Sermon Tone Analysis
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Sermon Text
Outline
1.
In the beginning (v.1a)
2. Was the Word (v.1b)
Background
Traditionally, it was believed that John was the author of this account.
Not John the baptist, but John the Apostle, who was one of the sons of Zebedee which can be found in .
It is very important to note that there were copies of fragments made of papyrus (a plant prepared to be used to write on) dating around 135 A.D. Which points to it being written around 85 - 90 A.D.
The purpose of this book is made clear by the author himself.
The intent is clear.
This is written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Sermon Text
Introduction
Question: What was there from the beginning?
When thinking of this question I was reminded of how we value people in our lives that were there as we used to say back in the day, “from the gate.”
There is something special when you have someone in your life who was there from the beginning and someone who was there through thick and thin.
But deeper then that, everyone at some point will have to ask the question what was in the beginning of all things.
The reason for that is because in finding the answer to that question we find meaning and the reason for us being here today.
This is the answer philosophers have wanted an answer to.
To know this answer is to know our roots.
To know this answer is to know what is truth.
To know this answer is to know why we are here.
And to know this answer is to know where we are going.
The question “ What was there from the beginning” is actually flawed.
The better way to ask the question is “who was there from the beginning.”
Some people believe that there was an impersonal force that began everything.
Meaning that something not someone was there in the beginning.
Meaning that something not someone was there in the beginning.
That is fundamentally the only two options we can come up with.
Either something was there from the beginning or someone was there in the beginning.
John leaves no room for interpretation as to there being someone in the beginning.
So the better question is: Who was there from the beginning?
Before there was a heaven and the angels, who was there?
Before the heavens and the earth, who was there?
Before the world, mankind and animals, who was there?
Before the lands and nations , who was there?
John makes it very clear that in the beginning, before all things, the Word was there.
God when bringing correction to Job said in
Job 38:
Question: Where were you in the beginning?
Where were we?
Answer: We weren’t there.
There was only God.
And John, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is given the answer to the most fundamental question of existence.
Where were we?
And John, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is given the answer to the most fundamental question.
Question: Did John tell us what was there in the beginning?
Answer: No.
.
Correction.
It was a who.
He tells us who was there in the beginning.
In the beginning was the Word!
Answer: In the beginning was the Word!
Background
Traditionally, it was believed that John was the author of this account.
Not John the baptist, but John the Apostle, who was one of the sons of Zebedee which can be found in .
It is very important to note that there were copies of fragments made of papyrus (a plant prepared to be used to write on) dating around 135 A.D. Which points to it being written around 85 - 90 A.D.
Discovery of certain papyrus fragments dated around AD 135 require the gospel of John to have been written, copied, and circulated before then.
And, while some think it was written before Jerusalem was destroyed (AD 70), AD 85—90 is a more accepted time for the writing of the gospel of John.
The purpose of this book is made clear by the author himself.
The intent is clear.
This is written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Sermon
1.
In the beginning (v.1a)
Mark’s gospel also begins with in the beginning.
Here Mark begins with the earthly ministry of Jesus.
But John goes further back.
I would argue that John goes further back than .
Mainly, because he begins with the existence of the Word.
That’s what he says: “In the beginning was the Word.”
John speaks of the Word being in the beginning.
Here we have two questions.
First question: Who is the Word here?
And the second question, which will lead to our last point: Why does John use the term “the Word.”
1. Who is the Word?
One of the most important things to know as a Christian is that to read the Scriptures we must always read before the text we are reading and we must read after.
In our text, since it’s the first verse, we should continue to read to know what John is talking about here.
In verse 2 we see that John calls the Word a personal pronoun (He).
This clearly shows that the Word is a person.
In verse 3 we see that John speaks of the Word as being the Creator of all things.
Admitting that the Word he is speaking of created all things.
And finally, in verse 14 we see that the Word became flesh.
Calling the Word the only Son.
The person John is speaking of as the Word was:
Was there in the beginning
Was a person who created all things
Was the only Son from the Father who became flesh and dwelt among us
The Word is Jesus Christ.
The only begotten Son of God who came in the flesh and dwelled among us.
The Creator of all things and the sustainer of all things is Jesus Christ.
The Creator of all things and the sustainer of all things is Jesus Christ.
Which points to Jesus Christ being preeminent.
Meaning that Jesus surpasses everything and everyone.
He was there in the beginning.
Before anything that was made there was Jesus Christ.
Jesus is paramount: which means that Jesus is more important than anything else
Jesus is supreme: meaning that Jesus is superior
Jesus is above everyone and everything
Jesus is eternal: meaning that He has no beginning and no end
Jesus is Creator and He rules over all things and everyone
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