In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴ In him was life,^[a] and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. ⁸ He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. ⁹ The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. ¹¹ He came to his own,^[b] and his own people^[c] did not receive him. ¹² But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,¹³ who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:1-13

The Gospel of John is not one of the synoptic gospels, synoptic meaning Gospels that are “similar”—similar in structure, in story, and in style. John is a different animal. It came to be added into the canon late in the process, mostly because of its Gnostic overtones.  There are some things to look for as you read this gospel. First, notice that the sons of Zebedee, James and John do not appear in this gospel. Notice too the referral to the “disciple whom Jesus loved”. There are many theories of who this is supposed to represent…John the gospel writer, Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead, even Peter. Notice how John lacks many of the stories that are common to the other gospels.  Also notice that Irony and Paradox are common in John with many people misunderstanding what Jesus says only to lead us to deeper levels of meaning. We do not get a lot of the Gospel of John in our three year lectionary, so enjoy this opportunity to immerse yourself in this wonderful book.

Pastor Dave