the beginning and the end. (Rev. 22:13)

Teachers and students of scripture will often point out that there are two genealogies which tell us of the ancestry of Jesus; one in Matthew’s gospel, and one in Luke’s; actually, there are three. John begins his gospel with his own unique and important genealogy of Jesus. While Matthew gives us the paternal lineage (Matt. 1:1-17) and Luke the maternal (Lk. 3:23-38), John gives us an even more impressive and significant background of Jesus. He tells us Jesus was (is) God, identifying Him as the Word (cf. 1 Jn. 1:1; Rev. 19:13).

In the first chapter of his gospel John establishes five incredible truths about the Word (Jesus Christ) which are important for us to understand as we begin this study. John describes:

1. His Eternal Nature: “In the beginning...”

Each of those five truths are important to keep in mind as our study progresses. To truly understand Jesus as the Light of the world, the Good Shepherd, the Truth, etc., one must understand that He is the Word, the Alpha and Omega; the Great I Am.

Scriptures:

Gen. 1:1; Ex. 3:13, 14; John 1:1-3, 14; 8:56-58; Phil. 2:6;

Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:1-3; Rev. 22:13

1. Of what “beginning” does John refer? (Jn. 1:1)

2. Discuss John’s description of Christ as “the Word.”

(cf. Ps. 33:6, 9; Isa. 55:11; Jer. 23:29)

3. In Ex. 3:13, 14 who is speaking? How was Moses to

identify to the people who sent him?

4. Who does Jesus identify Himself as in John 8:53-56?

5. Read through the following verses in order and identify

(in each) who is the “First and Last” and “Alpha and Omega” speaking.

Isa. 41:4

Isa. 44:6

Isa. 48:12

Rev. 1:8

Rev. 1:17

Rev. 22:13

Rev. 2:8

6. What does Rev. 2:8 say about Jesus as the Word? How

does it relate to Jn. 1:1-3, 14?

7. What does John mean, the Word became flesh?

8. Why did the Word become flesh?