John – Chapter 1:6-13
Introduction: Is this section a break from the action, an interlude, or is a continuation and intentional contrast to v.1-5? Yes, they are less poetic and elegant. As we discussed last week, v.1-5 of the Prologue describe the Logos who was and is and continues to be eternally. The Logos is with or turned towards God. The Logos is the true Light. The Logos was God. Now, in contrast, John, the man, appeared from God but was not the light. John 1:6-13 is a thematic summary of the Gospel. Jn1:6-8 summarizes the witness of John which begins the narrative and introduces the Christological themes that will define Jesus and His work. Jn 1:9-13 summarizes the effect of Jesus’ mission as the true Light that comes upon the world of sin/darkness. At the center is the “crisis,” the definitive decision that yields either or death. v.6-8 – John the Baptist is presented as inferior to Jesus. He comes appearing as an OT prophet, but it is Jesus who is the fulfillment of the OT Law and prophets. Indeed, not only is John inferior to Jesus, but also Jacob (Jn 4:12-14), Moses (Jn 1:17; 5:46-47), Abraham (Jn 8:31-35), and the OT Scriptures (Jn 5:39). John is a messenger who must give way to Jesus (Jn 3:22-30). His place in the story is not personal but vocational, to testify. v. 9-11 – Is “the Light” sent to give moral or intellectual improvement? No. Rather, the Light is sent that we would see our spiritual condition. Consider Psalm 19:8: “The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.” Enlightenment is closely related in John to the verb “to believe.” For example, John 12:46: “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” In some contexts cosmos, “ΚΟΣ́ΜΟΣ,” means the created universe or inhabited world. It can referred to the created order in Greek philosophy. But John is not speaking of simply a moment in earth history. Here it is specifically the world of men that which is in darkness and apart from God, as “did not acknowledge Him” (v10c). This is true throughout the NT, where cosmos refers not only to the earthly but also that which is at enmity with God (1 Corr 1:21; 2:12; Gal 6:14; James…