The prophets gave many titles to teach the greatness and the work of the Holy One to come to earth as the King, the Shepherd and many more. But here in John are new titles that we may think more of that Holy One as always living. The first title is “The Word”.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.“
The Word
When we hear anyone say “the Word” we think of the Bible, God’s written words, but these verses mean Christ was Himself “the Word.”
It is by words we tell our thoughts to one another, so words express thoughts. God’s thoughts for the world were written in the Scriptures, but the Lord Jesus came to earth to show, by His life and by His death, God’s thoughts to the world. He was the Living Word.
We know “the Word” is referring to Jesus, because it says, “And the Word was made flesh (a form like men), and dwelt among us (among the people) and we beheld His glory.”
Yet “in the beginning” He was “with God” and “was God”. The next words are: “All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made” (vs. 3).
If we could read the first verses of the book of Genesis in the Hebrew language as the Jewish people did, we might understand these wonderful words better. Their word “God” meant more than One, what we call a plural word. This teaches that the plan of all creation was by more than one. Here we learn the One to “make all things”, or do those plans, was The Word, the One who came to earth, the Lord Jesus.
The Life
“In Him was life; and the life was the light of men’’ (vs. 4).
There is nothing so necessary to us as life and light, and the Lord Jesus has given all life and light. But our natural life does not last forever, and God wants to give eternal, unending life.
The Light
The One who is the “true Light’’ was in the world, but “the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, but His own received Him not” (vs. 11).
“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.”
This is a wonderful promise. All who receive this One, or believe Him as their life and light, are given a new undying life like His, and are called “sons” or children of God.
“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 John 1:1212But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12)).
Further Meditation:
1. What does the title “The Word” mean?
2. How does the Bible use the symbols of “light” and “darkness”?
3. A very extensive study of different symbols used in the Word of God can be found in Types and Symbols of Scripture. It covers many more topics than found in this chapter with lots about the tabernacle. Someday you might find it to be a nice resource to accompany your Bible study.