The Gospel of John stands apart from the other Gospels in its unique presentation of Jesus’ divine nature and His role as the Son of God. The first five chapters of John introduce key events in Jesus’ early ministry and emphasize His divine authority and connection with God the Father. These chapters also set the stage for Jesus’ teachings on faith, spiritual rebirth, and eternal life.
John 1: The Word Becomes Flesh
John opens with a profound declaration about Jesus’ divine nature: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1 KJV). This verse establishes Jesus as the eternal Logos (Word), coexisting with God and instrumental in creation. The chapter continues to reveal that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, speaking to the incarnation of Jesus as fully God and fully man.
John the Baptist plays a key role in this chapter as the one who prepares the way for Jesus. He testifies that he is not the Messiah but is sent to bear witness of the Light (Jesus). When Jesus approaches, John identifies Him as “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29 KJV).
John 1 also introduces some of Jesus’ first disciples. Andrew, Simon Peter, Philip, and Nathanael follow Jesus after being called, each recognizing Him as the promised Messiah. Jesus tells Nathanael, “Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man” (John 1:51 KJV), hinting at the divine nature of His mission.
John 2: The Wedding at Cana and Cleansing the Temple
John 2 marks the beginning of Jesus’ miraculous works with the wedding at Cana. During the wedding, the hosts run out of wine, and Jesus’ mother, Mary, brings the issue to Him. Though He initially hesitates, Jesus performs His first recorded miracle by turning water into wine. This event reveals His power over creation and introduces His glory to His disciples, who “believed on him” (John 2:11 KJV).
Later in the chapter, Jesus goes to Jerusalem for the Passover and drives the moneychangers and merchants out of the temple. His passionate defense of God’s house is seen as a challenge to the religious authorities, and they demand a sign to prove His authority. Jesus responds cryptically, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19 KJV), referencing His upcoming death and resurrection. The disciples would later understand this as a prophecy of His resurrection.
John 3: Nicodemus and the Concept of Being Born Again
John 3 contains one of the most well-known and beloved verses in the Bible, but the chapter begins with a nighttime visit from Nicodemus, a Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council. Nicodemus is curious about Jesus’ teachings and miracles, but Jesus immediately challenges him with the need for spiritual rebirth: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3 KJV).
Confused, Nicodemus questions how one can be born again. Jesus explains that this rebirth is spiritual, involving the work of the Holy Spirit. This leads to one of the most famous teachings in the Bible, encapsulated in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Jesus emphasizes that belief in Him brings eternal life, while rejecting Him brings condemnation.
The chapter also touches on John the Baptist’s final testimony about Jesus, affirming that Jesus “must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30 KJV). John acknowledges that his role was to prepare the way for Christ and that Jesus, coming from above, has the authority to speak the words of God.
John 4: The Samaritan Woman and the Living Water
In John 4, Jesus’ ministry takes an unexpected turn as He travels through Samaria and speaks to a Samaritan woman at a well. This interaction is significant, as Jews typically avoided dealings with Samaritans. Jesus breaks cultural barriers by asking the woman for water and then offering her “living water” that will quench her spiritual thirst forever.
The woman is intrigued but confused, so Jesus reveals that He knows her personal history, including her multiple marriages. Recognizing that Jesus is no ordinary man, she asks about the proper place of worship. Jesus responds that true worshippers will worship the Father “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24 KJV), emphasizing that worship is no longer about location but about the heart.
Amazed, the woman runs back to her village, telling everyone about Jesus, and many Samaritans believe in Him because of her testimony. This chapter underscores Jesus’ mission to reach outcasts and outsiders, offering salvation to all who believe in Him.
The chapter concludes with Jesus performing His second miracle, healing the nobleman’s son from a distance. When the nobleman hears that his son is healed at the exact moment Jesus declared it, he and his household believe in Jesus’ divine power.
John 5: Healing at the Pool and Jesus’ Divine Authority
In John 5, Jesus performs a miraculous healing at the pool of Bethesda, where a man who had been crippled for 38 years is lying. Jesus tells him, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk” (John 5:8 KJV), and the man is immediately healed. However, this miracle takes place on the Sabbath, and the Jewish leaders are enraged because they view carrying his bed on the Sabbath as a violation of the law.
When confronted by the religious leaders, Jesus defends His actions by declaring that His Father is always working, even on the Sabbath, and so is He. This statement, “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work” (John 5:17 KJV), enrages the leaders even more, as they interpret it as Jesus claiming equality with God.
Jesus then gives a powerful discourse on His relationship with the Father, affirming that the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do (John 5:19 KJV). He speaks of His authority to give life and to judge the world, promising that all who hear His word and believe will have eternal life. He also references the future resurrection, when all people will be raised—some to eternal life and others to judgment.
The chapter closes with Jesus admonishing the religious leaders for their unbelief, pointing out that they diligently study the Scriptures but fail to recognize that the Scriptures testify about Him. He challenges them to put their faith in Him, the very one who brings life.
Conclusion
The first five chapters of the Gospel of John (KJV) introduce readers to the divine nature of Jesus, His miraculous works, and His profound teachings on faith, salvation, and eternal life. These chapters present Jesus as the Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, and the source of living water. Through His interactions with people like Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman, Jesus reveals that salvation is not confined to a specific people or place but is available to all who believe in Him. As Jesus’ ministry unfolds, His divine authority and identity as the Son of God become increasingly clear, setting the stage for the rest of His earthly mission.
