THE WORD MADE FLESH.
John 1:1-14.
I. THE ETERNAL WORD.
John 1:1-3.
“In the beginning” (John 1:1) takes us back to a point before the creation of the heavens and the earth. The New English Bible goes some way towards capturing this dynamic with the expression: “When all things began, the Word already was.”
When we studied Genesis 1 we saw that "In the beginning God" there implied that God existed before the beginning of time. No mere thing existed before the beginning, but only God. There is no duality, no struggle between equal forces of good and evil: just God.
Yet we saw God in community with Himself. When God created man, He said let "us" make man in "our" image, after "our" likeness (Genesis 1:26).
In Genesis 1:1-3 we saw Him as the Creator, making all things of nothing. We saw Him as the Spirit moving across the face of the deep. And when He spoke the word which set Creation in motion we had the first hint of the One whom we now see more clearly in the New Testament: Jesus, the Word of God (John 1:1-3).
The creative activity of the word of God is seen elsewhere in the Old Testament. Psalm 33:6 speaks of the heavens being made by the word of the LORD, and the breath of His mouth. Breath, wind and Spirit are all the same word in the Hebrew language, so this verse proves to be as Trinitarian as Genesis 1:1-3.
The co-eternity of the three Persons of the Godhead is seen in Isaiah 48:16, where the speaker is already in existence, along with the Lord GOD and His Spirit, at the time of the beginning of Creation. The speaker is Isaiah, but the words belong to the eternal Son of God, who was “sent forth” by God.
The personification of wisdom in Proverbs 8:22-31 is similar. Wisdom pre-dates the earth (Proverbs 8:23), and was present when the heavens were created (Proverbs 8:27). Yet Wisdom delights in the company of men (Proverbs 8:31).
The Word, John tells us, was with, towards, or “face to face with” God (John 1:1). As such He is both co-equal and co-eternal with God. This makes the condescension of God in the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ seem all the more awesome.
The same Word who was in the beginning with God (John 1:2) became flesh (John 1:14), and is now known to us as Jesus, the Christ (John 1:17). He is later identified as the only begotten Son of God who is in the bosom of the Father (John 1:18), a recurring theme in John's Gospel (John 10:30; John 14:9; John 17:5; John 17:24).
John emphasises the instrumentality of the Word in the work of Creation (John 1:3). This is echoed throughout the New Testament. All created things are said to be “of” or “out of” God, and “by” or “through” the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 8:6).
In Colossians 1:15 Jesus is named as the “first-born of every creature.” This does not imply that He is the first created, since we have already seen that He is not created at all, but co-eternal with the Father. It means that He is pre-eminent above all the creation.
To illustrate this use of the expression within the Bible, King David was said to be made God's firstborn (Psalm 89:20; Psalm 89:27a). Yet David had older brothers, so in what sense was David now the firstborn? In that he would be exalted above all the kings of the earth (Psalm 89:27b).
Colossians 1:16-19 goes on to reaffirm the place of Jesus as the One through whom Creation was mediated. “All things were created by Him, and for Him: and He is above all things, and by Him all things consist.” In Him the fullness of the Godhead is pleased to dwell.
This understanding of Jesus as the creative Word of God does three things.
First, it informs our faith. “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God” (Hebrews 11:3), ‘ex nihilio’ as we say: all things of nothing. So the Word of God is not a thing, but a creative Person who we can get to know in a personal way through faith.
It also informs our worship. We praise the Trinity in Unity when we join in the “holy, holy, holy” of the creatures in heaven. We prostrate ourselves with the elders above when we return “glory and honour and power” to the Lord who created all things (Revelation 4:8-11).
Finally, it informs our expectation. The One who is the Word of God in creation is also the Word of God in redemption. The One who became flesh and dwelt among us is also the One who died for us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood (Revelation 1:5). The One who is the firstborn of every creature is also the firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:18). The One who ascended into heaven is also the One who emerges from heaven on a white horse with His vesture dipped in (His own) blood, and His name is Faithful and True, the Word of God, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (Revelation 19:11-16).
II. LIFE AND LIGHT.
John 1:4-5.
“In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”
We have here four propositions:
1. The Word of God is the source of all life.
2. His life illuminates all men.
3. The light appears in the darkness.
4. The darkness cannot overwhelm the light.
The first words spoken in God’s act of creation were, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). The source of this light is the eternal Word of God. It was still three days before the creation of the sun!
The whole of creation testifies to the existence of our Creator (Psalm 19:1-3; Acts 14:17). This leaves man with no excuse (Romans 1:20). Our life is wrapped up in the life of God (Acts 17:27-28).
The life of God in our midst has been manifested in the form of light (John 9:5).
The true Light lightens everyone that comes into the world (John 1:9). This is, significantly, even before the incarnation (John 1:11).
The light of God has been seen in wisdom. After all, the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, as testified in the canonical books of Solomon. Wisdom takes on the same personality as the Word of God, as particularly demonstrated when we compare Proverbs 8 with John 1:1-3.
It was for this that the Queen of Sheba undertook her epic journey to visit Solomon. She was not disappointed, but declared: “The half was not told me!” (1 Kings 10:7).
We have the same sense of wonder when we first encounter Jesus for ourselves - like the Samaritans who said to the woman at the well, “Now we believe, not because of your saying: for we have heard Him for ourselves” (John 4:42).
There is also a measure of wisdom in the pursuit of wisdom by the Greek philosophers, and by world religions: but this does not hold a candle to the wisdom of God as revealed in the Bible.
Though surrounded by the wisdom of God, “the world by wisdom knew not God.” In the end it is the “foolishness of preaching” which God, in His wisdom, uses to save those who believe. By the preaching of the Cross we come to embrace “Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:21-24).
The Word of God informed the Old Testament prophets of what the LORD had to say to the situations of their day. Prophecy is not just foretelling the future, as some believe, but rather the forth-telling of God’s mind (Isaiah 38:4; Jeremiah 1:4; Ezekiel 1:3).
Supremely, the revelation of the Word as light is seen in the incarnation (John 1:14; Hebrews 1:1-3).
The light shone in the primeval darkness, and the darkness was vanquished. Light shows up all the hidden places, so that there is no escaping from it. Our consciences also bear witness to the light, no matter how hard we try to suppress it.
The incarnation brought light to bear upon a fallen world, but the world could not bear it (John 1:10-11). They crucified the Lord of glory!
Thankfully, however, there were those who received Him, as there are those who believe in His name to this very day (John 1:12). The light of the Gospel cannot be extinguished.
III. THE ENVOY.
John 1:6-8.
“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.”
John the Evangelist has introduced the Word of God as the Creator (John 1:1-3), and as the source of life and light (John 1:4-5).
This is all building up to a climax in the en-fleshing of the Word (John 1:14), but for now we are introduced to the messenger who goes before Him to prepare the way (John 1:6-8).
This is the man we call John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-3).
1. John the Baptist was commissioned by God Himself (John 1:6).
Just before Jesus began His public ministry, God sent John the Baptist to the River Jordan (John 1:28).
This was in fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy (Malachi 3:1; Isaiah 40:3).
2. John the Baptist was a witness (John 1:7a, Acts 1:8).
John preached the baptism of repentance (Mark 1:4).
The baptism administered by John signified a turning away from sin, and a turning toward God. For a while the people were content to submit themselves to the teaching of John, and crowds from all over Judah came down to the River Jordan to be baptised by him.
3. John the Baptist’s testimony was Christ-centred (John 1:7b, John 1:15).
John was astonished when Jesus came to the River Jordan to be baptised, and even tried to stop Him (Matthew 3:14-15).
Jesus did not have any personal sin to repent of, but His washing with water may have signified the ritual washing of a priest when he is first consecrated.
Jesus was anointed when the Holy Spirit came upon Him in the form of a dove (John 1:32).
God the Father accepted the Person of Jesus with a voice from heaven (Mark 1:11).
4. John the Baptist’s desire was to win people to faith in Jesus (John 1:7c, John 1:35-37).
John pointed to Jesus as the One who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Again, he pointed two of his disciples to Jesus, the Lamb of God, and they left John and followed Jesus (John 1:35-37).
5. John the Baptist pointed away from himself to Jesus (John 1:8; John 1:20; John 1:23; John 1:29-31).
The people were so impressed with John, that they began to wonder if he was the Christ, the anointed Saviour promised long ago by God.
John responded by pointing away from himself (John 1:20). This is what all true ministers of God will do: the message of the gospel is not about us, it is about Jesus!
John humbly acknowledged that he was unworthy even to stoop down and untie the sandals of Jesus (John 1:27).
John was a popular preacher. Yet John’s commission was to prepare the way for Jesus, not to seek honour for himself.
John spoke of another kind of baptism which Jesus would administer: the baptism with the Holy Spirit (John 1:33).
John proclaimed Jesus as the Son of God (John 1:34).
IV. LIGHT AND FAITH.
John 1:9-13.
Here in the midst of paragraph two of John’s Gospel we are being given a revision lesson on the Light of the world, and catch our first glimpse of one of the Evangelist’s great themes. John has just made his first intimation of the testimony of his namesake, but already the Baptist is decreasing, and Jesus is increasing (John 3:30). It is the intention of the inspired writer to encourage faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (John 20:31).
1. LIGHT.
We have already established that the life of the Word of God was the source of light for all men (John 1:4). That light shines forth out of the darkness, and the darkness cannot overwhelm the light (John 1:5). John the Baptist was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light (John 1:7-8).
(a). The true Light lightens everyone that comes into the world (John 1:9).
The palest understanding of the world around us comes from the light of God. Any truth found in philosophy or even worldly religions comes from the same source. Supremely, Bible wisdom and prophecy is informed by the light of the Word of God.
(b). The Light has been with us since the very beginning (John 1:10).
The light shone in the primeval darkness, and the darkness was vanquished (John 1:5). Light shows up all the hidden places, so that there is no escaping from it (Romans 1:20). Our consciences also bear witness to the light, no matter how hard we try to suppress it (Romans 2:14-15).
(c). The ultimate revelation of the Light is seen in the incarnation (John 1:11).
The incarnation brought light to bear upon a fallen world, but the world could not bear it. Jesus came to the world he created, and His own chosen people rejected Him (Acts 2:22-23). Yet we are all guilty: it is our sins that nailed the Lord of glory to the Cross (1 Corinthians 2:6-8).
2. FAITH.
Thankfully, however, there were those who received Him. There are those who put their trust in Jesus to this very day. These are those who are described as having been born of God.
(a). All who receive Him are given authority to be children of God (John 1:12a).
There is a universality to Christ’s offer (Isaiah 55:1). It is for every one who receives Him (John 3:16). This is regardless of their nationality, religious privileges, status, education, age or gender (Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11).
The authority which we carry is the right of children within the family of God. We are heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:16-17). We are no longer servants of sin and of death, but have all the privileges of true-born sons.
(b). To believe on His name is to trust in His Person (John 1:12b).
We are not here talking of the casual belief of the person who agrees to a set of ideas but who has no need to put them to the test. Even the devils believe the basic propositions of the Christian creed, and they tremble (James 2:19). The mark of a true believer is a whole-hearted trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour, and abandonment to His will in all things.
(c). New birth is a sovereign act of God (John 1:13).
We are given several negatives so that we can understand this teaching. To be born of God has nothing to do with natural descent (bloods), fleshly desire, nor human will. It is to be born again, born anew, born from above; to be born of the Spirit (John 3:3-8).
Whatever plans our earthly parents may have had about bringing us into the world, we were not there to influence their actions. This is important, because what we must see is that conversion to Christianity is the work of God, not the work of man. He must have the glory: and man’s part must be to fall into line with the will of God in his life (Philippians 2:12-13).
V. THE INCARNATION OF THE WORD.
John 1:14.
1. The Word became flesh.
Having established the connection between faith and being “born again” (John 1:12-13), the Apostle John now explains how that has been made possible. It took nothing less than the incarnation of God Himself (John 1:1). We can sense John’s awe, both here and in the covering letter (1 John 1:1-3).
The word “flesh” hints at vulnerability, the potential for suffering and death. In another context it is used negatively to represent that which is not spirit (Galatians 5:17). The wonder is that it is into the likeness of sinful flesh that God sent His own Son (Romans 8:3), born of a woman (Galatians 4:4), yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15).
He who was before is now coming after (John 1:15). The One who counted it not robbery to be equal with God, humbled Himself, embraced mortality, and died for us (Philippians 2:5-8). He who is the eternal Word of God took upon Himself our mortal flesh, and overcame death on our behalf (Hebrews 2:14).
Rather than man reaching up to God, God reaches down to man in the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ. He became flesh and died for all the sins of all His people. He dwelt among His own people as a real living man: born of a woman, breathing the very air He had created; knowing hunger and thirst, sadness and tiredness, pain, and death.
2. The Word dwelt among us.
This was not the first time that God had pitched His tabernacle in the midst of His people. The imagery is of the tent of meeting in the wilderness, the place where the LORD manifested Himself in the days of Moses. The Word who was face to face with God (John 1:1), the only begotten Son of God who is in the bosom of the Father (John 1:18), now took upon Himself frail flesh, gathering our humanity into the Godhead.
3. We beheld His glory.
Almost imperceptibly, the author has moved from declaration to personal testimony. The disciples caught occasional glimpses of the glory of God as they journeyed with our Lord, confirming His Messianic status, Son-ship, and divinity. Three of the disciples, Peter, James and John, were privileged to see Jesus transformed on the mountaintop, where He was revealed in His heavenly glory and conversed with Moses and Elijah (Matthew 17:1-5; 2 Peter 1:17-18).
4. Full of grace and truth.
This expression comes from the revelation of the glory of the LORD to Moses (Exodus 33:18; Exodus 34:6). Moses gave us the law, but the supreme demonstration of God’s covenant love and faithfulness, grace and truth, is seen in Jesus Christ (John 1:16-17). We are partakers of the grace of the Gospel in the One who has fulfilled the grace of the law (Matthew 5:17).
Moses was reminded that no man shall see the LORD and live (Exodus 33:20). Yet the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has made Him known, being Himself the very exegesis of God (John 1:18). When we recognise Jesus for who He is, we also see something of the glory of God (2 Corinthians 4:6).
