the son of Jona and he told Simon this. Our Lord did know everything because He was God Himself in the flesh. That's why he told Simon: thou art the son of Jona. And now it comes: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation a stone. The Name of Simon was changed into Cephas or Peter. It changed Simon's  life: Peter in Greek language and Cephas in Aramaic. Peter was originally a weak person but through the Lord he became a strong person in Christ and that's why he got a new Name and that is interpreted stone. Later he became the leader of the 12 apostles. The Lord gave him a lot of responsibilities later! 

Chapter 1 verse 43

The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee and

findeth Philip and saith unto him, Follow me

 

Verse 43: Our Lord Jesus Christ went into the land of Galilee. He went there with a purpose: to call men to be His disciples! And He, the Lord Jesus Christ found Philip. And He said to Philip: Follow me. It would have been impressed Philip so much like the other disciples too that he immediately after hearing this call he followed our Lord on earth. Andrew and Peter were fishermen and lived near the Sea of Gallilee, Sea of Tiberias also known. They were also called and we read that in Matthew 4 verse 18-21: "And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straigthway left their nets, and followed Him". It is very remarkable here in this last verse that they immediately left their nets and followed Him. They heard His call and His Word I will make you fishers of men. This was so special that they couldn't refuse and they obeyed Him and followed Him. 

     My wife and me were last year there on this Sea and it is beautiful Sea! It has the form of a harp and special in the morning when you see the Sunrise there it is very beautiful and it is a peaceful and quiet place!  I love that place and it made a big impression on me. When you are there you think back to the Four Gospels and realize that our Lord Jesus Christ walked there and spoke the Word of God there to the people.

    Now Philip we see in the next verse came from Bethsaida near the Sea of Galilee and this we have also seen. This was also a beautiful place. We saw the rests of the Synagogue and the house of Peter's mother in Law. So our Lord called Philip there in the neigbourhood of his home and called him to be a disciple.  The disciples were not learned men. They were simple people. In Acts 4 verse 13 we read: Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. 

Chapter 1 verse 44

Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter

 

Verse 44: All three men came from Bethsaida: Philip, Andrew and Peter. Was this by chance? No it wasn't. There is no coincidence with God. God knew before He would call this 3 men from the same city. God is omniscient!  He knows everything and knows the heart of men. Jesus Christ called those men: Two of them were fishers, simple men. Not wise in the eyes of men in this world. Let us read I Corinthians 1 verse 26: "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called" And this is now my brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ: most people in the Body of Christ, the Church are not wise persons, not many are learned people. Why not? The answer is that for learned men, Academici or intellectuals it is very difficult to receive the Word of God and to learn the wisdom of God. It will not say that there are not learned men or women in the Body of Christ. There are but they are in the minority. 

Chapter 1 verse 45

Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him. We have found 

Him, of whom Moses in the Law and the prophets, did write,

Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

Verse 45:Philip became a follower of Christ, he became a disciple and he was so impressed through our Lord and what He spoke to the people that he find Nathanael. Probably Nathanael was a friend of Philip and Philip told him: we have found Him! What a big joy this must have been!!! For them to find the Lord Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph!!! In Deuteronomy 18 verse 15 we read there: "The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me: unto Him ye shall hearken. In this verse Moses is telling the people of Israel that there will be a Prophet come in the midst of them in the future and like Moses and to Him they shall hearken. In Luke 24 verse 27 the Lord explained to the men going to Emmaus the following words: "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself"  The Scriptures confirmed that there is written about our Lord Jesus Christ, about His coming to earth: in the Law and under the prophets. He came from Nazareth and the son of Joseph according the human line. 

Chapter 1 verse 46
And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing

come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, 

Come and see

 

Verse 46: See the answer here in this verse of Nathanael to Philip his friend; Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Nathanael was not enthousiastic in the first place. He couldn't believe what Philip told him. Our Lord was born in Bethlehem but grew up in Nazareth and bore that stigma: our Lord was called a Nazarene Matthew 2: 23. A Nazarene meant to be looked down on and rejected. So Nathanael argued here and disappointed but Philip took the words of our Lord and remained enthousiastic and said to Nathanael: Come and see. It is first come with me and see and your judgements will maybe disappear! Come is the great invitation of God's Grace. 

Chapter 1 verse 47

Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him,

and saith of him. Behold an Israelite

indeed, in whom is no guile!

 

 

Verse 47: Philip brought Nathanael to our Lord Jesus and Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him. Nathanael was a Israelite and in him was no guile. Our Lord was referring to Jacob, the ancestor of the Jews. Jacob's Name was later changed in Israel, a prince with God. After his name was changed Jacob now in Israel there was no guile in him. Before his name was changed into Israel he had beguiled people like his father and Laban 

Chapter 1 verse 48

Nathanael saith unto Him, Whence knowest thou me?

Jesus answered and said unto him. Before that Philip

called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. 

 

Verse 48: Nathanael was a little bit surprised by this and asked our Lord how he did know him. The Lord told him

that He saw him already under the fig tree before Philip called him. This let us see that our Lord knowed, knows everything

and He is more on one place. He is everywhere! He is omniscient. This is how He is. That our Lord revealed His knowledge of Nathanael hwre he had been and what he had been doing, the was enough to convince the man that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. And we see in the next verse what Nathanael said to our Lord Jesus Christ. Nathanael became convinced that Jesus was indeed the Son of God

Chapter 1 verse 49

Nathanael answered and saith unto Him, Rabbi, thou art the Son

of God; thou art the King of Israel

 

Verse 49: Nathanael was convinced of our Lord and answered and confirmed that Jesus Christ was and is Rabbi Master! And more he said listen and read carefully: thou art the Son of God! Thou art the King of Israel. King of Israel is the title similar to Messiah, the Anointed One. Kings weer always God's anointed  In Psalm 2 verse 6 and 7 we read: "Yet have I set my King upon my Holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. This Psalm is speaking about our Lord Jesus Christ: He is the Son of God and God tells Him here in this verses that!

Chapter 1 verse 50

Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said

unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou?

Thou shalt see greater things than these

 

Verse 50: Nathanael believed what the Lord told him that He saw him under the fig tree. Above this our Lord Jesus told Nathanael that he should see greater things than these because Nathanael became a disciple of our Lord on earth and in the 3 years of His ministry our Lord showed His disciples a lot of miracles and wonders He did. At the close of this fourth day our Lord Jesus Christ had six believing men who were His disciples. It was the half of His disciples He had already. The days after 6 other persons would be His disciples until 12 disciples. 12 Disciples because of the twelve Tribes of Israel and that they will reign with our Lord Jesus Christ when He will be King of Israel in the 1000 year Reign, the Millenial Kingdom on earth over the twelve Tribes of Israel. In Luke 22 verse 29 30 our Lord told his disciples: And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; That ye may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom, and sist on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel" 

Chapter 1 verse 51

And He saith unto him, Verily verily, I say unto you,

Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the

angels of God ascending and descending

upon the Son of man

 

Verse 51: Here we see Son of man and that is one of our Lord's favorite titles for Himself. This Son of man is 83 times used in the four Gospels and at least 13 times in the Gospel according to John. This title let you see both Deity and humanity of Jesus Christ. In Daniel 7 verse 13 we read the following words: "I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven and came to the Ancient of days and they brought him near before Him. The Son of man is the living link between heaven and earth. This is why our Lord spoke to Nathanael and the other disciples about the Jacob's ladder in Genesis 28. The Ladder is Christ and Christ is God's Ladder and God had send the angels to guard and guide Him. So the conclusion is that God's ladder is Christ between heaven and earth. In John 14 verse 6 we read: No man cometh to the Father, but by Me" The witness of this whole chapter is clear: Jesus of Nazareth is God come in the flesh!