Canonical Reading Plan for Nov 4, Jhn 1-2

Today's readings are Jhn 1-2.

The Gospel of John is not a synoptic gospel, as are Matthew, Mark and Luke. In other words. It is not a broad overview of Christ's life and ministry. It is more a theological treatise setting the foundation for who Christ is and what He came to do. As he makes his case for Jesus being the Messiah, chronological order is not a concern for John and is played with quite loosely. John’s message is one of light coming into darkness. As such, it should be read for what it says about the arrival of Christ and what He came to do.

Jhn 1:1-3 tells us the Word is God who tangibly manifests as Jesus in the flesh, theologians call this the "incarnation." The eternally existing status of Jesus is established in Jhn 1;3 where we see that “All things were made through Him.” Christ was there before time began.

Jesus has a herald, John the Baptist, who publicly identifies Jesus as being the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" and calls Jesus “the Son of God” (Jhn 1: 19-34). While Luke establishes the nature and order of arrival, John defines the roles of the Messiah and His herald. John proclaims Jesus calls.

Jhn 1:35-48 depicts Jesus beginning to call His disciples, sometimes supernaturally (Jhn 1:35-48). Notice that those who follow express no hesitation in doing so. Yet, the only ones who will, as we will see, ultimately remain committed to Him are those directly summoned by Him.

Significantly, Jesus reveals to Nathaniel (Jhn 1:51) that He is the ladder Jacob saw going up into heaven (Gen 28:12). In other words, Jesus is the only way to heaven. The full import of this revelation is not yet apparent to those who are there when Jesus says it.

By the end of Jhn 2, we have heard that Jesus is the Word made flesh. He is the Son of God and light of the world. He is the Lamb of God and the only way to heaven. John has started his gospel with world-changing news.