St. John's Gospel (02) - Baptism

The Word Manifest in St. John’s Gospel

John 1:1-18 -  In the beginning was the Word . . . . He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. . . And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us . . .

The Gospel of St. John is both simple and profound. No scholarship is needed to receive it’s truth and yet no scholar has seen through it’s profound matrix of depth. With the most basic language (in the original Greek) it conveys the richest portrait of Christ that could be imagined. John presents Jesus in profound glory, such as with the “I AM” statements. He alludes to a rich Days patter (on the Third Day, 2:1). He has a series of profound, “Behold” statements: Behold the Lamb, Behold Your King, Behold the Man, Behold your son. The Gospel is framed with seven + one signs. Each sign manifests more fully The Word made flesh and reveals the new creation in Christ. The new creation sequence (7 + 1) calls to mind the 6 + 1 sequence of the original creation which culminates in the sabbath. The parallels in Genesis are “Forming Days” (1-3) and “Filling Days” (4-6). Days 1 & 4 relate (Light, Light-bearers), Days 2 & 5 relate (Sea/Sea Critters; Sky/Sky Critters) and Days 3 & 6 relate (Land, Land Animals & Man). Then in addition there is the Seventh Day which completes the sequence. In John the “First Day” (or Eighth Day) completes the sequence of new creation.

The Seven + One New Creation (Signs in John)
1. New Creator: Water into wine (2:1-11)
    2. Redeemer/Healer: Prevents death of nobleman’s son (4:46ff)
        3. True Sabbath: The paralyzed man at the pool (5:2-9)
            4. Bread of Life: Multiplication of loaves (6:1-14)
        5. Light of the World: Born blind, healed on Sabbath (9:1-7)
    6. Resurrection & Life: Delays/death then raises Lazarus (11:1-44)
7. Living Water: Water & blood on the cross (19:34-35)
+ 8. (New Creation) New Adam/Gardener: The resurrection (20:1-29) “First Day” (8th Day)

The Six + One Old Creation (Days in Genesis)
1. Day One: Light from Darkness
    2. Day Two: Sea & Sky
        3. Day Three: Land, Plants, Seeds
4. Day Four: Lights - Sun, Moon, Stars
    5. Day Five: Fish (in Sea) & Birds (in Sky)
        6. Day Six: Land Animals & Man
+ 7. God Rested (Completion of Creation)

HEART OF JOHN’S APPEAL 1:18 No one has seen God at any time . . .He has explained Him.” THEREFORE VS 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

CHRIST IS HERE AND HE IS AVAILABLE TO US. RECEIVE HIM. He has been revealed and He resides in the people of God. The temple of God.

You may say I want Jesus to come in power in my life. I want to be able see the face of God; I want a Super Power; Just show me the Father;

John 14:7–10 - Philip *said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus *said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father...

John 20:28–29 - “28 Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus *said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.””

John 20:30–31 - “30 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”