Creation to New Creation John 1-4

Genesis 1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

John 1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

John 1 takes us back to Genesis 1. To the beginning. Word and Spirit together in creation. John does not mention the fall but assumes it. Because John is clearly leaning forward from Creation toward the coming of the Kingdom and restoration – all things will be summed up in Christ and God’s original purpose for creation restored. The light will shine on all people. And all who receive him will be welcomed into and renewed in God’s original design and purpose – that we should rule (Genesis 1:26).

In John 2, we join a wedding feast. The broad movement of history is toward another banquet in Revelation 19 – the marriage supper of the lamb. John’s vision is very broad – from creation to new creation, Genesis to Revelation. Here in John 2, water is turned into wine. This is what new creation looks like: God’s power comes on ordinary things and they are made new! A new heaven and a new earth are coming and we will all be dancing!

In John 3 the feast comes to Israel. But what is flesh is flesh and what is spirit is spirit. Israel’s teachers have been immersed in a textbook (just the facts), but divorced from the Spirit. Suddenly renewal is coming to God’s people, who failed to recognize the Messiah when he arrived (John 1:11). Now the light dawns on God’s people Israel. John places the story of John the Baptist in this chapter allows John to cue us again to where this story is going – “bride and bridegroom” v. 29.

Then we come to John 4. In ancient Israel the well was the place where weddings were celebrated. This time the marriage feast is not just for Israel but the universal banquet table opens up to include foreigners and outcasts. Isaiah’s vision of a gospel for all peoples is fulfilled. (Isaiah 56). And then in Revelation 21-22 we see the vision that all peoples and tribes and tongues will come to the new city, and all the nations will be healed.