A New Beginning
Welcome to our next book! Today, we read the first three chapters of the Gospel of John. The word gospel means good news.
Like Matthew, John was one of the twelve apostles who walked with Jesus during His earthly ministry (Matt. 10:2; John 21:20–24). He is the only one of the Twelve who did not die a martyr’s death. He also stands apart as the only Gospel writer who penned his account after the Second Temple was destroyed in AD 70.
At the time of writing, John was ministering in Ephesus, a major city in Asia Minor. Later, under Emperor Domitian, they exiled him to the island of Patmos for preaching the gospel and worshiping Jesus instead of the emperor (Rev.1:9). His Gospel reflects decades of reflection, pastoral care, and theological depth.
The Object Lesson: Light in the Darkness
One of my favorite object lessons for children was about light. During AWANA, we covered all the windows in a room so no light could enter. After the children sat down, we turned off the lights. It was the closest I’ve ever come to absolute darkness—you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face.
Then I lit one candle. That small flame illuminated the entire room. Not enough to read by, but enough to see. The light overcame the darkness. The two could not coexist.
Creation and the Word
Genesis 1:1–3 tells us that in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Darkness was over the surface of the deep, and God said, “Let there be light.” At that moment, light entered creation and separated the darkness.
John 1:1–4 echoes this: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… Through Him all things were made.”
The Word is Jesus. He was with God and was God. He created everything. This does not mean He created evil. Evil is not a created substance—it is the absence of good, just as darkness is the absence of light. (1)
The Word Became Flesh
John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” Why would God do this?
Through Moses, God gave us the Law (John 1:17), which taught right from wrong. But people still could not comprehend God’s nature. So, He became human to understand our struggles and to show us how to overcome darkness.
Jesus as the Light
John uses the metaphor of light to describe Jesus: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).
This explains the battle between good and evil. People love darkness because their deeds are evil (John 3:19). In the darkness, secrets feel safe. But Jesus knows even our thoughts (Luke 6:8) and exposes what’s hidden.
Back in the AWANA room, when the light came on, we could see which kids were goofing around. Likewise, when Jesus exposes our sin, we can no longer hide. It’s uncomfortable—like turning on bright lights after being in the dark for too long.
Getting Caught
I’ve joked that speeding is only a crime if you get caught. But it’s a crime either way. That mindset—avoiding consequences rather than avoiding sin—is part of the darkness.
The Gospel Defined
John 3:17 highlights the reason we call these four books the Gospels: “For God sent His Son into the world not to condemn the world, but to save it through Him.”
We are not sinners because Jesus exposed us. We were already condemned by the Law (Rom. 3:20). Romans 6:23 tells us, “The wages of sin is death…”
Jesus came to pay that price. He didn’t just shine a light—He became the sacrifice. More than that, He came to free us from sin’s control. Sin leads to more sin. When a police officer asks if we know how fast we were going, most of us say we don’t. But we do. We lie to cover the first sin with another.
John 3:18 says, “Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already…”
We are guilty because we have sinned. Jesus came to save us from that guilt. That is good news indeed.
Tomorrow, we will read John 4-5.
Footnotes (Chicago Style)
- “Did God Create Evil?” SOH Church, accessed October 23, 2025, https://soh.church/did-god-create-evil/.