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.

What does it mean to be “born again”?

In John 3:1-17, a respected religious leader named Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night and hears words that puzzle him: “You must be born again.” In this study, Dr. Toby Holt explains the new birth — and why we cannot do without it.

Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews, yet Jesus tells even him that he must be “born again.” Dr. Holt explains that we are born spiritually dead and cannot give ourselves new life any more than we chose our first birth — the new birth is God’s own work in the heart. Out of this conversation comes the most famous verse in the Bible: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” Later, Nicodemus would help bury Jesus, a quiet sign that the new birth had taken hold.

Questions this study answers:

1. Who was Nicodemus? A Pharisee and respected member of the ruling council, who came to Jesus by night with sincere questions.

2. What does it mean to be “born again”? It is a new spiritual birth that only God can give — a heart made alive, not a self-improvement project.

3. Why can’t we save ourselves? Because we are born spiritually dead and cannot give ourselves new life. Salvation is God’s gift, received by faith in Christ.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” — John 3:16 (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.

What is the “living water” Jesus offers?

In John 4:1-26, Jesus crosses deep social barriers to meet a Samaritan woman at a well — and offers her “living water.” In this study, Dr. Toby Holt shows how Jesus seeks and satisfies thirsty souls.

Jews and Samaritans despised one another, and this woman came alone at midday, an outcast even among her own people. Yet Jesus speaks with her, asks her for a drink, and offers her water that ends all thirst — “a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” He gently exposes her broken past, then reveals Himself as the promised Messiah. Dr. Holt notes that, like Solomon who had everything yet found it all empty, this woman’s soul was dry until she met the One who could truly fill it.

Questions this study answers:

1. Who were the Samaritans? A despised, mixed people whom the Jews avoided. That Jesus would speak with a Samaritan — and a woman — was shocking.

2. What is the “living water”? It is the eternal life and satisfaction Jesus gives, which truly quenches the thirst of the soul that no earthly thing can.

3. Why is this story so encouraging? Because Jesus sought out an outcast and offered her everything. No one is beyond the reach of His grace.

“but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” — John 4:14 (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.

Can doing good ever break the Sabbath?

In John 5:1-18, Jesus heals a man who had been unable to walk for thirty-eight years — and the religious leaders are furious, because He did it on the Sabbath. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt contrasts Christ’s mercy with man-made rules.

At the pool of Bethesda, Jesus seeks out a long-suffering man and heals him with a word: “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” Instead of rejoicing, the leaders object that carrying a mat breaks the Sabbath — one of dozens of extra rules they had piled on top of God’s law. Dr. Holt explains that works of mercy and necessity were always lawful on the Sabbath. The deeper offense comes when Jesus calls God His own Father, making Himself equal with God — the claim that sets the rest of John’s Gospel in motion.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why were the leaders angry about the healing? Because Jesus healed on the Sabbath and told the man to carry his mat, breaking their man-made rules — though not God’s law.

2. Is it ever right to “work” on the Sabbath? Yes. Works of mercy and necessity — like caring for the sick — have always been lawful. Jesus showed mercy, not lawlessness.

3. Why did this healing stir such opposition? Because Jesus called God His own Father, claiming equality with God — a claim that drives the conflict through the rest of John.

“Rise, take up your bed and walk.” — John 5:8 (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.

Did the crowd want Jesus, or just His bread?

In John 6:1-15, Jesus feeds thousands from a boy’s small lunch of five loaves and two fish. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt shows that the miracle is a sign — and a test of what the crowd really wanted.

A huge crowd has followed Jesus for His healing miracles. He tests Philip — “Where shall we buy bread?” — then takes a boy’s five barley loaves and two fish, gives thanks, and feeds everyone with twelve baskets to spare. Dr. Holt points out that the way Jesus gives thanks and distributes the bread points ahead to the Lord’s Supper, and that Jesus is not just the baker but the Bread of Life. When the crowd tries to make Him king by force, He withdraws — they wanted what He could give, not Him.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why did the people follow Jesus? Mainly to see His miracles and receive His benefits, not yet to know Him as Lord.

2. What did the miracle point to? It was a sign that Jesus is the true Bread of Life, foreshadowing the abundance and the supper He would give His people.

3. Why did Jesus withdraw when they tried to crown Him? Because they wanted a king to meet their physical needs, not the Savior who came to give Himself. They wanted the bread, not the Baker.

“This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” — John 6:14 (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.

Why did so many walk away from Jesus?

In John 6:60-71, a large crowd that had eagerly followed Jesus suddenly turns and leaves. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt examines the hard teaching that thinned the crowd down to a faithful few.

The people loved Jesus’ miracles, but when His teaching grew hard, many grumbled and walked away. Dr. Holt distinguishes “followers,” who came for what they could get, from true “disciples,” who stay and learn. What drove the crowd off, he explains, was Jesus’ teaching that no one can come to Him unless the Father draws them — the truth that salvation is God’s gracious work, not our own. When Jesus asks the Twelve if they will leave too, Peter answers, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

Questions this study answers:

1. What first drew the crowds to Jesus? Mostly His miracles and the benefits they hoped to gain — not His teaching or His person.

2. Why did so many walk away? Because Jesus’ teaching was hard to accept, especially that salvation is God’s gracious work and not something we achieve.

3. Why did the Twelve stay? Because, as Peter said, there is no one else to go to. They had come to see that Jesus alone has the words of eternal life.

“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” — John 6:68 (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.