“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5 (ESV)

In the first chapter of John’s Gospel he gives an account of the beginning that sounds a lot like the Genesis creation account. Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and earth.” John references the same event, but in his account he says that in the beginning was the Word and he says that the Word was with God.

Genesis 1:26 says, “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.’” So, the Word was there in the creation story with God. But John not only says that the Word was with God but that the Word was God. John attributes all creation to him and says without him nothing was made that has been made. Who is the Word? 

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 (ESV) 

The Word that became flesh, the light that overcomes darkness, the one that is full of grace and truth, is Jesus. Jesus himself is God’s Word who came to earth and took on flesh. God fulfilled his Word with his Word and revealed himself through his Word. God saved us with his Word. The eternal Son was present at creation, he always has been and always will be, because like God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, Jesus is God. 

Jesus is eternal and trustworthy because he is the Word. In the pages of the sacred Scripture, Christ is revealed to us. The entire Bible is about Jesus Christ. Through the law and prophets we are shown foreshadowing’s of God, but it is clear right from the beginning that we need a better man than Adam, we need a better savior than Moses, we need a better king than David and we need better sacrifice than animals.  

The Gospel of John is very different from the synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke). The word “synoptic” just means similar.  John is definitely different, not in the gospel message he presents, but in the way it is structured and the way it is presented to us. 

John seems to want us to be awestruck right from the beginning of the book. The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world is God himself. So, as you read through John’s gospel you can’t help but be humbled and reverent because the mystery of all things is revealed to us right in the beginning. The same God who spoke the world into existence, also took on human flesh and died for us.  

I believe that John called Jesus “the Word” because he saw Jesus as truth and that he realized that his words brought about creation and that his Word brought salvation. John documented Peter's words when he acknowledged that Jesus had the words of life. 

“Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’” John 6:68 (ESV)  

But John makes it clear that Jesus not only had the words of life but that he was the Word and life. Jesus wasn’t there to show them the way to salvation, but that they had to follow him because he was and is the way to salvation. He is truth, he is light, he is life and he is God! 

From eternity past to infinity future, Jesus Christ is the incorruptible, inerrant, authoritative and sufficient Word of God and he is the same yesterday, today and forever. And he is revealed to us perfectly and clearly in Scripture. 

“I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:11-13 (ESV) 

John the apostle also wrote Revelation and in that book, John gives a description of resurrected Christ that is mind blowing. He goes to very great lengths to describe how majestic and radiant Jesus is, how beautiful and also terrifying it will be to see the glorious perfection of the King of all Kings and the Lord of all Lords. 

John says that Christ’s eyes are like fire and on his head are many crowns. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood and his name is the Word of God. Jesus is the Word of God! To deny God’s word is to deny the savior. To have a low view of Scripture is to have a low view of God. 

As Christian disciples we must realize that there is nothing above God and there is no decree that could be above his Word. One of Christ’s names is the Word of God and we will be judged by him according to that Word.

In Christ,

Pastor Joshua

Joshua West is a pastor, evangelist, and author. He is also director of the World Challenge Pastors Network.