The Word - John 1:1-2

The Word

John 1:1-2: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) The same was in the beginning with God. (2)

"In the beginning was the Word." (3)

1) LETS DEFINE BEGINNING –

a) What it is not saying- That Jesus had a beginning.

b) What it is saying- This expression is referring to “a timeless eternity” not a particular moment of time.

i) Note what follows: “was the word”- “was” is in the imperfect tense denoting a continuous action. Here in particular we are speaking of “a continuous existence.”

ii) “John essentially says, "When the beginning began, the Word was already there." That is, that the Word predates time or creation.” (Guzik, Precept Austin).

iii) FOLKS, Jesus’ eternal existence takes us beyond our dependent, contingent world of space and time.

(1) We cannot limit the “One who inhabits eternity."

2) In the beginning “was the Word” - THE WORD IS ALL ENCOMPASSING

a) Structurally speaking, a word is composed of letters. Notice the Word in John 1:1 (Jesus) is the Alpha and Omega (first and last letters of the Gk. alphabet; Rev. 22:13). The beginning and end = ALL ENCOMPASSING

b) "The Word" of which John speaks is uncreated.

i) There has never been a time when it was not.

ii) Here is existence beyond time, that which was when time and finite being

began its course.

iii) So created existence can only be understood in the light of this uncreated Word.

c) Then we have, Jesus’ own testimony.

i) John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

(1) John 8:58: Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham (19th Century BC; Genesis 11:26) was, I am.

(2) I am (egō eimi). Undoubtedly here Jesus claims eternal existence with the absolute phrase used of God.

(a) Exodus 3:14: And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

"And the Word was with God." (4)

1) The literal translation could be "the Word was towards God."

a) The whole existence of the Word is oriented toward the Father and is in eternal, active communion with Him . . . [not merely as being near or beside, but as a living union and communion; implying the active notion of intercourse].

i) This intimate communion is revealed in the words and deeds of Jesus throughout His earthly existence.

b) John 5:19: Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

c) John 14: 10: Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

2) "The Word" and the Father are not identical, yet They are One.

3) LOOK AT JESUS’ BAPTISM in Mat 3:16-17: “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: (17) And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

a) “All three Persons of the Godhead were present at this event: the Father who spoke of His Son, the Son who was being baptized, and the Spirit who descended on the Son as a dove.” Ref: Walvoord, J.F. and R.B. Zuck (ed.) The Bible Knowledge Commentary; Matthew 3:16-17. eds. 2 vols. n.d. e-Sword, Version 9.5.1. Yet, each possessed divine attributes of the Godhead.

"And the Word was God." (5)

1) All that can be said about God can be said about the Word. That Word partakes of the innermost being of God. It is only the One "who is in the bosom of the Father" who can declare Him.

2) The believing cry of Thomas, "My Lord and my God," (John 20:28) when he met the risen Christ is but a later testimony of the true identity of the Word.

a) Some others who provided testimony: John the Baptist (John1:34); Nathanael (John 1:49); Jesus Himself (John 5:25; John 10:36); Peter (John 6:69); the healed blind man (John 9:35); Martha (John 11:27); and, of course, John himself (John 20:30-31).

3) John came from a people who were fiercely monotheistic. Their faith in one holy living God was no academic affair; it was a life and death matter which no amount of social pressure or cruel persecution could stamp out. So the confession, "the Word was God," was a startling affirmation of faith that could only be made by one who had accepted the invitation of Jesus to "come and see" and had ended up beholding His glory, which could only have been the glory of "the only begotten of the Father."