John 1:17

By Gary Wilkerson

In the opening chapter of his gospel, John states there are three ways to know Jesus in his fullness: he is the real Word of God, the real light of God and the real glory of God.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). John’s main audience for his gospel was the Greek culture. That’s why he immediately identified Jesus as “the Word,” referring to the Greek term “logos.” Greeks had been examining this concept of logos for centuries, an idea that spoke of wisdom, knowledge, reason, the meaning of life, the philosophy of human existence. Now John challenged them:

“Do you really want to know the meaning of life, to understand all human purpose on this earth? The logos you search for is found in the literal Word of God—his Son, Jesus. Christ is the logos everyone hungers for! You seek knowledge, but logos— real, knowable wisdom and life—is fully expressed in Jesus.”

Most readers know me as a preacher of grace. Yet every important theological term I preach and write about—grace, love, the New Covenant—are all grounded in Jesus. You see, knowing Christ in his fullness means more than knowing a theological truth about him; it means allowing him to transform us into his likeness. We are not set free by an idea; Jesus is the One who sets us free, heals, cleanses and guides us, not just once but every day through life.