Welcome to 2015 and our new study of John 1,2, and 3! I am excited to get started w John. I think it will help us to know a bit about John, even starting w which John are we talking about! So lets look at Matthew 4:19-22
Matthew 4:19 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
What do we find out about John in this passage? Family members? Occupation? Friends? And who he set out to follow?
In Matt 10:1-4 we see him listed as one of the 12 disciples. Luke 10:1-11 gives us more details about Jesus personal call to Peter and Andrew, James and John and in Mark5:35-43 we see that John present at another miracle and with a select group of 3 disciples. Take some time to read these on your own.
Now lets read 1 John verses 1-3
1 John 1.1-10.ESV That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
How well does John know Jesus? How close has he been to Jesus? What words does he use to describe what he knows about Jesus? What does John have w Jesus and the Father God that he wants us to share?
One point of clarification that might be helpful is the difference between the book of John and 1,2 and 3 John?
The book of John is the story of Jesus life and teaching as recalled by John. It is written as a personal historical account. John 1,2 and 3 are letters John wrote to believers towards the end of his life. These letters are important because John is the last man standing. All the other 12 disciples have died and John is the only disciple left who walked w Jesus throughout his whole ministry. This eye witness account is very important. Especially as we will see later, there are false teachers around trying to change the truth of Christ, His being and His teaching.
The scene at the last supper in John 13 gives us some new thoughts about John and Jesus relationship. Reading from John 13: 21-25 we see this: One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side, so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?”
Notice where John is seated during the meal. Next to Jesus, so close he is leaning against Jesus.That is a marvelous closeness. In John 19:25-27 we see another closeness:
,jhn.19.25-27.ESV but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
Jesus trusted the care of His mother Mary to John the disciple. His own brothers were not there and were not yet believers. John himself could understand Mary’s spiritual beliefs better than her own sons at that time. In John 20:1-8 we see a woman and 2 disciples at the tomb:
John.20.1-8.ESV Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;
The “other disciple” is our friend John. He was beloved, trusted and a believer. What he writes is very important to encourage the church in the truth about Christ.
Lets return to 1 John and read 1 John 1:1-4
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
In this verse we get a look at purpose of John’s writing. 1 he is an eye witness 2. he confirms Jesus as the earthly revelation of God and 3. so that our joy may be complete by making sure we know about eternal life in Christ. Yes, it is good that John wrote us these letters.
Lets continue reading:
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him(God) while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
John loves to paint word pictures. As we read thru John’s letters notice, even count, the times he uses repeated word comparisons like light and dark. See how many of your own you notice.
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he(God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him(God) a liar, and his (God’s) word is not in us.2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
(I added verse one of chapter 2 to this reading to complete the thought. Remember the address, chapter and verse, were added later.)
Before we finish today reread verses 1:-2:1 and notice the pattern of “if” and “but”.
6. if we say____________ 7. but if we walk___________
8. if we say____________ 9. if we confess____________
10. if we say___________ 2:1 but if any one does___________
Remember Pastor John’s sermon on Jesus the scapegoat and sacrificial lamb. That is a great visual definition of propitiation. Jesus paid for the sins of who? Just the 12? Just the Jews?Just the Gentiles? Just you and me? No the whole world. That is the amazing grace of our God. That He would pay for the sins of the whole world in hopes that we would all believe and be saved. That He would be the blood sacrifice for our righteousness and the scapegoat to carry our sins as far as the east is from the west. What a mighty God we serve!
