Jesus – The Word
Jesus – The Word Click For Audio Version
Intro: The “Word” is where John starts, and it is where we will start. I am glad you have joined us in studying the Gospel of John. John presents the message of Jesus in a clear and understandable format.
It is not only easy to understand, but also in a format that is easy to remember.
Today, we will focus on these first three verses.
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. John 1:1-3 NKJV
For those who have not studied this Scripture, John is referring to Jesus when he says “the Word.” He uses this title as well as several others to refer to Jesus in his gospel.
To understand the full meaning, we will break these verses down.
First, “In the beginning was the Word.”
John wants us to understand that Jesus always was. He was a part of God’s plan from the very beginning. He also has a plan for you.
We have a hard time getting our minds around this idea. Things come and go. People are born, and they die. Our world is always changing around us.
This is not so with God. He is always the same. Our Lord is the First and the Last.
Revelation 1:4 NKJV tells us, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
What is the beginning? Often, we think of the beginning as the creation of the world in which we find ourselves. The truth is that we have no idea when time began or when it will end.
Take a moment and think!
It is hard for us to think of a God who was before even the earth was made. However, Scripture and science are very clear that this earth is young in terms of the universe.
Remember in Genesis 1:1, Moses writes, “In the beginning God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth.”
John is telling that Jesus was a part of all that was done in creation, but also even before creation. “He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.”
Before Creation happened, Jesus was.
Second, “The Word was with God”
As we have seen in the above Scriptures, Jesus was always with God. God did not make the world, and then create Jesus. Jesus was there during the whole process.
The singular word, “Elohim,” is also plural for one God represented as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We see this expressed more clearly in the following verse about the creation of man.
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; Genesis 1:26a NKJV. The Word, Jesus, was with God the Father along with the Holy Spirit when man was created.
Jesus was always with God until He came to earth to dwell in the flesh. This was God’s plan from the beginning. He planned to save you and me from our sins before He ever breathed into us the breath of life.
Finally, “The Word was God”
John does not want us to misunderstand any of what he is telling us. Jesus always was, and He was always with God, and Jesus was God visiting us in the flesh.
There is only one God!
Listen to what Jesus says in John 14:9 NKJV, “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’?
This is the same lesson that John is giving us in the first two verses of his Gospel. There is only one God. You may experience God as the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit, but it is the same God.
Yes, this is a little bit of a mystery, and we will not fully understand it until we stand before God’s throne. Until then, we need only to accept John’s word as one who walked with Jesus and was filled with the Holy Spirit by Him.
John was led by the Holy Spirit to give us this clear statement about Jesus. Let’s read it again.
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. John 1:1-3 NKJV
As we end today’s lesson, we need to ask ourselves what we have learned.
First, Jesus always was from the beginning of time.
Second, He was always with God. God is One.
Third, Jesus, the Word, is God. There is only one God in three persons. We will talk more about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in later lessons.
Finally, all things were made through Him. John emphasizes this truth by adding, and without Him nothing was made that was made.