John 1 - Jesus The Word Becomes Human

John 1 New International Version (NIV)

The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.

Today we start our 4th gospel, the gospel of John.  John, Jesus’ beloved disciple, is said to have lived up until or after the end of the first century  He is also the presumed writer of the letters of 1,2 and 3rd John, and the book of Revelation, where he receives a vision of the end times of Jesus’ return.  

Importantly John’s gospel is markedly different than the 1st three gospels in its purpose, which is to show that Jesus is the one and only Son of God.  John’s gospel is called the theological gospel as it gives proof that Jesus is “fully God” and “fully human”. This is of utmost importance for what Christians believe, teach and confess. After all if Jesus is just a man, we are still dead in our sins.  If Jesus is just a man, the resurrection never happened. I think you get the point. 

We see this purpose come out right away in the first chapter when John says, “The “Word” was with God in the beginning and was God. Through this Word all things were made.” In verse 14 he writes, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us”. We know right away the Word is Jesus, and Jesus is the Word. 

“Word” comes from the Greek  word “logos”, which is where we get the English word, “logic”. So you might say the Word, who is Jesus, reveals everything we need to know about God. Jesus reveals everything that is logically true about God, including his great love for mankind, in which Jesus would be the ultimate proof and revelation. 

I like to say the Bible (called Scripture in the Bible) which we read every day together, contains and reveals God’s Word as it centers on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  Jesus’ becoming a man and living among us to show us God’s love is the very purpose of God’s written word.  

So let’s strap our boots on as we go through my favorite gospel, as John teaches us how to defend our faith and prove that Jesus really was and is the Son of God.  The most important truth we can ever consider in this life!!!

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