Gospel of John Questions: Chapter 1

The narration states the following: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1.1).  What is “the Word” that “was with God, and…was God”? 

The narration states the following: “He was in the beginning with God” (John 1.2). Who is “He”? 

The narration states the following: “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1.3).  Is this verse speaking of consciousness? Does this verse mean that “All things” are made through our individual consciousness and that without consciousness, “nothing was made that was made”?

The narration states the following: “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1.4-1.5). What does “the life was the light of men” mean?

Do the words “light” and “darkness” refer to states of consciousness and unconsciousness?

What does the narration mean when it states, “the darkness did not comprehend it”?

As “the darkness did not comprehend” the light, does this suggest that those who live unconsciously and focused upon the knowledge of their time-bound ego-centric identities fail to comprehend the infinite and timeless totality and the interconnected unity of all that is?

The narration states the following: “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.  That was the true Light which gives light to every man who comes into the world” (John 1.6-1.8). Who or what was the “God” from whom John “was sent”? 

What is “the true Light which gives light to every man who comes into the world”? (Luke 1.9).

The narration states the following: “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him” (John 1.10). What does this statement mean?

The narration states the following: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1.14). What does it mean to be “the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth”?

Within the Gospel of John, John describes Jesus by stating, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me’” (John 1.15).  What is John saying about Jesus’ identity?

The narration states the following: “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1.17).  What was the foundation of the law that Moses gave to the people? (see Exodus 20). How did John draw a parallel between Moses’ law and the “grace and truth” that “came through Jesus Christ”?

The narration states the following: “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him” (John 1.18). Who or what is the “God” who “No one has seen…at any time”? 

What does the narration mean when it states, “The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him“?

Who were the first groups of individuals who felt threatened by John’s words? (John 1.19).

What was John attempting to do by baptizing people with water? (John 1.26).

When asked to identify himself, John directed the people to the Book of Isaiah 40.1-40.8.  What did John reveal to the people by directing them to these verses?

John’s first words to Jesus were the following: “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1.29).  Why did John refer to Jesus as a “Lamb of God”?  

What is “the sin of the world” that John told people Jesus had the power to remove? (John 1.29).

Upon being told by his mother that “they have no wine,” Jesus replied by saying, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come” (John 2.4).  When in the Bible narrative was a mother referred to as a “woman” and what does this suggest about the state of Jesus’ mind?

Passover marks the event that allowed the children of Israel to be free from physical enslavement so as to be free to serve “the LORD God of Israel” (Exodus 5.1). What was Jesus’ primary objective for doing what He did within the temple when “the Passover of the Jews was at hand”? (John 2.13).

When asked by the people to show them a sign, Jesus said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2.19).  This is followed with narration that states, “He was speaking of the temple of His body.” How were Jesus’ actions at the site of the temple on the Passover holiday a way for him to metaphorically illustrate what he was trying to get people to do to their own bodies?

Explain the potentially symbolic undertones of Jesus transforming water into wine thereby leading His disciples to believe “in His name” (John 2.23).

Why did Jesus “not commit Himself” to those who believed in “His name”? (John 2.23-2.24).

The narration states the following: “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God'” (John 3.3).  What did Jesus mean when He said, “unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”? 

The narration states the following: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3.16). What does it mean to “believe in” something?  How would “whoever believes in Him…not perish but have everlasting life”?

The narration states the following: “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3.17).  What was Jesus telling “a ruler of the Jews” that the people needed to be saved from? 

The narration concluding the third chapter is the following: “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3.36).  What does it mean to “believe in the Son”? 

What does it mean to achieve “everlasting life”? 

What is “the wrath of God” that “abides” on those who do not “believe the Son”?

Jesus and Lazarus Questions: The introduction of the Lazarus story notes that Jesus was told, “Lord, behold, he whom you love is sick” (John 11.3). How does the suggestion that Jesus knew Lazarus explain Jesus’ remark that Lazarus’ “sickness is not unto death”? (John 11.4).  What may Jesus have known about Lazarus to have made this statement?

What did Jesus mean when He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it”? (John 11.6).

Jesus initially noted that Lazarus’ “sickness is not unto death” and that Lazarus “sleeps.” The narration then notes that “Jesus said to them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him'” (John 11.4; 11.11; 11.14-11.15). What explains the shift in Jesus’ determination of Lazarus’ condition? 

What did Jesus mean when He told his disciples, “And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe”?

When Jesus meets Martha He identifies Himself by saying, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die” (John 11.25-11.26).  What do Jesus’ words reveal about His identity?

The beginning of the Gospel of John notes that Jesus was “the true light” and that “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1.9; 1.5).  What are some of the peoples’ false assumptions that provide evidence that the people “did not comprehend” Jesus?

Prior to revealing Lazarus was alive, the narration states the following: “Jesus said to [Martha], ‘Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?’  Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying.  And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, ‘Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.  And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.’ Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth!’ and he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth.  Jesus said to them, ‘Loose him, and let him go’” (John 11.40-11.44). What explains what had happened to Lazarus and Jesus’ relationship with him?

Why were the chief priests and the Pharisees (those who adhere to strict observance of religious ceremonies) troubled by Jesus’ presence? (John 11.48).

The narration states, “And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, ‘You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient (proper under the circumstances) for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish’” (John 11.49-11.50).  What was Caiaphas’ argument as to why Jesus should be killed?

Note the irony of Jesus going to the city of Ephraim after the chief priests and Pharisees “plotted to put Him to death” (John 11.53; see Genesis 41.52).  Who was Ephraim?

What plan did the chief priests and the Pharisees put into place as they anticipated Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem to celebrate Passover? (John 11.57).

What impact did Lazarus have on “many of the Jews”? (John 12.9-12.11).