Here we are introduced to John the Baptist who came to bear witness to the fact that “light” was coming into the world and this light is Jesus Himself. (Jesus would later declare that He is the light of the world.) Also all that exists in the created cosmos came through Jesus, and without Him, there would be no universe at all. Jesus reveals the very glory of God, glory being the actual presence of God. To see Jesus is to behold God in the flesh.

The first five verses of the Prologue of John’s Gospel are presented beginning with a profile of the Apostle John. John’s essential theme is that Jesus is the promised Messiah and Son of God, and that by believing in Jesus there is eternal life.

The Logos or Word of God, who is later identified with Jesus, is God in His entirety. John is essentially reaching out to a Graeco-Roman audience who would have acquaintance with the concept of a Logos.

Which is more important, the crucifixion or the resurrection? It is very clear that both are completely necessary; you cannot have one without the other. On the cross Jesus took our sin away, and the proof of this is in the resurrection. We have the Suffering Servant of God dying on the cross, fulfilling Isaiah 53 and other prophetic passages, and then the Conquering Champion of God defeats death.

The word “peace,” in both the Hebrew and Greek Bibles, can mean either peace with individuals, nations, religions, etc., or an inner peace that God gives to those whose sin is covered by the act of justification by Jesus’ dying on the cross. Still, while the Christian has peace with God, s/he is at odds with those who are not believers, even family members, but especially Satan and his demons.

Jesus said, “whoever believes has eternal life” but He also said, “whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life.” Does one equal the other? Some see the Lord’s Supper as an ordinance, a memorial and a command to observe. Others claim it is a sacrament: the bread and the juice become the actual body and blood of Jesus, or that the body and blood is within the elements. The former sees salvation by faith; the latter sees salvation by an act of the Church’s priests.

Resting is first—ceasing to try to save ourselves. Rather it is Jesus who took our sin upon Himself, dyed in our place, was buried, rose from the grave, and is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven. Jesus’ work is complete, and now we rest in His work, ours being irrelevant. However, once safely resting in Jesus Christians strive to honor and glorify God via committing ourselves to the finished work of Jesus, growing up into the fullness of Christ, and seeking to do what He commands.

On the one hand God knows our needs before we ask Him, yet we are to make our needs known to Him in prayer. Both of these are true and actual at once. Even the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with “groaning” too deep for words. Prayer is surrounded in mystery, but at the heart of it is the concept of fellowship, which John speaks of in his first letter. The Creator God desires fellowship with His Chosen people, and until we are with Him in heaven, we have prayer.

The Hebrew Bible paints two pictures of Messiah: One is Messiah Son of Joseph, the suffering servant of Israel, the redeemer sacrificed for sin. Joseph was the 11th son of Jacob (Israel) who was betrayed by his brothers, sold as a slave into Egypt, but who saved all of his family Israel. Second is Messiah Son of David, the great king of the golden era of Israel. Jesus has come as Messiah Son of Joseph and will return as Messiah Son of David.

Saving faith is a gift of grace. Salvation cannot be earned but is given to us by the working of the Holy Spirit. And yet, we are urged, commanded even, to believe in Jesus Christ. Jesus even said that to do the work of God is to “believe in him whom He has sent.” Therefore the paradox: salvation is at once a gift yet we are told to believe in Jesus.

The paradox: God is ultimate love yet judges at the same time. If God were not to judge and put away sin into hell, then He could not be a God who loves His creation. Biblical love is to act for the benefit of another, to bring them the very best. Therefore, injustice will not reign but will be banished all together. Scripture speaks of the resurrection to life and the resurrection to death and is seen in His putting away sin and Satan and all those who belong to the demonic realm forever.