"jesus The Word" Series

JESUS THE WORD

John 1:1-5; 9-14

Greenmount and O’Leary Churches of Christ

January 17, 2021

Video Sermon Link: https://youtu.be/DX3V10YV3jw

INTRODUCTION:

1.) This morning I want us to begin a series of messages on the Gospel of John.

2.) This is a series of messages for the entirety of 2021, and possibly a bit more.

A.) As we get into our text, many feel these first fourteen verses of the gospel were in fact a hymn that would be sung by the early church.

B.) The first fourteen verses are in many ways an outline of the entire Gospel of John.

I THE IDENTITY OF JESUS AS THE WORD

1. The concept of Jesus as the word

A.) The “Word” Was a Greek concept.

aa.) “In Greek culture and philosophy, the "Word" or Logos referred to the bridge between the transcendent and material universe. [https://compellingtruth.org/Jesus-word-God-html]

B.) The “Word” also had a significance in Jewish writings.

ba.) Jews believed this world had been created by the power of the spoken Word of God.

bb.) In the account of creation in Genesis 1-2 several times the statement is made: “God said … and it was so.

bba.) By using the term “Word” John was making the declaration that Jesus was how God Almighty did his creative work.

bbc.) John presented Jesus as one with God the Father.

2.) The identity of Jesus as the Word. (1:1-2)

A.) John 1:1-2

B.) It is not an accident that John begins his gospel with words that move our minds to the book of Genesis.

ba.) John had in mind to establish Jesus as one of the Godhead and even God himself.

bb.) Our Old Testament Scriptures give allusions to the trinitarian aspects of God.

bba.) Yet it is not until the coming of Christ these concepts are developed in the God-Man Jesus.

C.) In the first two verses of John Jesus is introduced to us with attributes by which we have come to know God the Father.

ca.) The Word is eternal. (1:1a.).

caa.) It is a hard concept for us when we are talking about a human being.

.01) God had revealed this truth to John the Baptist.

.02) In next week’s message one of the verses we will cover in more detail is John 1:15 (He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.”

.021) Thus the greatness of Jesus over John is proven by both his eternality, and also his deity.

cb.) The Word was with God. (1:1b.)

cba.) Jesus is eternal and has always been with God.

cc.) The Word was God. (1:1c.)

cca.) If these previous two statements of Jesus as the Word are not shocking enough, John goes on to make the further declaration that Jesus the Word, is God Himself.

ccb.) We have believed this all our lives, but in the first century this was new teaching.

.01) It was a teaching which was hard to believe or to accept.

.011) Whenever Jesus put himself on par with God the Father people became angry.

.02) Like us they had difficulty in a physical man being elevated to the level of the eternal God.

.021) Many Jews accepted Jesus as a teacher, prophet, and great miracle worker who had come from God.

.022) Yet to go from that to being the Son of God, was a jump greater than many could make.

cd.) He was with God in the beginning. (1:2)

cda.) While these concepts about Jesus are challenging, John leaves us with no doubt that Jesus the Word is God himself.

II.) THE PREINCARNATE WORK OF THE WORD. (1:3-4a.)

1.) The “Word” is Creator. (1:3)

A.) “Through Him all things were made” (1:3a.)

aa.) Psalm 33:6-9

ab.) When Jesus returns to this world he is coming in the glory and the victory of heaven itself.

aba.) Jesus will come back wearing a robe that has been dipped in blood. (Revelation 19:13)

.01) Revelation 19:13 affirms His name is “The Word of God.”

.02) Behold the greatness of these statements and pictures:

.021) Jesus is described as “Word of God”.

.0211) It was as the Word of God Jesus created this world.

.0212) When Jesus returns in Revelation 19 it will be by The Word of God this world will come to an end.

.0213) When he comes his blood dipped garment will be a reminder that as the Word of God, Jesus would recreate us by His sacrifice on the cross.

B.) “Without Him nothing was made that has been made.” (1:3b.)

ba.) The “Word” is God in the flesh.

2.) The Word is Life and light. (1:4)

A.) “In Him was life” (1:4a.)

aa.) Jesus was not only the creator but is also the source of life and light for all creation.

aaa.) Anything or anyone in this world which has life has received that life from the Word.