John 1:1-181In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. (John 1:1‑18)
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, etc. But here are told new titles that we will 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.”
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, hut the Lord Jesus came to live, or show by His life, and by His death, God’s thoughts to the world, He was the Living Word.
We know He is meant by “The Word”, 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” (v. 14).
Yet “in the beginning” He was “with God” and “was God”, and the next words are: “All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made.” (v. 3).
If we could read the first verses of the book of Genesis in the Hebrew 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, teaching that the plan of all creation was by more than One, hut here we learhe One to “make all things”, or do, those plans, was The Word, the One Who came to earth, the Lord Jesus.
“In Him was life; and the life was the light of men” (v. 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 always, and God wants to give eternal, unending life.
The One Who is the “true Light” was in the world, hut “the world knee Him not.” He came unto His owe, hut His own received Him not (v. 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 their life and light, are given a new undying life, like His, and 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 1:1, 21That 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; 2(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 1:1‑2).
ML 05/05/1946