Jesus the Living Word: The First Witness of John the Apostle, 1:1–5
(1:1–5) Introduction: this passage is one of the summits of Scripture. In fact, it probably reaches the highest of human thought. What is the thought that reaches the height of human concepts? It is this: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is …
• the Word of God
• the Creator of Life
• the Very Being and Essence of Life
These three truths have to be deeply thought about to understand their meaning. A quick reading of this passage leaves a person disinterested, not even close to understanding what is being said. However, the importance of the truths lie at the very foundation of life. They cannot be overstated, for they determine a man’s destiny. If Jesus Christ is the Word of God, then men must hear and understand that Word or else be lost forever in ignorance of God Himself.
1. Christ is eternal (vv.1–2).
2. Christ is the Creator (v.3).
3. Christ is life (vv.4–5).
DEEPER STUDY # 1
(1:1–5) The Word—Jesus Christ, Son of God: the Word (logos) is Jesus Christ. John faced a serious problem in writing to the Gentiles, that is, the non-Jewish world. Most Gentiles had never heard of the Messiah or Savior who was expected by the Jews. The idea was foreign to them. However, the Messiah was the very center of Christianity. How was John going to present Christ so that a Gentile could understand?
The answer lay in the idea of the Word, for the Word was understood by both Gentile and Jew.
1. The Jews saw a word as something more than a mere sound. A word was something active and existing. It was power—it possessed the power to express something, to do something. This is seen in the many Old Testament references where The Word of God was seen as the creative power of God, the power that made the world and gave light and life to every man (Ge. 1:3, 6, 11; Ps. 33:6; 107:20; 147:15; Is. 55:11).
2. The Gentiles or Greeks saw the Word more philosophically.
a. When they looked at the world of nature, they saw that things were not chaotic, but orderly. Everything had its place and moved or grew in an orderly fashion, including the stars above and the vegetation below. Therefore, the Greeks said that behind the world was a mind, a reason, a power that made and kept things in their proper place. This creative and sustaining mind, this supreme reason, this unlimited power was said to be the Word.
b. The Word was also seen as the power that enabled men to think and reason. It was the power that brought light and understanding to man’s mind, enabling him to express his confused thoughts in an orderly fashion.
c. More importantly, the Word was the power by which men came into contact with God and expressed their feelings to God.
3. John utilized this common idea of the Jews and Gentiles to proclaim that Jesus Christ was the Word. John saw that a word is the expression of an idea, a thought, an image in the mind of a person. He saw that a word describes what is in the mind of a person. Thus, he proclaimed that in the life of Jesus Christ, God was speaking to the world, speaking and demonstrating just what He wanted to say to man. John said three things.
a. God has given us much more than mere words in the Holy Scriptures. God has given us Jesus Christ, The Word. As The Word, Jesus Christ was the picture, the expression, the pattern, the very image of what God wished to say to man. The very image within God’s mind of the Ideal Man was demonstrated in the life of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was the perfect expression of all that God wishes man to be. Jesus Christ was God’s utterance, God’s speech, God’s Word to man. Jesus Christ was the Word of God who came down to earth in human flesh to bring man into a face-to-face relationship with God (see vv.1–2). Jesus was the Word of God who came to earth to live out the written Word of God.
b. Jesus Christ is the Mind, the Reason, the Power that both made and keeps things in their proper order. He is the creative and sustaining Mind, the Supreme Reason, the unlimited Power (see v.3).
c. Jesus Christ is the Light, the Illumination, the Power that penetrates the darkness of the world. He, the Life and Light of the world, is what makes sense of the world and enables men to understand the world (see vv.4–5).
1 (1:1–2) Jesus Christ, Son of God—Eternal—Preexistent—Revelation: Christ is eternal. Note three profound statements made about Christ, the Word.
a. Christ was preexistent. This means He was there before creation. He has always existed.
1) “In the beginning [en archei]” does not mean from the beginning. Jesus Christ was already there. He did not become; He was not created; He never had a beginning. He “was in the beginning with God” (see Jn. 17:5; 8:58).
2) The word was (en) is the Greek imperfect tense of eimi which is the word so often used for deity. It means to be or I am. To be means continuous existence, without beginning or origin.
“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God” (Ps. 90:2).
“I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was” (Pr. 8:23).
“And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was” (Jn. 17:5).
“[Christ Jesus] who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Ph. 2:6–8; see 2 Co. 8:9).
The testimony of John was that Jesus Christ was the Word, the One who has always existed. He is the Son of the living God. (See outline and notes—Ph. 2:5–8.)
b. Christ was coexistent. He was and is face-to-face with God forever. The word “with” (pros) has the idea of both being with and acting toward. Jesus Christ (the Word) was both with God and acting with God. He was “with God”: by God’s side, acting, living, and moving in the closest of relationships. Christ had the ideal and perfect relationship with God the Father. Their life together—their relationship, communion, fellowship, and connection—was a perfect eternal bond. This is exactly what is said: “The same was in the beginning with God” (v.2).
“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, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us)” (1 Jn. 1:1–2).
The testimony of John was that Jesus Christ was the Word, the One who has always coexisted with God. Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God.
c. John did not say that “the Word” was the God (ho Theos). He says “the Word” was God (Theos). He omits the definite article. John was saying that “the Word,” Jesus Christ …
• is of the very nature and character of God the Father, but He is not the identical person of God the Father
• is a distinct person from God the Father, but He is of the very being and essence (perfection) of God the Father
When a man sees Christ, he sees a distinct person, but he sees a person who is of the very substance and character of God in all of His perfect being.
“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (He. 1:3).
“Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?” (Jn. 14:9).
“Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever” (Ro. 9:5).
“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature” (Col. 1:15).
“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Col. 2:9).
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory” (1 Ti. 3:16).
“Which in his [Jesus Christ] times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting” (1 Ti. 6:15–16).
“And he [Jesus Christ] hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Re. 19:16).
The testimony of John was that Jesus Christ was the Word, self-existent and eternal, the Supreme Majesty of the universe who owes His existence to no one. Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God.
Thought 1. Jesus Christ is eternal. This says several critical things about Christ.
(1) Christ reveals the most important Person in all the universe: God. He reveals all that God is and wants to say to man. Therefore, Christ must be diligently studied, and all that He is and says must be heeded to the utmost (see Jn. 5:24).
(2) Christ reveals God perfectly. He is just like God, identical to God; therefore, when a person looks at Christ he sees God (see DEEPER STUDY # 1, 2, 3—Jn. 14:6. See Jn. 14:9.)
(3) Christ reveals that God is the most wonderful Person who ever lived. God is far, far beyond anyone we could have ever dreamed. He is loving and caring, full of goodness and truth; and He will not tolerate injustices: murder and stealing, lying and cheating of husband, wife, child, neighbor, brother, sister or stranger. God loves and is working and moving toward a perfect universe that will be filled with people who choose to love and worship and live and work for Him (see Jn. 5:24–29).
Thought 2. The very nature of Christ is …
• to exist eternally
• to exist in a perfect state of being, knowing nothing but eternal perfection
• to exist in perfect communion and fellowship eternally (see 1 Jn. 1:3)
Note: it is the very nature of Christ that shall be imparted to believers; therefore, all three things will become our experience.
“At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you” (Jn. 14:20).
“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Ro. 8:29).
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Co. 3:18).
“Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself” (Ph. 3:21).
“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Pe. 1:4).
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 Jn. 3:2).
2 (1:3) Jesus Christ, Creator: Christ is the Creator. Note several things.
a. All things (panta) mean every detail of creation—not creation as a whole, but every single detail. Each element and thing, each being and person—whether material or spiritual, angelic or human—has come into being by Christ.
“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him” (Col. 1:16).
b. The words were made (egeneto) mean came into being or became. Note what this is saying. Nothing was existing—no substance, no matter whatsoever. Matter is not eternal. God did not take something outside of Himself, something less than perfect (evil) and create the world. Christ, the Word, took nothing but His will and power; and He spoke the Word and created every single thing out of nothing (ex nihilo).
c. Christ was the One who created all things—one by one. Among the Godhead, He was the active Agent, the Person who made all things. Creation was His function and work (see Col. 1:16 above).
“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 Co. 8:6).
“[God] hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds” (He. 1:2).
d. Note that two statements of fact are made.
? The positive statement of fact: “All things were made by Him.”
? The absolute statement of fact: “Without Him was not anything made that was made.”
1) Christ was actively involved in the creation of every single thing: “Without Him was not anything made.”
2) The words “not anything” (oude hen) mean not even one thing, not a single thing, not even a detail was made apart from Him.
Thought 1. Note a critical point for man. The world is God’s; He made it, every element of it, one by one. This means several things.
(1) God is not off in some distant place far removed from the world, unconcerned and disinterested in what happens to the world. God cares about the world. He cares deeply, even about the most minute detail and smallest person. He cares about everything and every person in the world.
(2) The problems of the world are not due to God and His attitude. The problems of the world are due to sin, to the attitude and evil of man’s heart.
(3) The answer to the world’s problems is not men and their technical skills. The answer is Christ: for men to turn to Christ, surrendering and giving their lives to know Christ in the most personal and intimate way possible. Then, and only then, can men set their lives and world in order as God intends.
3 (1:4–5) Jesus Christ, Life—Light: Christ is life .
a. Christ is the source of light. Note the statement: “The life [Christ] was the light of men.” From the very beginning man was to know that life, to know God personally and intimately. The knowledge of the life of Christ was to be the light of men, the beam that was to …
• give real life to man, both abundant and eternal life
• infuse energy and motivation into man so that he might walk and live as he should
There is another way to say this. From the very beginning, the life (Christ) was to be the light of man’s …
• quality of being
• essence of being
• power of being
• force of being
• energy of being
• principle of being
The life (Christ) was to be the light of man’s purpose, meaning and significance upon earth.
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10:10).
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” (Jn. 11:25).
b. Christ is the answer to darkness.
1) Christ’s life did shine in the darkness . Very simply, since man had brought darkness into the world (by sin), the life of Christ was the light of man, the beam that showed man the way, the truth and the life .
? Christ showed man the way God intended him to live.
? Christ showed man the truth of life, that is, the truth about God and man and the truth about the world of man.
? Christ showed man the life, that is, how to save his life and avoid the things that can cause him to stumble and lose his life.
“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (Jn. 8:12).
“Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth” (Jn. 12:35).
“I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness” (Jn. 12:46).
“And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons” (Ac. 20:18).
“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Co. 4:6).
“The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power” (Ep. 1:18–19; see Ep. 5:14).
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy” (1 Pe. 2:9–10).
“Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth” (1 Jn. 2:8).
2) Christ’s life (the Light) cannot be overcome .
DEEPER STUDY # 2
(1:4) Life—Jesus Christ, Life: the simple statement “in Christ was life” means at least three things.
1. Life is the quality and essence, the energy and power, the force and principle of being. Christ is life; He is …
• the very quality of life
• the very essence of life
• the very energy of life
• the very power of life
• the very force of life
• the very principle of life
Without Christ, there would be no life whatsoever. Life is in Him, within His very being. All things exist and have their being (life) in Him.
2. Life is purpose, meaning, and significance of being. Christ is life; He is …
• the very purpose of life
• the very meaning of life
• the very significance of life
3. Life is perfection. Life is all that a man must be and possess in order to live perfectly. This is what is meant by life. Life is completeness of being, absolute satisfaction, the fullness of all good, and the possession of all good things. Life is perfect love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control (see Ga. 5:22–23).
Whatever life is and all that life is, it is all in Jesus Christ. Even the legitimate cravings of man that are sometimes entangled with evil—such as power, fame and wealth—are all included in the life given by Jesus Christ. Those who partake of His life shall reign forever as kings and priests (see note, Rewards—Lu. 16:10–12). This is the very thing that is distinctive about life—it is eternal. It lasts forever and it is rewarding. It will eventually exalt the believer to the highest life and place and position. (see Re. 21:1f.)
Jesus Christ is the source of life: He is the way to life, and He is the truth of life. He is the very substance of life, its very being and energy (Jn. 5:26; 1 Jn. 1:2)
Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (2004). The Gospel according to John
