John 1:1-5 NIV
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[a] it.
As Christians, we believe in the Triune being of God, that being, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
In the Gospel of John, John begins by telling us that Jesus (referred to as the Word) was in the beginning, was with God and WAS God.
Take a look at Genesis 1:26;
Genesis 1:26 NIV
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
The scripture reads “let us make mankind in OUR image, in OUR likeness…”
As creator and the master of the universe, we believe that God can manifest Himself in any form He chooses, particularly in the forms of the Trinity.
One example often used is the example of water. Water can be in liquid form, solid form or gaseous form, but always water.
When we look around us at the majesty and power of God, we know that He can be whatever He needs to be. He is omnipresent, meaning everywhere at once and omnipotent, meaning unlimited power.
WHY DID JOHN CALL JESUS "THE WORD?"
As we look at these scriptures, why would John refer to Jesus as “the Word?”
When we think of, or hear a “word”, we have a thought. The first operation of the thought process is the understanding of a “word.”
Everything we do, begins in our mind, with something we see or hear. (As we have discussed in other lessons, we must keep Satan from inhabiting any part or corner of our mind)
Words have power, as the start our thought process.
So, as our thought process begins with a word or words, it is appropriate that the second divine being of the Trinity be called “the Word”, as Jesus is the “first begotten of the Father.”
When we think of a “word”, we think of the spoken word. Someone making a statement.
Thusly, Christ Jesus is “the Word”, for through and by Christ, God has spoken to us and directed us to listen to Him.
The Father has spoken.
Jesus, as “the word” has spoken the plan of God. Jesus speaks from God to us and to God from us.
He is “the Word.”
‘The Word” spoke to us during His life and ministry. “The Word” spoke even more to us on the cross of Calvary. “The Word” spoke volumes with His last three words.
THE WORD WAS GOD
"The Word” WAS God. Jesus WAS God manifest in the flesh.
John 1:18 NIV
18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and[a] is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
1 Timothy 3:16 KJV
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
In these verses of his Gospel, John is making it crystal clear that this is not just a narrative about a mere human.
No, Jesus is the earthly incarnation of a divine being who was present with God before the creation and also this person is the manifestation of God Himself.
THE WORD IS CREATOR, LIFE and LIGHT
Regarding "the Word", John 1:3 says that “through Him, all things were made and without Him nothing was made that has been made.”
God spoke through “the Word.”
John also reiterates a prominent theme in the Gospels, which is, Jesus is LIFE and the light of all mankind.
The final sentence in our scripture lesson says it all.
The light (the Word) shines in the darkness of the world AND the darkness will not overcome the light.
Jesus is “the Word”, ‘life” and “the light” of all mankind.
Jesus as "the Word speaks God’s plan, will give life to believers and will remove the darkness from all who accept Him as Lord.
RVH