What did Christ reveal in His incarnation? A common practice in productive Bible study is asking questions and finding answers. Christ came for a reason, and when He came, He brought along with Himself new revelation. Like the rising of the sun and the casting of light upon the earth, so the Son of God came to shed light on mysteries that God had not yet revealed.
What is the logos?
To answer our initial question correctly, we must start at the beginning of time and the beginning of the book of John. Scripture says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God” (KJV, John 1:1-2) . The Greek word that is used for Word in John 1:1-2 is logos.
During the time of Christ, there were many definitions and thoughts concerning the word logos. The Stoics believed there was no god besides logos and that all of life was derived from logos. Philo believed that there was an ideal world, and he called this perfect world the logos of God in contrast to the real world in which we find ourselves. In addition, Philo would have believed that logos would have been the ideal man. Logos has also been considered reason and thinking.
While there were many thoughts concerning logos during the time of John, it is more appropriate to look into the immediate context and the Old Testament to determine the meaning of logos. The Old Testament tells us a lot about the Word of God. First, God exalted the Word of God to the very name of God in the book of Psalms. Second, God sent out the Word of God to heal the people in the book of Psalms. Third, God gave the Word of God to the prophets to carry forth the truth of God and the message of God. Finally, God used the Word of God to bring deliverance in the book of Isaiah, and He used the Word of God in creation.
Much was said about the Word of God, and it is recognized that logos contains all of what has been said.
In John 1:1-2, we also see that the logos was both with God and was God at the same time. The Greek word used to depict the word “was” in the original language stresses continual existence. Thus, logos is eternal rather than created. We can gain this understanding as well when we read, “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3) . Here we see that logos is referred to as “him.” We also know that he made everything and that nothing was made that he did not make. The language itself is somewhat tricky, but the message is clear enough. The logos could not have been created, because John tells us that everything that has ever been created has been created by the logos. In other words, the logos is not in the created category because He could not have created Himself.
Who is the logos?
But who is the logos? Scripture tells us, “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) . So here we see that the logos took on flesh and dwelt among us. Therefore we can know that the logos in reference is Jesus Christ, since it is Jesus Christ Who took on flesh and dwelt among us.
A central theme of John in the Gospel of John is the heavenly origin of Jesus Christ. John goes to great lengths to convince his readers of Jesus as the Messiah. One of the ways that John does this is by validating Jesus’ ministry through Jesus’ heavenly origin.
Look at the following Scriptures:
• John 3:13 tells us that nobody has gone into heaven except Jesus, Who came down from heaven.
• John 3:31 tells us that Jesus is above all because He came from heaven.
• John 6:33 tells us of the Bread of God that came down from heaven and gave life to the world.
• John 6:38 tells us that Jesus came down from heaven to do the will of the Father.
• John 6:51 tells us that Jesus is the Living Bread that came down from heaven.
• John 6:58 tells us again that Jesus is the Bread that came down from heaven.
• John 6:62 says, “What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before.”
• John 8:23 tells us that Jesus is not from this world but from above.
• John 8:42 tells us that Jesus came from God and that God sent Jesus to the people.
• John 13:3 tells us that Jesus came from God and was to return to God.
• John 16:30 tells us of the disciples’ belief that Jesus came from God.
Thus, Jesus is the logos Who came down from heaven and took on flesh. Jesus always existed with the Father, but in the fullness of time, He came as the logos of God.
Who does the logos reveal?
Nevertheless, there is more to add to the story. John tells us, “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) . Here we see that the Son came to the earth to reveal the Father to us.
Until this point in time, there had been no greater revelation to man than what is depicted in John 1:18. The word used for “declared” can also be translated as explained and is the word from which the word exegesis is derived.
Jesus was the culmination of God’s revelation to man. He showed the world Who God was and is in an unparalleled way. Jesus was God coming to the earth. While there are different roles within the trinity, if one desires to know the Father and the Holy Spirit, the most excellent place to look is Jesus.
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are the same in their very essence. They share the same love, compassion, holiness, and more. Therefore, if someone desires to know the Father’s love for him, He can see the love of the Father in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
What else is said about logos?
John is the only writer to refer to Jesus as the Word. He does so in John 1:1 and 1:14. However, we can also see logos in 1 John and the book of Revelation. John tells us, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it… )” (1 John 1:1-2) . John starts 1 John in much the same way he started the Gospel of John. John looks back to the beginning. However, the beginning he references in the Gospel of John is the beginning of creation, while the beginning in 1 John is the beginning of the Gospel proclamation. Nevertheless, we can see that the Word of life, Jesus Christ, was present in them both.
Finally, John tells us of Jesus, “And he was clothed in a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called the Word of God” (Rev. 19:13) . God has communicated Himself to us through His Word, Jesus Christ. If you want to know God, you must come to know Jesus. Even Jesus said that nobody could go to the Father unless they go through Him. So look to Jesus and grow in your knowledge of God.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for sending Your Son and revealing Yourself to me through Him. Please help me to grow in my love for Jesus. I see that I need to love Him more and will only be obedient to You to the degree to which I love my Savior. In Jesus’ name, Amen.