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.

Why does John call Jesus the Lamb of God?

In this sermon on John 1, Dr. Toby Holt explains the weight behind John the Baptist's words when he points to Jesus as the Lamb of God. The sermon moves through John's testimony, the broken religious system around him, the meaning of Passover, and the truth that animal sacrifices could only point forward to the Son of God who would die in the place of sinners.

Questions this sermon answers:

1. What was John the Baptist saying about himself and about Christ?

2. Why does the language of lamb and sacrifice matter in John 1?

3. How does the Passover point forward to the atonement of Jesus?

John 1 teaches us to behold Christ as the true Lamb, the promised Savior, and the Son of God.

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at 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 to Jesus: "Behold! The Lamb of God." Dr. Toby Holt explains John's one great mission — to prepare the way for the Messiah. Asked who he is, John refuses every title, calling himself only "a voice crying in the wilderness." Because Jews normally baptized only Gentile converts, baptizing Jews implied Israel itself needed to repent. He names Jesus the Lamb of God, pointing to the Passover lamb and the cross.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why was John baptizing people? As a call to repentance. Because Jews usually baptized only Gentile converts, his 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)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

How does Jesus minister to doubters and disciples?

In this exposition of John 1, Dr. Toby Holt shows how Jesus gathers His disciples without needing them, yet graciously calls and sends them. The sermon focuses on Philip, Nathanael, the skepticism surrounding Nazareth, and the way Christ reveals both His knowledge of the heart and His identity as the true meeting place between heaven and earth.

Questions this sermon answers:

1. Why does Jesus call disciples if He needs nothing from us?

2. What does Nathanael's skepticism reveal about human expectations?

3. How does Jesus answer doubt by revealing who He is?

John 1 shows Christ patiently drawing doubters into faith and giving His disciples far more than they first understand.

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at 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. Dr. Toby Holt shows why this quiet "sign" points all the way to the cross.

When the wine runs out, Mary brings the problem to Jesus. He says, "My hour has not yet come" — a phrase that in John always points to the crucifixion — then turns water in six stone jars into the finest wine. John calls it a "sign," revealing His glory and pointing to the new covenant.

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)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

What does it mean to be "born again"? In John 3:1-17, a respected leader named Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night and hears puzzling words: "You must be born again." Dr. Toby Holt explains the new birth — and why we cannot do without it.

Nicodemus was a Pharisee and ruler, yet Jesus tells even him he must be born again. We are born spiritually dead and cannot give ourselves new life — the new birth is God's own work. Out of this talk comes the most famous verse in the Bible.

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)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at 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 unable to walk for thirty-eight years — and the leaders are furious, because He did it on the Sabbath. Dr. Toby Holt contrasts Christ's mercy with man-made rules.

At the pool of Bethesda, Jesus heals the man with a word: "Rise, take up your bed and walk." The leaders object that carrying a mat breaks the Sabbath — one of dozens of extra rules. The deeper offense: Jesus calls God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.

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)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.