John 1 ~ After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me

John 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'")

16 And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"

20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."

21 And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?"

He said, "I am not."

"Are you the Prophet?"

And he answered, "No."

22 So they said to him, "Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"

23 He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said."

24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, "Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"

26 John answered them, "I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie."

28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.' 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel." 32 And John bore witness: "I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'

34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."


35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"

37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, "What are you seeking?"

And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"

39 He said to them, "Come and you will see."

So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.

41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus.

Jesus looked at him and said, "So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas" (which means Peter).

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me."

44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

46 Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"

Philip said to him, "Come and see."

47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!"

48 Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?"

Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."

49 Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"

50 Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these." 51 And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

John 8


57 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?”

58“Truly, truly, I tell you, Jesus declared, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

59 At this, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple area

The Temple Jesus walks out of - hidden - is 36 acres.


Think of the Impossibility - Father God turns to fact.

1. Jesus is the incarnate Word of God.

2. All life of mankind comes from Jesus.

3. Jesus is the undefeatable Light of God.

4. We are born of the Will of God. The validation of all life is from God Himself.

5. We will all receive the Grace, Abundant Grace of God.

6. Jesus is taking all sins away. The Wrath of God is satisfied.

9. Son of God, Jesus is Lord.

10. We will see Jesus.

The Temple Jesus could freely walk from - was 36 acres.




Why would Jesus want to speak of Abraham? Certainly, the Jews loved to speak of the Abraham tradition.


What did Jesus see in Abraham?


Abraham went where God told him.

Abraham believed God and was held as righteous and as a Friend of God.

Abraham argued with the Lord God when Lives should be saved.


Genesis 14

1 The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. 12 They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.

13 A man who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshkol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.


Lot had separated from Abraham for prosperity. Most would let Lot figure out how to save Lot. Abraham went up against 4 kings. Trouble could have been life-long.


And God reacted to these actions.

Genesis 15

After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:
“Do not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield,
your very great reward."


Abraham immediately felt he must assist God and falls.


And as Scripture becomes 3 millenniums later - with all the sins and flaws of Abraham - Jesus remembers Abraham.


Jesus is not just speaking of the Majesty of God and all of His Wonders, Jesus is noting mankind is still in need of salvation. Abraham impressed God. God saved Abraham. God continued to save Abraham all of his up and down life. Abraham was less confused before he was truly trying to impress God! And God still saw something in Abraham.

Abraham failed so many times - and in the days of Jesus  - Abrham sill living was still considered a friend of God.

Our Father, Abba,

You bless us continually.

Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us.
There is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, They would be too numerous to count.

How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust.

Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired. You tell us: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

For though the LORD is exalted, Yet He regards the lowly, But the haughty He knows from afar. O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

O LORD of hosts, How blessed is the man who trusts in You!

Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You.

Giving thanks for allergies not afflicting to pain. For ears not ringing. For shoulders without pain. For walking pain free. Thanking for healing from cysts and tumors. Thanking for eyes that are healing. Thanking God for prayers the Life Giving Holy Spirit of God answers. For dreams we remember for decades inspiring us when we need to remember God.

Remembering all of our Father's mercies to Abraham. Jesus would remember a man of flawed humanity and give His Life and we might Live.

Our God is Good. Our God is God. Our God has given us the ability to be called Children of God. Our God has given us His Son and we will bring our Father and Jesus our Love. And Profound Thanks.

We will have every hope God would give those we Love surrounded by our God of wonders and mercy.

Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. Alleluia and Amen.