Theme

Incarnation and the response to it.

Questions

• The first 18 verses of John’s gospel have been said to summarise the whole book. Can you identify a beginning, middle and end to what John says about Jesus in these verses?
• John 20:30-31 tells us the aim John had in writing his gospel. How is that aim seen in the introduction, John 1:1-18?
• John describes the Word (who we later find out is Jesus – compare John 1:15 & John 1:30).
  • What two things does John say about the Word in v.14? Compare this with the way Jesus is described before his birth in Matthew 1:21-23.
  • Why do you think it is important to know that “the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us”?
• Why do you think John begins his gospel with a description of creation (v.3)? Compare this with Colossians 1:15-20.
• What do you think John mean by describing the Word as life which brings light (v.4-5)? People try to light up their lives in all sorts of ways. Why do you think Jesus is the “true light” (v.9)
• There are three responses to the Word in this this passage, lack of recognition (v.10), outright rejection (v.11) and acceptance (v.12).
  • Why do you think people fail to recognise God or choose not to receive him (v.10-11) – look at John 3:19, why do some people prefer darkness to light?
  • Compare v.12-13 with 1 John 3:1. How does ‘believing in his name’ change someone’s life (think back to the session ‘In Christ I belong’ on 3 February)?
• John (the Baptist) is described twice in this passage (v.6-8 & v.15), he is described as a ‘witness’ and ‘testifying’.
  • What do these words mean? What was John’s role?
  • What do you think it means for you to be a witness, or to testify about Jesus? In what ways can you do this?

• The passage ends by pointing people who want to know God, to Jesus (v.18). Compare this with Jesus’ own words in John 12:44-46. Are you confident that God is made known in Jesus? How can you share this with others?

• In reading this passage, what have you found the most surprising or challenging?