A Study of John's Gospel Pt. 3 Jesus Christ is the living Word of God.
Good morning to each one of you...
Today we begin to study the first chapter of John's gospel. The first 18 verses are called the "prologue" and it is like a summary for the rest of that gospel. Let us read the first paragraph of chapter 1.
John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Jesus Christ is called the Word of God.
John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God.
John is very explicit to let us know Jesus is also called the Word of God. He makes a connection to Genesis 1. God created by speaking all things into existence. God used His verbal commands to create everything from nothing.
The opening book of scripture places an emphasis upon God speaking and things being done immediately. 9 times in Genesis 1 we read the words "And God said." John is showing us that Jesus Christ is also the same God who created in Genesis.
Next John tells us that Christ the "Word of God" was with God and is God. The Word was with God because the Word is God. The Greek word translated "Word" is "logos" and it refers to the mind, thought and sayings of God. Thayer's lexicon has the following helpful definition of logos.
The eternal Word is Creator of all.
John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John makes it very clear that the same word from Genesis (And God Said) is the same Word he is writing about in his gospel. This Word is God, John tells us, and we need to listen. Many in Christianity teach or preach a Jesus who is not God and this is false doctrine. John is going to continually emphasize the deity of Jesus Christ.
"The Word" John teaches us about was active at the beginning. "The Word" made all things including every planetary system, every star, every constellation, every form of plant and animal life, every element of nature, all forms of weather and all the laws governing the functions of the universe.
The word translated "made" is used 3 times in this verse. It is an action word that means to make something from nothing. It means to make something come to pass or to perform miracles. "The Word" is the power behind making ALL things. Nothing that exists was made without "the Word" being the Maker of it.
The Word is the source of all life.
John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Who made all living things? "The Word". Who caused everything to reproduce after its own kind? "The Word". Who made the world so that it can sustain life? "The Word". Who gave life to all living things? "The Word".
The life given by "the Word" is the light in the heart of all mankind. Light describes God (God is light and in Him is no darkness at all 1 John 1:5). Light stands in contrast to a world darkened by sin and death. "The Word" supplies every need of man and this brings light into our soul. Later John will tell us that this same "Word" is the light of the world. Truly, Jesus Christ the eternal "Word" is the light of all mankind.
Darkness could not diminish the light of the Word.
John 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
The light from "the Word" shone brightly in a world under the curse of sin. The darkness was powerless to surround the light or to cut off it's pure, powerful beams. How good God is to give us His perfect "Word" to dispel the darkness from our soul and to show us the glory of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Psalm 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
Thoughts to Ponder...
Jesus Christ is introduced by John as the Eternal Word of God who was present at Creation with God and who is God. This Word is Creator of all things that exist. He is Sustainer of all things and the source of life and light.
The Word of God is the second person of the trinity, Jesus Christ the Son of God. You may recall that in Genesis 1:1 the name God is Elohim which is plural in form. That plural form comes out when the text says "Let us make man in our image after our likeness." Elohim is a name that shows the Father, Son and Holy Spirit acting jointly, equally and with one mind at creations beginning.
Thus, John shows us that Jesus Christ is the Word of God who is with God and is God.
We covered only 5 verses but each verse is worthy of a sermon and these verses refute all who claim that Jesus was only a good man or a moral teacher. It shows us that the Word of God, Jesus Christ, is God and that He created, sustains and gives life to all things.
Since all life comes from Jesus Christ the Word, perhaps we can see why we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. Perhaps we can better understand why murder in any form offends the very God who gave life to the victim.
May we pray and ask the Lord to give us a clear understanding of these truths and may we bow our hearts in thanksgiving before the Word, Jesus Christ, the Creator and Sustainer and Savior of mankind.
Bob
Jesus Christ is called the Word of God.
John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God.
John is very explicit to let us know Jesus is also called the Word of God. He makes a connection to Genesis 1. God created by speaking all things into existence. God used His verbal commands to create everything from nothing.
The opening book of scripture places an emphasis upon God speaking and things being done immediately. 9 times in Genesis 1 we read the words "And God said." John is showing us that Jesus Christ is also the same God who created in Genesis.
Next John tells us that Christ the "Word of God" was with God and is God. The Word was with God because the Word is God. The Greek word translated "Word" is "logos" and it refers to the mind, thought and sayings of God. Thayer's lexicon has the following helpful definition of logos.
"In the gospel of John this word denotes the essential Word of God, Jesus Christ, the personal wisdom and power
in union with God. It includes His ministry in creation and governing the universe. The Word gives life to all living things. In order to bring salvation to man this Word put on human nature in the person of Jesus the
Messiah, the second person in the Godhead, and shone forth conspicuously from
His words and deeds."
This is not the only place where Jesus Christ is called the Word of God. When Jesus Christ is ready to return to the earth in judgment He is given that same Divine Name.
Revelation 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
The eternal Word is Creator of all.
John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John makes it very clear that the same word from Genesis (And God Said) is the same Word he is writing about in his gospel. This Word is God, John tells us, and we need to listen. Many in Christianity teach or preach a Jesus who is not God and this is false doctrine. John is going to continually emphasize the deity of Jesus Christ.
"The Word" John teaches us about was active at the beginning. "The Word" made all things including every planetary system, every star, every constellation, every form of plant and animal life, every element of nature, all forms of weather and all the laws governing the functions of the universe.
The word translated "made" is used 3 times in this verse. It is an action word that means to make something from nothing. It means to make something come to pass or to perform miracles. "The Word" is the power behind making ALL things. Nothing that exists was made without "the Word" being the Maker of it.
The Word is the source of all life.
John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Who made all living things? "The Word". Who caused everything to reproduce after its own kind? "The Word". Who made the world so that it can sustain life? "The Word". Who gave life to all living things? "The Word".
The life given by "the Word" is the light in the heart of all mankind. Light describes God (God is light and in Him is no darkness at all 1 John 1:5). Light stands in contrast to a world darkened by sin and death. "The Word" supplies every need of man and this brings light into our soul. Later John will tell us that this same "Word" is the light of the world. Truly, Jesus Christ the eternal "Word" is the light of all mankind.
Darkness could not diminish the light of the Word.
John 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
The light from "the Word" shone brightly in a world under the curse of sin. The darkness was powerless to surround the light or to cut off it's pure, powerful beams. How good God is to give us His perfect "Word" to dispel the darkness from our soul and to show us the glory of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Psalm 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
Thoughts to Ponder...
Jesus Christ is introduced by John as the Eternal Word of God who was present at Creation with God and who is God. This Word is Creator of all things that exist. He is Sustainer of all things and the source of life and light.
The Word of God is the second person of the trinity, Jesus Christ the Son of God. You may recall that in Genesis 1:1 the name God is Elohim which is plural in form. That plural form comes out when the text says "Let us make man in our image after our likeness." Elohim is a name that shows the Father, Son and Holy Spirit acting jointly, equally and with one mind at creations beginning.
Thus, John shows us that Jesus Christ is the Word of God who is with God and is God.
We covered only 5 verses but each verse is worthy of a sermon and these verses refute all who claim that Jesus was only a good man or a moral teacher. It shows us that the Word of God, Jesus Christ, is God and that He created, sustains and gives life to all things.
Since all life comes from Jesus Christ the Word, perhaps we can see why we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. Perhaps we can better understand why murder in any form offends the very God who gave life to the victim.
May we pray and ask the Lord to give us a clear understanding of these truths and may we bow our hearts in thanksgiving before the Word, Jesus Christ, the Creator and Sustainer and Savior of mankind.
Bob
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