John begins his gospel by introducing the reader to “the Real Jesus” by saying, 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God” (Jn. 1:1-2).

Just what does John mean by “the Word?” In the Greek, the actual word is logos, which means “the word,” or we might also say, “the expression” of God. When we get to the second verse, we find that this divine logos is actually a “He,” or a Person. And, by restating the same phrase in the second verse, John wanted to drive home the point that this logos was a Person who was “in the beginning” with God. And if that is the case, then the logos is not a created being, but is eternal, just as God Himself is eternal. Furthermore, John goes on to say that,

“All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being” (Jn. 1:3). 

Interestingly, John points to this logos as being the Creator of all things! And this is just what the Apostle Paul confirmed in his letter to the church in Colossae when he said,

“For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (Col. 1:16-17).

Paul simply confirms what John wrote in his gospel, that this “logos” existed before “all things,” and that He is the Creator of all things that are seen and unseen. John goes on to say,

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth (Jn. 1:14).

So, this logos is further identified as the One who took on human flesh and dwelt among us. His name, of course, is Jesus. And John identifies himself with the other disciples by saying that they saw His glory (expressions of His deity), and that He was full of grace and truth. Not just grace (God’s undeserved favor), but grace accompanied with truth (that which is in accordance with reality). 

Furthermore, it is amazing to think that this Jesus, the Creator of all things, became a human being, and lived on planet Earth, teaching and training twelve disciples and meeting the needs of thousands of people for over a period of thirty-three years. But what kind of a person was He? What was His internal make-up? Was He God? Was He human? Or could He possibly be both? This is the topic that we will focus on next week. 

In the meantime, may the Lord bless each and every one of you. Peggy and I pray that you will have a wonderful weekend!