John 1:35-39

John 1:35-39

The next day, John the Baptist is with two of his disciples when he sees Jesus walking by and declares, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” Upon hearing this, the two disciples follow Jesus. 

Turning around, Jesus asks them, “What do you seek?” They reply, “Rabbi (which means Teacher), where are you staying?” Jesus invites them, saying, “Come and see.” They accompany Him to His lodging and remain with Him that day, as it was about the tenth hour.

From Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible (on verses 35-39): 

“Those that would find Christ must seek him, seek an acquaintance with him, seek his favour, follow on to know him.” 

Reflection:

These verses illustrate the transition from hearing about Jesus to personally following Him, emphasizing the call to seek Christ intimately and respond to His invitation for fellowship. 

In the Christian life, this relates to discipleship as a journey of curiosity turning into commitment, where believers are encouraged to “come and see” Jesus’ ways, abide in His presence through prayer and study, and experience transformative encounters that motivate sharing the faith with others, much like the disciples’ immediate response.

John 1:24-28

John 1:24-28:

In these verses, a delegation of Pharisees questions John the Baptist about his authority to baptize, given that he has already denied being the Christ, Elijah, or the Prophet. 

John responds that he baptizes only with water as a symbol of repentance, but among them stands One they do not recognize—the coming Messiah, whose sandal strap John is unworthy to untie. 

This exchange takes place in Bethany (or Bethabara) beyond the Jordan River, where John was conducting his ministry.

Matthew Henry, reflects on these verses in his concise commentary: “He baptized the people with water as a profession of repentance, and as an outward sign of the spiritual blessings to be conferred on them by the Messiah, who was in the midst of them, though they knew him not, and to whom he was unworthy to render the meanest service.” 

Reflection:

These verses highlight John the Baptist’s humility and focus on Christ, modeling how Christians are called to live—not seeking personal glory but pointing others to Jesus as the true source of salvation and transformation. 

In daily life, this means embracing repentance as an ongoing posture, recognizing our own unworthiness apart from Christ, and serving in ways that prepare hearts for His work, whether through evangelism, discipleship, or simple acts of witness that exalt Him above ourselves.

John 1:19-23

John 1:19-23:

These verses record the official inquiry sent from the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem to John the Baptist, asking him to identify himself. 

John firmly denies being the Christ, Elijah, or the Prophet foretold by Moses. 

Instead, he quotes Isaiah 40:3, describing himself as “the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” emphasizing his role as the forerunner preparing the people for the coming Messiah.

In his commentary on these verses, John Calvin writes: “John openly confessed for what purpose he was sent by God. 

He had already declared publicly that he was not the Christ; and now, when the priests interrogate him more closely, he tells them that he was sent as a herald to announce the coming of Christ… By quoting the prophecy, he means nothing else than that he had been appointed to discharge the office which had formerly been enjoined on the prophets; for many prophets had been formerly sent to proclaim the coming of Christ, but, as the time of the manifestation was not yet fulfilled, John occupies their place till the coming of Christ.” 

Reflection:

These verses model humility and Christ-centered purpose for the Christian life. 

Like John, believers are not the Messiah but voices preparing the way—proclaiming repentance and pointing others to Jesus amid questions or skepticism. 

This fosters a life of faithful obedience, self-denial, and joyful redirection of attention to Christ, finding true identity in serving as His herald rather than seeking personal prominence.

John 1:14-18

John 1:14-18:

These verses proclaim the incarnation of the Word (Jesus Christ), who became flesh and dwelt among humanity, revealing the glory of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

John the Baptist bears witness to Him, emphasizing His preeminence. 

From Christ’s fullness, believers receive grace upon grace; while the law came through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus, who alone makes the unseen God known.

In his commentary on these verses, Matthew Henry explains: “But observe the beams of his Divine glory, which darted through this veil of flesh. 

Men discover their weaknesses to those most familiar with them, but it was not so with Christ; those most intimate with him saw most of his glory. 

Although he was in the form of a servant, as to outward circumstances, yet, in respect of graces, his form was like the Son of God. 

His Divine glory appeared in the holiness of his doctrine, and in his miracles. He was full of grace, fully acceptable to his Father, therefore qualified to plead for us; and full of truth, fully aware of the things he was to reveal.” 

Reflection:

These verses illuminate the Christian life by centering on the incarnation, where God’s glory and grace are made tangible in Jesus. 

They call believers to receive and live out this overflowing grace, contrasting it with the law’s limitations, and to pursue a deeper knowledge of God through Christ alone. 

This fosters worship, dependence on divine grace for transformation, and a mission to reflect His truth in a world that often veils the divine.

John 1:9-13

John 1:9-13:

These verses describe the true Light (Jesus Christ) coming into the world He created, yet the world did not recognize Him, and His own people rejected Him. 

However, to all who receive Him and believe in His name, He grants the right to become children of God—born not through human will or descent, but through God’s divine action.

In his sermon on these verses, John Piper explains: “The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world… He came to his own home, and his own people received him not… But all who received Jesus into their lives for who he really is, and who feed upon him as the all-satisfying bread of life, to them he gave authority to become the children of God.” 

Reflection:

These verses highlight the Christian life’s foundation in receiving Christ by faith, which leads to spiritual rebirth and adoption as God’s children. They remind believers that while the world may reject Jesus, true identity and belonging come from God’s sovereign work, inspiring gratitude, perseverance amid opposition, and a call to share this transformative invitation with others.

John 1:6-8

John 1:6-8:

These verses introduce John the Baptist as a man sent from God to serve as a witness to the Light (Jesus Christ). 

His purpose is to testify about this Light so that all people might believe through his testimony. 

The passage emphasizes that John himself is not the Light, but merely a witness pointing others to it.

In a sermon on these verses, John Piper explains: “He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light… Now there is John’s main identity in this Gospel. 

He came as a witness. He is introduced here, so suddenly and so jarringly, as a witness. 

He’s a mere human. 

He is sent by God. 

And his mission is to witness to the light.” 

Reflection:

These verses remind Christians that, like John the Baptist, our role in life is not to be the center of attention or the source of salvation, but to faithfully point others to Jesus as the true Light. 

In everyday interactions—through words, actions, and lifestyle—we are called to testify to Christ’s transformative power, inviting belief and drawing people out of darkness without seeking glory for ourselves. 

This witness fosters humility and purpose in the Christian walk.

John 1:1-5

John 1:1-5:

These verses form the opening of the Gospel of John’s prologue, introducing Jesus Christ as the eternal “Word” (Logos). 

It declares that the Word existed from the beginning, was with God, and was God Himself. 

Through the Word, all things were created, and nothing exists apart from Him. 

In Him is life, which serves as the light for humanity, and this light shines in the darkness without being overcome by it. 

This passage emphasizes Christ’s divinity, role in creation, and His life-giving illumination.

John Calvin, in his commentary on the Gospel of John, reflects on these verses: 

“In this introduction he asserts the eternal Divinity of Christ, in order to inform us that he is the eternal God, who was manifested in the flesh… By these words, therefore, the Evangelist assures us that we do not withdraw from the only and eternal God, when we believe in Christ, and likewise that life is now restored to the dead through the kindness of him who was the source and cause of life, when the nature of man was still uncorrupted.” 

Reflection:

John 1:1-5 reminds Christians that faith in Jesus connects them to the eternal Creator, offering a foundation for identity and purpose. 

In daily life, this encourages believers to live as reflections of His light amid darkness—through acts of creation, compassion, and truth—resisting despair and drawing others toward the life found only in Christ. 

It calls for a transformed existence, where recognizing Jesus as divine empowers overcoming personal and worldly shadows.