Why does John call Jesus “the Word”?

In John 1:1-18, the Gospel opens not with a manger but in eternity: “In the beginning was the Word.” In this study, Dr. Toby Holt introduces the Gospel of John and its central claim — that Jesus is God in the flesh.

John writes as an eyewitness — one who saw, heard, and touched Jesus — grounding the faith in history, not legend. Dr. Holt explains why John calls Jesus “the Word”: He is God’s fullest self-revelation, the One through whom all things were made. John also calls Him “the light” that shines in the darkness, though people often love the darkness instead. The wonder of the passage is its center: “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” — the eternal Son entered our world to save us.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why does John call Jesus “the Word”? Because Jesus is God’s fullest self-revelation — God speaking and showing Himself to us — and the One through whom all things were made.

2. What does it mean that Jesus is “the light”? He brings truth, life, and clarity into a dark world, though many prefer the darkness because their deeds are evil.

3. Why does it matter that John was an eyewitness? Because the Christian faith rests on history, not myth. John reports what he actually saw, heard, and touched.

“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 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the John Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

Who was John the Baptist, and why did he baptize?

In John 1:19-34, John the Baptist points away from himself and toward Jesus: “Behold! The Lamb of God.” In this study, Dr. Toby Holt explains John’s one great mission — to prepare the way for the Messiah.

When the religious leaders ask John who he is, he refuses every title, calling himself only “a voice crying in the wilderness.” Dr. Holt explains why John’s baptism was so startling: Jews normally baptized only Gentile converts, so baptizing Jews implied that Israel itself needed to repent. John says he is not even worthy to untie Jesus’ sandal. Then he names Jesus the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” — pointing to the Passover lamb and the cross, where Jesus would die in the sinner’s place.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why was John baptizing people? As a call to repentance. Because Jews usually baptized only Gentile converts, John’s baptism implied that Israel, too, needed to turn back to God.

2. Why did John call Jesus “the Lamb of God”? Because Jesus is the true Passover Lamb who would die in the place of sinners, taking away their sin.

3. What was John the Baptist’s mission? To prepare the way for the Messiah and point people to Jesus — never to himself.

“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” — John 1:29 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the John Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

Why was Jesus’ first miracle at a wedding?

In John 2:1-12, Jesus performs His first miracle — turning water into wine at a wedding in Cana. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt shows why this quiet “sign” points all the way to the cross.

When the wine runs out — a deep embarrassment in that culture — Mary brings the problem to Jesus. He tells her, “My hour has not yet come,” a phrase that in John always points to His crucifixion. Then He has servants fill six large stone jars with water, and the water becomes the finest wine. Dr. Holt explains that John calls this a “sign,” not merely a miracle — it reveals Jesus’ glory and points forward to the new covenant and the cup He would pour out at Calvary.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why did Jesus say “My hour has not yet come”? In John, “His hour” always points to the cross. Even at a wedding, Jesus’ eyes were on why He came.

2. Why does John call this a “sign”? Because it points beyond itself — revealing Jesus’ glory and pointing ahead to the new covenant in His blood.

3. What does this first miracle reveal? That Jesus is the Son of God, who brings abundant new life — the best saved for last.

“This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.” — John 2:11 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the John Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.