The WORD
John Chapter One
1 - 3 In the Beginning
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.
Why is Jesus called ‘The Word’?
Here are three possible reasons for this title:
1. Because He was the speaker of the words which created the universe.
In the beginning God said, “Let there be light”. Who spoke those words? God. Who made all things? Jesus.
Jesus is God. He spoke … and creation appeared.
Heb 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,
2Pe 3:5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,
So Jesus, being the ‘speaker’ of the words which created this universe has been given the title, The Word.
2. A second ‘possible’ answer to the question:
For many centuries prior to Jesus arrival on earth, the Jewish scribes had involved themselves in copying scripture. The scriptures were considered to be sacred and were to be copied faithfully in every detail. Even more sacred than scripture (apparently) was the name of God, Jehovah. It has been said that many, if not all scribes used a different pen to write the name of God. This pen was used for no other purpose but to write the name Jehovah. As the scribe copied scripture, when he came upon the sacred name of God he would lay down his pen, take the special pen and write in the name of God. This came to be known as ‘the sacred word’.
It is thought that, in their everyday writing, rather than get a special pen (quill) each time they wanted to write the name Jehovah, they simply replaced it with ‘the word’.
In this case, John, in calling Jesus the Word … is actually calling Him Jehovah.
“Jehovah became flesh and dwelt among us.”
3. A third consideration as to why He is called The Word.
Words spoke the world into being.
Words represent language. Language pre-supposes a mind. Minds retain knowledge. God is the ultimate in knowledge and intelligence. He is ALL knowing (Omniscient). He is THE WORD.
___________________
In the beginning: The creation as we know it. "The beginning" does not refer to the beginning of God.
In the beginning: Intelligence. God is ALL knowledge.
Genesis begins with– “In the beginning God created…”
John begins before that: In the beginning … the Word WAS. Existed.
Genesis gives us the history of the world. John gives us the history of The Word.
In the beginning - That is, before anything was created. This proves that Jesus Christ was not a part of the creation, as the JW’s and others claim.
“By a man’s word you could perfectly know him, even though you were blind and could never see him. Sight or touch could give you but little fuller information regarding his character if you had listened to his word. His word is his character in expression.”
By what Jesus has said to us, and by what he has done we have come to know Him intimately.
So John has been saying in 1 - 4
1. He is the source of all creation: “the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;” Rev 3.14
2. He is the source of eternal life
3. He is the source of enlightenment
Now John is saying
‘ And yet for all of this, he is being rejected.’ V. 5
“The Eternal Word, in whom was the life of all things, became flesh and was manifested among men; some ignored while others recognised Him, some received while others rejected Him, -this is what John desires to exhibit in His Gospel”
What does it mean to be ‘sent from God’? God has spoken
John 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
Mt 11:11 "Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
John the Baptist’s mission: Lu 7:27 "This is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’.
John the Baptist’s:
Message: Mark 3:1-12
Function: a witness – Jn 1:6-8
Focus: vs 8 ‘Jesus is The Light’
Apostle’s John’s Commentary:
(vs 12) Jesus, the Light:
1. Came into the world because it was necessary – the world was in darkness and did not realise it.
2. Created the world
3. Was rejected by the majority
4. Received by a few
5. Restored these ‘few’ to a relationship of ‘family’ with Himself
Close of Apostle John’s introduction:
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us! Marvel of all marvels!
No one has seen God at any time. He is invisible. … but now we have seen Him! Vs 18
1 - 3 In the Beginning
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.
Why is Jesus called ‘The Word’?
Here are three possible reasons for this title:
1. Because He was the speaker of the words which created the universe.
In the beginning God said, “Let there be light”. Who spoke those words? God. Who made all things? Jesus.
Jesus is God. He spoke … and creation appeared.
Heb 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,
2Pe 3:5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,
So Jesus, being the ‘speaker’ of the words which created this universe has been given the title, The Word.
2. A second ‘possible’ answer to the question:
For many centuries prior to Jesus arrival on earth, the Jewish scribes had involved themselves in copying scripture. The scriptures were considered to be sacred and were to be copied faithfully in every detail. Even more sacred than scripture (apparently) was the name of God, Jehovah. It has been said that many, if not all scribes used a different pen to write the name of God. This pen was used for no other purpose but to write the name Jehovah. As the scribe copied scripture, when he came upon the sacred name of God he would lay down his pen, take the special pen and write in the name of God. This came to be known as ‘the sacred word’.
It is thought that, in their everyday writing, rather than get a special pen (quill) each time they wanted to write the name Jehovah, they simply replaced it with ‘the word’.
In this case, John, in calling Jesus the Word … is actually calling Him Jehovah.
“Jehovah became flesh and dwelt among us.”
3. A third consideration as to why He is called The Word.
Words spoke the world into being.
Words represent language. Language pre-supposes a mind. Minds retain knowledge. God is the ultimate in knowledge and intelligence. He is ALL knowing (Omniscient). He is THE WORD.
___________________
In the beginning: The creation as we know it. "The beginning" does not refer to the beginning of God.
In the beginning: Intelligence. God is ALL knowledge.
Genesis begins with– “In the beginning God created…”
John begins before that: In the beginning … the Word WAS. Existed.
Genesis gives us the history of the world. John gives us the history of The Word.
In the beginning - That is, before anything was created. This proves that Jesus Christ was not a part of the creation, as the JW’s and others claim.
“By a man’s word you could perfectly know him, even though you were blind and could never see him. Sight or touch could give you but little fuller information regarding his character if you had listened to his word. His word is his character in expression.”
By what Jesus has said to us, and by what he has done we have come to know Him intimately.
So John has been saying in 1 - 4
1. He is the source of all creation: “the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;” Rev 3.14
2. He is the source of eternal life
3. He is the source of enlightenment
Now John is saying
‘ And yet for all of this, he is being rejected.’ V. 5
“The Eternal Word, in whom was the life of all things, became flesh and was manifested among men; some ignored while others recognised Him, some received while others rejected Him, -this is what John desires to exhibit in His Gospel”
What does it mean to be ‘sent from God’? God has spoken
John 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
Mt 11:11 "Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
John the Baptist’s mission: Lu 7:27 "This is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’.
John the Baptist’s:
Message: Mark 3:1-12
Function: a witness – Jn 1:6-8
Focus: vs 8 ‘Jesus is The Light’
Apostle’s John’s Commentary:
(vs 12) Jesus, the Light:
1. Came into the world because it was necessary – the world was in darkness and did not realise it.
2. Created the world
3. Was rejected by the majority
4. Received by a few
5. Restored these ‘few’ to a relationship of ‘family’ with Himself
Close of Apostle John’s introduction:
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us! Marvel of all marvels!
No one has seen God at any time. He is invisible. … but now we have seen Him! Vs 18