Jesus is the Word. But what does that mean, and how should it affect the Christian? The reference to Jesus as the Word is only found in John’s writings.
John chapter one is the most extensive use of the name, but it can also be found in 1 John and Revelation. The Greek translation of Word means speaking a message.
It is widely held that John took from Greek philosophical thought and Old Testament wisdom literature in using the name Word to depict Jesus.
However, John imbued the name with Christian thought and highlighted the personal nature of the Word. The Word was not abstract, but the Word is a Person, and His name is Jesus. Thus, Jesus is the embodiment of true wisdom and divine reason.
Sometimes discussion of Jesus as the Word can get a little confusing. Perhaps the best way to understand the concept is through simplicity. What do people use to communicate?
Generally, people communicate with words. Jesus is the Word. Thus God communicates Himself to man through the person and work of Christ.
As a result, John would say, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him” (John 1:18).
As God seeks to communicate to the world through the Word of God, the Bible, so God communicates Himself to the world through the Word, Jesus.
The Word is Foundational
But there is much more to say about this Word. John states, “In the beginning was the Word…” (John 1:1). John starts his lengthy Gospel with “beginning” and “Word.” Thus the Word must be seen as foundational for all else.
But before the article progresses too far, it must be seen that Jesus is the Word. John starts His Gospel by speaking of the Word but does not yet clarify Who this Word is.
Nevertheless, he quickly mentions, “And the Word was made 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” (John 1:14). Thus, the Word became flesh and was revealed as Jesus.
The Word was in the beginning with God. The Word is at the beginning of the Christian’s salvation and must be the Christian’s first thought. Jesus is foundational.
As a result, Paul would say, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him…” (Col. 2:6-7). Jesus is the foundation, and He is the walls.
The Word is Eternal
Not only is Jesus foundational He is also eternal. John says, “In the beginning was the Word…” (John 1:1). The Greek word translated as “was” speaks of continual existence. Jesus was continually with God in the beginning. Thus, Jesus was not created.
The fact of Jesus being uncreated comes to light even more when John says, “All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made” (John 1:3).
Jesus made everything, and as a result, nothing was made without Him. Therefore, the logical conclusion is that Jesus is not in the created category because Jesus created everything.
Jesus is eternal. He is the second person of the Trinity. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have always existed, and John speaks of the Word as though He has always been.
The Word is God
Not only is Jesus foundational and eternal, but He is also God. John states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Jesus was not only with God but is God. How can someone make sense of this?
First of all, the Bible says it, and that is enough. There will be times when someone cannot explain or understand fully what the Bible declares. This should not be an issue but a comfort.
How can mortal man understand the immortal God of creation fully? If God could be fully understood, it would not be evidence of His existence. It would be evidence that the mind of man created him.
Instead, man can only know and understand God if God chooses to reveal Himself. Apart from God’s revelation, God is mysterious. God has revealed that He is three persons in one God.
Thus there is only one God. But God the Father is often referenced as God and would have been the focus of John’s words when he said the Word was with God. At the same time, John’s claims do not make Jesus less than God, for Jesus is also God.
The Word is Creator
The Word is foundational, eternal, and God, but He is also the Creator. John says, “All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made” (John 1:3).
The Word took part in creation. He was there at the beginning ensuring that everything went according to plan. He made the earth knowing He would come and die to accomplish redemption. Out of love, He created with the knowledge of the fall.
Elsewhere the Bible says, “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him” (1 Cor. 8:6).
The Father is referenced as God, which was previously mentioned. But one can see that both the Father and the Son participated in creation. Yet again, it is said of Jesus that all things have come from Him.
The Word is Life
Creation is indicative of life. John connects the creation and the Word as life rather quickly. He states, “In him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4).
Jesus is life, and there is no way around this fact. Whoever has Jesus has life, and whoever does not have Jesus does not have life.
Jesus came so that His sheep would have life and have it abundantly. When Adam and Eve were in the Garden, they experienced life. How can this be known?
It is clear because God told them they would die if they ate from the tree. Thus, death was not a present reality for them. Instead, life marked their existence. They were sinless and in God’s presence.
But when sin came, so came death, and it robbed them of life. But Christ came to undo the effects of the fall. He came to make all things new and does so by being the source of life both now and eternally.
Jesus does not simply offer life to the Christian after he dies. Jesus offers life in the here and now.
But Jesus is the source, and thus it must not be sought anywhere else. It is common to seek life in a worldly manner. But the one who seeks to lose his life with save it. He must learn to deny himself, pick up his cross, and follow Jesus, for life comes through death.
The Word is Light
But how does one find the way? During the many challenges of life, the way can grow dark. But there is hope amid the darkness, for the Word is Light.
John says, “In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (John 1:4-5).
Jesus is the Light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. He has not placed his light under a basket but in the room for all to see.
He is the Light and has come to those who dwelled in darkness. He has said “…I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).
The way is not hard to find. The way is Jesus.
Final Prayer
Father, I thank You for sending Jesus to be my Light. He is foundational for my existence and well-being. I can only know how to live through Christ. He is my life, and I will never live if I choose to live apart from Him. In Jesus’ name, Amen.