“The Word Became Flesh” (1)

[John 1:1-4, 9-14]

We all should desire to know Jesus more (New Hymnal #453, “I Want to Know Jesus More”). May we all grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and realize that knowing Jesus is the highest and noblest knowledge (Philippians 3:8). May we come to have assurance as we grow deeper in our knowledge of Jesus, especially His death and resurrection.

Who is Jesus? John 1:14 says:
“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.”

Jesus is the one who became the Word made flesh. Here, “the Word” refers to Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God the Father. John 1:1 says:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Here, “the beginning” is different from the “beginning” spoken of in Genesis 1:1. The “beginning” in Genesis 1:1 refers to the start of all things (“the heavens and the earth”) [in the Chinese Bible, this is translated as “origin,” meaning “foundation”]. Since we belong to that created order, we have a beginning (a birth). The “beginning” in John 1:1 is not the beginning of all things. It speaks of the existence of the Word. When did the Word exist? Before all things existed (verses 2-3). John 17:5 says:
“Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” [(Contemporary Bible) “Father, before the world existed, I enjoyed that glory with you; now glorify me before you.”]

The Word, who is the Son Jesus, existed before creation and shared glory with God the Father. Colossians 1:17 says:
“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” [(Contemporary Bible) “He existed before everything else, and all things continue because of him.”]

Here, “he” refers to the Son Jesus. The Word, the Son Jesus, existed before all things.

The phrase “In the beginning was the Word” (John 1:1) does not mean that Jesus, the Son God, began to exist at that “beginning.” God’s existence has no beginning. In other words, God is a being without a beginning in terms of existence because He exists by Himself. Exodus 3:13-14 says:
“Moses said to God, ‘When I go to the Israelites and say to them, “The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,” and they ask me, “What is his name?” what shall I say to them?’ God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And he said, ‘Say this to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.’” [(Contemporary Bible) “If I tell the Israelites, ‘Your ancestors’ God has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What’s his name?’ what should I say? Say, ‘I AM who exists by himself has sent me.’”]

This passage is God calling Moses. God called Moses to fulfill the promise He made to Abraham, sending him to Egypt to lead Abraham’s descendants out and bring them to the promised land of Canaan. Moses asked God, “When I say to the Israelites that the God of your ancestors sent me, and they ask me His name, what should I say?” (v.13). God’s answer was, “I AM WHO I AM. Tell the Israelites that the One who exists by Himself sent me to you” (v.14, Contemporary Bible).

Jesus, the Son who is the Word and one with God the Father (John 10:30), is also the “I AM WHO I AM” [“the One who exists by Himself” (Contemporary Bible)].

Here, “was” (John 1:1) does not mean that the Word, the Son Jesus, began to exist then, but that He is the self-existent One who has existed from before, even from the beginning.

When it says “the Word was with God” (v.1), it means that the Word (the Son God) was with God the Father, who is one (the Trinity). When it says “the Word was God” (v.1), it means that the Son Jesus is equal to God the Father (Trinity).

Philippians 2:6 says:
“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage.”

We need to consider the Triune God. Matthew 28:19 says,
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

This verse is the basis for pastors baptizing “in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

2 Corinthians 13:13 says,
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

This verse is the basis for pastors pronouncing the benediction.

John 1:4 says,
“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.”

The “Word” (v.1) is the “life” (v.4). In other words, Jesus is life.

John 6:48 says,
“I am the bread of life.”

John 11:25 says,
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.’”

John 14:6 says,
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”

The phrase “this life is the light of all mankind” (1:4) means that the Son Jesus is the light. God the Father is light.

1 John 1:5 says,
“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”

God the Father and the Son Jesus are light (the Triune God).

Let us all devote ourselves to getting to know Jesus. We all need to grow in the knowledge of Jesus. We earnestly pray that the Holy Spirit, as our Teacher, will teach us the truth and help us know Jesus through God’s Word.

Our lifelong desire is to deeply know the redeeming love of Jesus Christ (New Hymnal #453).

Jesus is the One who became flesh, the Word (John 1:14). Jesus, who became the Word, is the self-existent One (Exodus 3:14), was with God the Father, and that Word is God (John 1:1). God the Father and the Son Jesus are one (John 10:30) (the Triune God).

The Son Jesus is life and light. We earnestly pray that the Holy Spirit will confirm this truth to all of us.