David MacDonald - December 14th, 2025 - The Word Dwelt Among Us
Uniqueness of Gospel of John
Key word “believe” (98x)
Intended audience is the entire world
John focuses on who Jesus is – presents Jesus as the Son of God
Matthew focused on what the Lord Jesus said
Mark focused on what the Lord Jesus did
Luke focused on how the Lord Jesus felt
John focused on who the Lord Jesus was
Jesus Christ is presented as God Himself in a human body
John starts with the beginning (just as the scriptures do in Genesis 1:1)
Matthew and Luke go to beginnings in genealogy – John back to very beginning – before time
John 1:1-5
The Word – Jesus Christ is Eternal God (vs. 1,2)
John 1:1-2 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.
Lord Jesus Christ – was the Word – existed before the beginning – already there
The Word was with God – intimately face to face with the Father - Philippians 2:6 …who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
The Word was God - John 1:10-11 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. (11) He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
The Word – Jesus Christ is The Creator (vs. 3)
John 1:3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Colossians 1:16-17 (16) For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. (17) And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Colossians 1:14-15 (14) in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (15) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
Revelation 4:11 NLT "You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created."
The Word – is Life and Light for All Mankind (vs. 4-5)
John 1:4-5 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.
NET – “In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind.”
In Him was LIFE (zoe- spiritual life, eternal life, quality of life) 54x in Gospel
The Word is the source of all life – zoe vs. bios
This life is the LIGHT of men, -- spiritual light as well as natural light.
Not the Word “contains” life and light; He is life and light.
That life was light. It illuminates, shines. 21x light in John
John 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.: translated “did not comprehend it.”
Comprehend: laying hold on something to make it one’s own.
Affects everyone (vs9) Every person has light that makes them responsible.
Men love darkness rather than light. John 3:19 describes the state of our world and the heart of mankind.
The Word – Became Flesh & Dwelt Among Us (vs. 3)
John 1:14 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.
One of the greatest miracles – God became flesh – born of a virgin
Prophesied in the OT – Isaiah 9:6-7, Micah 5:2-4
He became flesh for YOU!
Dwelt among us – Tabernacled
John 1:11-12 He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. (12) But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God,
