THE WORD
Text: John 1:1-14.
Delivered on: November 25, 2007. Streetsboro.
John 1:1-14 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 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.
THE GODHEAD.
In order to understand this passage correctly, we need to understand the doctrine of the Godhead.
From the very first words of the Bible, God is portrayed as being a plurality.
Genesis 1:1. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
God = Elohim. The im ending denotes a plurality.
Yet the verb created – bara is singular.
Thus, Elohim is a plural name with a singular meaning.
Thus, God is a unified plurality.
Notice Genesis 1:26. Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
Genesis 11:7. Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech."
The Godhead (or Divinity) is made up of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
We see this when we read the account of Jesus’ baptism. Matthew 3:16-17. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
2 Corinthians 13:14. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
All three Persons of the Godhead are God.
The Father. 2 Corinthians 1:3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
The Son. Acts 20:28. Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
The Spirit. Acts 5:3-4. But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."
THE WORD’S IDENTITY.
Who or what is the Word which is spoken of in John 1?
Verse 14 gives us the answer. John 1:14. 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.
The only begotten Son of God is Jesus Christ. John 3:16. 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.
The only begotten Son of God became flesh. Philippians 2:5-7. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
Why does John, through inspiration, refer to Jesus as “The Word?”
A word is an expression of a thought or idea.
Jesus is, in every way, an expression of God’s qualities to mankind.
He is an expression of God’s love. 1 John 4:9. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
He is an expression of God’s grace. Titus 2:11-12. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
He is an expression of Father Himself.
John 14:7-9. "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." 8 Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." 9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
Hebrews 1:3. Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
THE WORD’S RELATIONSHIP TO TIME. John 1:1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Was Jesus simply present at the beginning of time or has He always existed like God the Father?
The Greek makes it clear that Jesus has always existed.
The word translated “was” is een.
It is not punctiliar aorist but rather durative imperfect.
All that simply means is that He has always existed.
There was never a time where He “was not” in existence.
Jesus affirmed this Himself. John 8:58. Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."
THE WORD’S RELATIONSHIP TO GOD THE FATHER.
He was with God.
Literally, “Before the face of God.”
Thus, He was in complete union and fellowship with Him.
He enjoyed full equality with the Father and Spirit.
Philippians 2:5-6. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
He was God.
Literally, “God was the Word.”
Jesus is Deity.
He is just as much God as the Father and the Spirit.
Titus 2:13. Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
THE WORD’S RELATIONSHIP TO CREATION. John 1:3, All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
Everything that has been made, was made by Jesus. Colossians 1:16-17. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
This too proves that Jesus is eternal and not a created being.
Notice that in Colossians Paul says that even things that were created in heaven were created by Him.
If He were a created being, He would have had to create Himself.
We know that this is nonsense.
THE WORD’S RELATIONSHIP TO MAN.
He was a light shining in darkness.
He revealed to us the will of God.
In Him was life. John 11:25-26. Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
John 8:12. Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
John 12:35-36. Then Jesus said to them, "A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.
The world did not know Him or receive Him.
John 3:19-21. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."
Even His own did not receive Him. Mark 6:4. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house."
To those who received Him, He gave the right to become Sons of God.
Those who believed Him received Him.
John 8:24. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."
Those who receive Him can become Sons of God.
1 John 3:1-3. Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Those who receive Him are not born of blood, or of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
James 1:18. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
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