Six names and titles that were given to Jesus, in John 1.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
What a dramatic opening to John’s Gospel! Jesus was the (Living) Word and the Word was God. He was the creator of all things. In Him was Life and the Light of all mankind. This is the God Christians believe in and serve.
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God!’
John, (The Baptist), uniquely called by God to be the forerunner of Christ refers to Jesus twice as the, ‘Lamb of God’. A very distinctive name among Jewish people, with their annual sacrifice of the Passover Lamb.
33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptise with water told me, “The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is He who will baptise with the Holy Spirit.” 34 I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.’
John also identifies Jesus as the ‘Son of God’ (still God), to distinguish Him from the Father.
40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.
Peter’s brother Andrew and one other heard John the Baptist saying that Jesus was the ‘Lamb of God’. They turned and followed Jesus to the place where he was staying and spent the day with Him.
Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas’ (which, when translated, is Peter).
Jesus renamed Simon as Cephas or Peter soon after He met him; there’s no record of Peter asking to be His disciple. Jesus’ authority was evident soon after He met Simon, now Peter.
48 ‘How do you know me?’ Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, ‘I saw you while you were still under the fig-tree before Philip called you.’
49 Then Nathanael declared, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.’
Nathanael declared Jesus was the ‘Son of God’, but also the ‘King of Israel’. The name that His persecutors wanted struck from the Cross, ‘King of the Jews’, but they failed. From the outset He was known as the King of God’s people.
Six significant titles/names bestowed on Jesus in the first chapter of John’s Gospel. He surely was the true Messiah.
God bless and keep you today.