John 1:1–7:1: A Theological Exposition of Sacred Scripture (Concordia Commentary | CC)

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“To put this forthrightly, the Gospel text demands a sacramental reading because otherwise there is no-thing to which the narratives refer so that one may ‘see,’ and in seeing, believe, and so that one may ‘hear,’ and in hearing, receive eternal life. The story of Christ is the story of the life of the church.⁸³ If the story of the Christ does not remain in the life of the church, then there is no Word made flesh among us whom we may see and hear. All Christology is ecclesiology. ‘ ‘As the Father has sent me, in the same manner do I send you.’ … ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’ ’ (Jn 20:21–22). The church takes its beginning as did the story of the Christ (Jn 1:29–34): at Baptism.” (Pages 309–310)

“However, in context the words concerning ‘water and the Spirit’ (Jn 3:5) do refer to Baptism, namely, to the Baptism of Jesus at the hands of John, when the Spirit came down and remained on him (Jn 1:32–33). This Baptism, perfected and proffered to us for the forgiveness of sin in the death of Christ, is the Baptism to which all at the time of Jesus were invited to enter.” (Page 388)

“According to Jn 20:30–31, the Gospel was written with the goal to create faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, for those who believe ‘have life in his Name.’ This purpose statement suggests that Jn 1:12 is the center of the Prologue: ‘to them [those who believe in his Name] he gave the authority to become children of God.’ To be sure, the creating of children of God and their life of faith is the guiding theme and purpose of the Gospel.” (Page 84)