Gospel of John
Chapter I

King James Bible Text

Study Notes Commentary

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

Verse 1 Call on God’s Name, and you invite the angels to surround the ground on which you stand! God is the Mind with which you think – the created action!

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

Verse 2 Yes, you too, are in the beginning with God! What an exciting adventure!

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Verse 3 You are part of God – in fact nothing is made apart from God! What does God mean to you? Yes, God is love!
 

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Verse 4 Yes – the life and light is you! You are the Light of the world! Light is what comforts and heals you!

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

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

7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

Verse 7 John the Baptist is the one who is telling the people that Jesus is coming into the world to save them – good news, eh!

Verse 9 Light means spiritual understanding or illumination! And – Jesus lights you up with His Mind!

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

Verse 10 Just like Jesus, you made your world, and just like Jesus, no one really knows you! After your rebirth they still won’t! Don’t worry about it! God’s in charge!

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

Verse 11 Even Jesus’ own family didn’t recognize Him after His illumination, His awakening!

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 Does this mean you can become the Son of God through receiving the power of Jesus’ Love? Oh yes! In Truth you already are, and always have been!
 

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace
and truth.

Verse 14 Jesus is the Word of God in the flesh! He’s a real person, just like you! It is the grace and truth of God that brings about your awakening to who you truly are! It is a revelation!
 

Verse 15 John is like the town crier – a bringer of good news! He’s telling the story of Jesus, the Christ, coming into the world – a savior to the people!
 

16 And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.

Verse 16 What is grace to you? Yes – the love of God through Jesus, to you!

17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
 

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.

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 A Levite is a member of the tribe of Levi, chosen to assist the priest in the temple. The Jews ask John the Baptist, "Who are you?"

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

21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

Verse 21 John the Baptist isn’t answering any questions in detail – maybe he knows not to argue! Sound familiar? (Remember that you have nothing to prove to God!)

Verse 22 The priests and Levites are still asking John the Baptist if he is qualified to tell the people of the Savior Jesus’ coming!

24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.

Verse 24 The Pharisees were a religious group who followed rigid Old Testament law, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth! Jesus is not teaching revenge – He is teaching love each other as He loves you; don’t fight evil; forgive your enemies, and don’t judge, or you‘ll be judged!

25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?

26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;

Verse 26 The Christ is always present wherever you are – even if you aren’t recognizing him! Why? Because He is you! You are God’s Son along with everyone else!

27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

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 Lamb of God is the Innocent One, Jesus! It says "sin," not "sins!" There are not many sins, only the one idea that you are separate from God! Nonsense! You are not separate! You are God’s beloved son!

Verse 30 John is once again speaking of the Savior of mankind! It’s Jesus right now! Why? Because you are reading this, and He’s right here with you!

31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

Verse 31 John admits that he does not know who the savior is – only that God promised His people that there be a savior! There is – and it’s Jesus!

32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

Verse 32 John declares that he saw the Spirit of God – the Holy Spirit – come down from heaven (in the form of a dove) and land on Jesus! What a "blast!"

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 The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of God, or the Holy Spirit! John has a personal and real relationship with God (even before Jesus appears)! God tells John who Jesus is! You too can have a direct contact – just ask God!

 

Verse 34 John’s whole ministry is to tell the story of Jesus’ illumination! Everything is a story – yours too!

35 Again the next day after, John stood, and two of his disciples;

Verse 35 With two of his disciples, John is just con-tinuing to do his job.

36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

Verse 37 As you tell of Jesus’ message – so, too others will hear and follow! Pass Jesus’ Message on! Share His story! Give what you have been given! It is yours to give now!

38 Then 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 Jesus asks the crowd what it is they are looking for! (The first step in your spiritual awakening is to ask yourself questions!) Instead, they are asking Jesus where He lives! They sort of missed the point of His question to them!
 

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 Nothing tricky here! Jesus is just showing his home to his friends! Are you His friend?

 

40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

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 Can you imagine Andrew’s excitement at finding the Messiah, the one who was to complete God’s purpose for them, as prophesied in the Old Testament?

Verse 42 Stone sounds like a solid sort of a guy! Peter is the "rock" on which the first church is built!
 

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

Verse 44 All from the same town!

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.

46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
 

47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
 

Verse 47 Guile means dishonesty. Nathanael is suspicious of Jesus! Yet, Jesus looks at Nathanael and sees only goodness in him! Are you suspicious? Or do you see goodness?

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 Just like Nathanael – you’ll be surprised and have doubts! Trust Jesus anyway! Do you think He hasn’t been with you from the beginning of time? Nonsense, He has! You haven’t seen anything yet!!!