v.1-13
The main point:
V.1-5 The Word is the Creator-God. As His creature, we are supposed to obey Him. However, there is also darkness in the world v.5. The only hope for mankind to overcome the darkness is through the life that the Creator-God gave us v.4.
V.4 In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind
V.6-13 How can mankind have this life is through John’s testifying and our believing. The opportunity was given to everyone v.7,9, in the world v.9,10, who are supposed to be His own people v.11. Those who believe are really His own, His own children v.12-13.
Reflection: 我先分享第一章第5節,新譯本的翻譯, 光照在黑暗中黑暗不能勝過光. 1-4節說當我們清楚看見到道就是創造的神,就應該跟隨他. 但是第五節提到黑暗, 人類唯一能勝過黑暗的就是靠著從創造主來的光. 看到這裏我感謝神！ 的確, 在最近我們看到很多黑暗, 不論是因為疫情或者從疫情我們看到人類的無知和自私. 但是,我們不用灰心, 因為光能夠勝過他們. 而這個力量因為是從創造主而來, 黑暗永遠沒有辦法勝過他.
(2026)
1. The repeated word
v.1-3 "was" and created
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. 2 The Word was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.
Summary: Who is the Word, and the Word was the Creator
v.4-5 "Life," light," and "darkness"
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. 5 And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it.
Summary: In the Creator was life and this life has become the light of mankind which can shines in our darkness. In other words, those who has the Creator life has an illumination which can disperse the evil and the evil is unable to mastered over it. (BKC) (a) Light will invade the dominion of darkness. (b) Satan the ruler and his subjects will resist the light, but they will be unable to frustrate its power. (c) The Word will be victorious in spite of opposition.
Darkness, which does not belongs to what the Word appears here, and it tries to master the light given by the Word. Mankind was given a choice.
v.6-8 witness, testify, light
6 A man came, sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that everyone might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify about the light
Summary: God is gracious and fair. He did not just give us a light, but He gave us witnesses. They helped us to believe.
v.9-14 the world, what was his own, his own people, become God's children, born by God
v.10 recognize=BDAG to indicate that one does know, acknowledge, recognize as that which one is or claims to be
v.11 receive=BDAG Somet. the emphasis lies not so much on receiving or taking over, as on the fact that the word implies agreement or approval, accept
Summary: The world which He created supposed to acknowledge Him as God, but we did not. His own people supposed to agree, approve, or accept Him, but we did not. The light shines, but the darkness also exists. However, that is not an universal response. Some received Him and believed Him. They were given a capability/power to become God's children.
Conclusion and reflection: Jesus being the Creator has life in Him and that illuminates us in darkness, but we need to trust in the witness about the light and acknowledge and approved Him. Then we will be given a great capability to become the children of God.
Jesus gives life and light. With His life I will know how to live and dispel darkness. When I dont know what is important in my life, how to live my life, and all these questions, I can ask Him. He knows.
God gave us witnesses to help us to believe. To whom I can be a witness of Jesus today?
v.14-18
Main point: Jesus was the Word. He is fully God and therefore He has all the glory that God has. He is fully man and lived among John and therefore God’s character could be seen fully from Him. The 2 main characters are truth and grace. It is grace that people could believe in v.13. He is the true God as John testified for Him. Also these 2 characters were both described to the fullness sense, that is, He was “full’ of grace and truth v.14, 16, and He is in closet fellowship with the Father (and made God known) v.18.
Reflection: What were the gracious gifts that John had experienced so that he said they were “one after another? v.16” (NET) Exod 33:13 provides the background for this expression: “Now therefore, I pray you, if I have found [grace] in your sight, let me know your ways, that I may know you, so that I may find [grace] in your sight.”
v.19-28
Main point:
from v.6-8, John was sent by God to testify Who is the Light so that people would believe in Him. In v.15, when the Word became flesh, John would identify that Person and let everyone know that He was divine. Now, in v.19-28, we know the details of that testimony. John was widely recognized so that the religious leaders would travel from Jerusalem to River Jordan v.19, 28 to pay him a visit. ( His ministry has 2 purposes: 1. To prepare the way of the Lord v.23. Even as religious leaders, they needed to repent so that they would be ready for the coming of God. 2. His baptism would let people recognize Who Jesus is v.26. Compare v.15 with v.27, and 30 the One who came after John was the Word becoming flesh, the Divine, and the Person whom John said he was not worthy to untie the strap of His sandal.
Reflection: 施洗的約翰要當時的人, 修直主的道路,或者要悔改. 因為, 他們即將面對耶穌, 就是神, 的來到. 今天我們也會面對耶穌任何時間的第二次再來. 我們的道路修直了嗎？
今天靈修的時候想到如果在我心中有一條歡迎耶穌再來的道路, 上面會是怎麼樣的呢？有碎石子要除去嗎?有高低不平的地方要填平嗎?的確, 有很多罪在我心中要被除去, 有很多虧欠耶穌的地方需要填平. 當時約翰夠膽向宗教領袖也說同樣的話, 就算你是一個領袖你也有很多虧欠神的地方. 特別是法利賽人的假冒為善, 我們是否也有很多的虛偽在我們的心中需要被除去嗎?
v.29-42
Main Point:
From v.29-34, John pointed out Who Jesus is: 1. The Lamb of God (NET: Gen 22:8 亞伯拉罕說：「我兒，上帝必自己預備作燔祭的羊羔。」於是二人同行。“For the Palestinian Jew, all lamb sacrifice, and especially the Passover lamb and the [continuous] offering, was a memorial of the [the lamb in Gen 22:8] with its effects of deliverance, forgiveness of sin and messianic salvation”); 2. He is God v.30; 3. The Holy Spirit remained on Him v.32, 33 and He is the Servant of God (NET); He is the One Who baptizes with the Holy Spirit; 4. The Chosen One of God v.34. In summary: He is the Messiah that was expected by all the Jews and He is God.
In v.35-42, the author described what would be the appropriate responses for people who heard the testimony from John. They followed Him, stayed with Him, and told other people about Him.
Reflection: 當個約翰門徒的安德烈他聽了約翰的話就相信轉去跟從耶穌,這個是对約翰的見証最正確的反應. 安德烈或者是這樣想的, 真的太捧了！可以遇見彌賽亞, 就是我們猶太人一直渴慕的, 能夠除去我們的罪孽,與神和好！而他的跟從是有行動的, 就是他願意與耶穌同住. 這是一個何等大的決定！如果今天神要我搬去新嘅地方住, 我願意嗎？我要捨棄我與朋友的關係, 改變一個全新的生活模式. 做宣教士的, 不也是這樣嗎? 今天我們做門徒, 雖然不需要搬去一個新的地方, 但我們願意為了跟從主而捨棄我與朋友的關係, 改變一個全新的生活模式嗎?
我想約翰第一個恩,應該是他認識耶穌, 從黑暗中能夠歸向光明. 不是每一個人都能夠相信主,得到这福氣,只有相信的人才能得到. 那麼第二個恩是什麼呢? 我從前常常想, 可能就是生活中經歷神其他的恩典. 但當我今天去默想這段經文的時候, 我就想到如果你覺得能夠認識創造宇宙的主是一個恩典的話, 那麼你可以繼續與他相交, 繼續認識他不就是更多的恩典嗎？ 好像兩夫妻, 有時就想,能夠跟他在一起已經是人生的一個最大的福氣. 同樣, 跟創造宇宙偉大的神在一起, 不就是一個最大的恩典嗎?
v.43-51
Main point:
Jesus has personal relationships with all of His disciples. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” v.43. When Philip tried to recruit Nathanael but couldn't, Jesus helped out v.47. Jesus knew Nathanael before they met v.47-48. When Nathanael confessed that Jesus was the Son of God and the King of Israel it seemed like that the goal of Jesus was done, but no. Jesus said the relationship will continue. He will let Nathanel to see more things v.50-51.
Reflection: V.45腓力找著拿但業, 這個跟上面安德烈去找彼得告訴他我們遇見彌賽亞,其實是差不多的. 他就說摩西在律法上所寫的和家先知所記的那一位,我們遇見了. 其實是講一樣的話, 只是耶穌當時可能不在場所以腓力要告訴拿但業,說就是約瑟的兒子拿撒勒人耶穌. 就是因為聽見拿撒勒, 拿但業就反感了.腓力可能也沒有想過遇見這樣的情形.
當我們傳福音的時候, 可能就是一兩個字,對方就不想再聽下去. 腓力有很好的忍耐力, 他只是說你來看. 結果拿但業還是跟著他去. 耶穌可能知道腓力的失敗, 所以當拿但業到他面前來的時候, 耶穌就幫忙腓力他就說, 看哪,這是個真以色列人,他心裏是沒有詭詐的. 祂說拿但業心中的話.
從這段經文我見到耶穌不但自己呼召門徒還去幫助他的門徒去呼召另外的門徒.我感謝主當我們開始這個門徒訓練的時候, 有重重困難,但也看見主的手在當中幫助我們.
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