The Light Has Come: The Revelation of Christ’s Glory and Grace
- Be God's Glory
- Oct 31
- 10 min read
Welcome to Day 304 of The Glory Team Bible Reading Plan.
The opening chapters of John reveal the divine identity and mission of Jesus Christ as the eternal Word made flesh who came to bring light and life to a darkened world. Through John the Baptist’s testimony, Jesus is introduced not merely as a prophet but as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. These chapters unfold a powerful revelation of who Jesus is—God incarnate, the source of new life, and the fulfillment of all Old Testament promises. From His first miracle at Cana to His cleansing of the Temple and His profound conversation with Nicodemus, John portrays Jesus as the embodiment of divine truth and grace. Each encounter underscores that true faith in Christ leads to spiritual rebirth and eternal life, setting the tone for the entire Gospel’s theme: believing in Jesus as the Son of God.
John 1
John opens his Gospel with a declaration of Jesus’ eternal divinity: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This introduction establishes Jesus (the Word, Logos) as both the Creator and the life-giver who shines as light in the darkness. John the Baptist is presented as the forerunner who testifies about the Light so that all might believe. When Jesus begins His ministry, He is recognized as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world—revealing His purpose as the ultimate sacrifice for humanity. The chapter concludes with Jesus calling His first disciples, showing that faith begins with recognizing who He truly is: the Messiah, the Son of God, and the bridge between heaven and earth.
John 2
John 2 highlights the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry through two powerful events: the miracle at the wedding in Cana and the cleansing of the Temple. At Cana, Jesus transforms water into wine, revealing His glory and authority over creation, symbolizing the new covenant of grace that replaces the old order of law and ritual. His mother, Mary, displays faith in His power, saying, “Do whatever He tells you,” inviting obedience and trust in Christ’s divine ability. Later, Jesus enters the Temple and drives out the merchants, proclaiming that His Father’s house is not to be a marketplace. This act not only demonstrates His zeal for God’s holiness but also foreshadows His death and resurrection when He declares, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up,” revealing Himself as the true dwelling place of God.
John 3
In John 3, Jesus has a profound nighttime conversation with Nicodemus, a Pharisee seeking to understand His teachings. Jesus explains that entrance into God’s kingdom requires being “born again,” not of flesh, but of the Spirit—a complete transformation from within. He reveals the depth of God’s love in the famous verse, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,” emphasizing salvation through faith rather than human effort. Jesus contrasts light and darkness, showing that those who believe step into the light, while those who reject Him remain in spiritual darkness. The chapter closes with John the Baptist reaffirming Christ’s divine authority, declaring that Jesus must increase while he decreases—pointing to the supremacy and eternal significance of Christ’s mission.
Origin & Meaning of the Name:
The name John comes from the Hebrew name Yochanan, which means “Yahweh is gracious” or “God is gracious.” This is fitting for the Gospel, as it emphasizes God’s grace and the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Purpose of the Book:
The Gospel of John was written to reveal the divine nature of Jesus Christ and to invite people to believe in Him as the Son of God. John explicitly states this purpose in John 20:31, saying, “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.” Unlike the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), John emphasizes Jesus’ deity, His relationship with the Father, and the spiritual truths behind His miracles and teachings.
Authorship & Sources Supporting the Author:
The Apostle John, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus, is traditionally credited as the author of this Gospel. Evidence supporting this includes:
Internal Evidence: John refers to himself indirectly as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 21:20, 24).
Other Biblical References: Early church fathers, such as Irenaeus, cite John as the author and indicate he wrote the Gospel while residing in Ephesus. John is also mentioned in Revelation 1:1-2, 9, where the author identifies himself as the one who received visions on the island of Patmos, traditionally understood as the same John.
External Historical Sources: Early church writings such as Irenaeus’ Against Heresies (circa AD 180) affirm John as the author. Papias (circa AD 60–130) also supports this attribution, noting that John, the disciple, wrote a Gospel while in Ephesus.
Key People:
Jesus Christ: The central figure, revealed as the eternal Word, the Son of God, and Savior of the world.
John the Baptist: The forerunner of Christ who testifies about Him as the Lamb of God (John 1:29–34).
The Disciples: Peter, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, and others who follow Jesus and witness His ministry.
Mary, Mother of Jesus: She is present at Cana and plays a role in Jesus’ first miracle (John 2:1–5).
Nicodemus: A Pharisee who seeks Jesus’ teachings and learns about spiritual rebirth (John 3:1–21).
Mary Magdalene: A devoted follower who witnesses Jesus’ resurrection (John 20:11–18).
Conclusion
The Gospel of John concludes by affirming that Jesus is the Messiah and Son of God and emphasizes the life-changing power of faith in Him. John presents Jesus not only as a historical figure but as the eternal Word who brings light, life, and salvation to all who believe. By witnessing His miracles, teachings, death, and resurrection, readers are invited into a personal relationship with Christ that leads to eternal life (John 20:30–31). The book leaves a clear message: belief in Jesus is the pathway to knowing God and receiving His gracious gift of salvation.
What is God's Name in these Chapters?
In this portion of our journey we want to dive deep into the character of God described in His name. By identifying who God is, we can further relate to Him personally and build a stronger relationship and connection with Our Father.
Names are important. They give significance to places, people, and things. We identify with so much based off what it's name is. This is considerably notable when it comes to the names of God.
"Jehovah" is considered a Latinized version of the Hebrew name "Yahweh" (represented by the consonants YHWH) where the vowels of the Hebrew word "Adonai" (meaning "my Lord") were added to the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) when pronounced by Jewish readers who avoided saying the sacred name directly; essentially, Christian scholars combined the consonants of YHWH with the vowels of Adonai to create the pronunciation "Jehovah" in the Latin alphabet.
John 1
In John 1, God is revealed as eternal, unchanging, and the source of all life. He is light in the midst of darkness, bringing truth, life, and hope to a world lost in sin. God’s character is also relational—He desires people to know Him personally through Jesus, His Word made flesh. The lesson from this chapter teaches us that recognizing and believing in Jesus as the Son of God opens the way to salvation and spiritual enlightenment.
While John 1 does not explicitly use Hebrew names for God, the concept of God as “the Word” (Logos) reflects His divine nature as Yahweh—the eternal, self-existent God who creates, sustains, and reveals life. The chapter teaches that God’s glory is made manifest through Christ, and faith in Him allows us to become children of God, embracing a new spiritual identity.
John 2
In John 2, God’s character is revealed as powerful, holy, and transformative. He demonstrates divine authority over creation when Jesus turns water into wine, and His zeal for righteousness is shown when He cleanses the Temple. God is also a God of order, justice, and provision, showing care for both spiritual and practical needs. The lesson of this chapter is that God desires obedience, reverence, and trust in His timing and purpose, and His presence transforms ordinary circumstances into expressions of His glory.
No Hebrew names of God are specifically mentioned in this chapter. The focus is on God’s holiness and sovereignty, teaching us that true worship honors Him above all else and that faith in His power brings transformation and fulfillment in our lives.
John 3
In John 3, God’s character is revealed as loving, merciful, and redemptive. He desires that all people be saved and come to the knowledge of His truth through Jesus Christ. God is also just, providing the gift of eternal life through faith while holding humanity accountable for choices. The lesson of this chapter is that spiritual rebirth is necessary to enter God’s kingdom, and God’s love motivates Him to provide salvation for all who believe in His Son.
John 3 does not explicitly use Hebrew names of God, but it emphasizes His nature as Yahweh—the gracious and loving God who offers salvation. The chapter teaches that God’s love is active, sacrificial, and personal, inviting believers to respond in faith and receive eternal life.
Christ in Every Book of the Bible
Christ is the theme throughout the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals His Son, Jesus Christ.
Christ is the Seed of the woman Genesis 3:14 , He is the Passover Lamb Exodus 12:3, The Atoning Sacrifice Leviticus 17:11, The Smitten Rock Numbers 20:8, 11, The Faithful Prophet Deuteronomy 18:18, Christ is the Captain of the Lord's Host Joshua 5:15, The Divine Deliverer Judges 2:18, The Kinsman Redeemer Ruth 3:12, Christ is the anticipated as the Anointed One,1 Samuel 2:10, The Son of David 2 Samuel 7:14, The Coming King 1 & 2 Kings, Builder of the Temple 1 & 2 Chronicles (1 Chronicles 28:20), Ezra represents Christ as the Restorer of the Nation Ezra 6:14, 15, Nehemiah shows Him as the Restorer of the Temple Nehemiah 6:15, and Esther portrays Him as the Preserver of the Nation Ester 4:14, Christ is seen as the Living Redeemer Job 19:25, The Praise of Israel Psalm 150:6, The Wisdom of God Proverbs 8:22, 23, The Great Teacher Ecclesiastics 12:11, The Fairest of Ten Thousand Song of Solomon 5:10. Christ is the Suffering Servant Isaiah 53:11, The Maker of the New Covenant Jeremiah 31:31, The Man of Sorrows Lamentations 3:28-30, The Glory of God Ezekiel 43:2, The coming Messiah Daniel 9:25, The Lover of the Unfaithful Hosea 3:1, The Hope of Israel Joel 3:16, The Husbandman Amos 9:13, the Savior Obadiah 21, the Resurrected One Jonah 2:10, the Ruler in Israel Micah 5:2, the Avenger Nahum 2:1, the Holy God Habakkuk 1:13, the King of Israel Zephaniah 3:15, the Desire of Nations Haggai 2:7, the Righteous Branch Zechariah 3:8, and the Sun of Righteousness Malachi 4:2.
The King of the Jews Matthew 2:2, the Servant of the Lord Mark 10:45, the Son of Man Luke 19:10, and the Son of God John 1:1. Christ is the Ascended Lord Acts 1:10, the believer's Righteousness Romans 1:17, Sanctification 1 Corinthians 1:30, Sufficiency 2 Corinthians 12:9, and Liberty Galatians 2:4. He is the Exalted Head of the church Ephesians 1:22, the Christian's Joy Philippians 1:26, and the Fullness of Deity Colossians 2:9. In the Thessalonian epistles Christ is the believer's Comfort 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 and Glory 2 Thessalonians 1:12. The Christian's Preserver 1 Timothy 4:10, Rewarder 2 Timothy 4:8, Blessed Hope Titus 2:13, and Substitute Philemon 17. He is the High Priest Hebrews 4:15, the Giver of Wisdom James 1:5, the Rock 1 Peter 2:6, and Precious Promise 2 Peter 1:4. John represents Christ as the Life 1 John, the Truth 2 John, and the Way 3 John, Jude portrays Christ as the Advocate and Revelation shows Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords Revelation 19:16. The whole Bible is literally all about Christ!
Questions:
Let's expand how these chapters expanded your faith and your relationship with God.
Questions About God's Character: What do these chapters reveal about God’s faithfulness to His word and promises?
How does John 1 reveal God’s eternal nature through Jesus as the Word?
In what ways does God demonstrate holiness and justice in John 2?
How does God’s love and mercy appear in His interaction with Nicodemus in John 3?
How can we see God’s desire for a personal relationship with humanity in these chapters?
What does Jesus turning water into wine in John 2 teach us about God’s power and provision?
How does the contrast between light and darkness in John 1 illustrate God’s character?
How does the promise of eternal life in John 3 reflect God’s faithfulness and grace?
Questions About Themes:
How is the theme of light versus darkness presented throughout John 1–3?
What role does faith play in receiving life from God, according to these chapters?
How do the miracles of Jesus in John 2 communicate the coming of God’s kingdom?
How is the theme of spiritual rebirth emphasized in John 3?
How do John the Baptist’s testimonies in John 1 reinforce the theme of God’s purpose and plan?
What does obedience to God’s word reveal about the nature of true discipleship?
How is God’s glory revealed through Jesus’ actions and teachings in these chapters?
Reflective Application Questions:
How can you personally step into the “light” of Christ in your daily life?
In what areas of your life do you need to trust God’s timing and provision like at the wedding in Cana?
How can you cultivate a heart that honors God as holy and righteous in your worship?
What does it mean for you to be “born again” spiritually, and how can that change your perspective?
How can you follow the example of John the Baptist in pointing others to Christ?
What practical steps can you take to respond to God’s love and grace in your relationships?
How can reflecting on Jesus’ miracles and teachings strengthen your faith in God’s power today?
These questions can help deepen understanding of the themes of these chapters, while encouraging trust in God's sovereignty, justice, faithfulness, and timing. We hope thoughts to these questions invite you to reflect on your own journeys, grow in faith, and understand more about God's nature.
Reference Guides:
Life Application Study Guide
A Popular Survey of the Old Testament by Norman L. Geisler
The Power of God's Names by Tony Evans
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