The Word became flesh (1)
[John 1:1-4, 9-14]
We should all want to know more about Jesus. I hope and pray that we all grow in the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord and realize that the knowledge of Jesus is of the highest value (Phil. 3:8). May we be assured as we come to know Jesus more deeply (especially His death and resurrection).
Who is Jesus? Look at John 1:14 – “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Jesus is the Word made flesh. Here, “the Word” refers to Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of Heavenly Father. Look at John 1:1 – “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” mentioned in Genesis 1:1. ‘The beginning’ spoken of in Genesis 1:1 refers to the beginning of all things (“the heaven and the earth”) [the Chinese Bible translates it as “the beginning,” which means “the foundation”]. Because we also belong to all things, we have a beginning (birthday). ‘The beginning’ spoken of in John 1:1 does not refer to the beginning of all things. It means that there was “the Word”. When was “the Word”? The Word existed before all things existed (vv. 2-3). Look at John 17:5 – “Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” Jesus the Son, the Word, shared glory with God the Father while he was before the foundation of the world. Look at Colossians 1:17 – “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” Here, “He” refers to the Son of God, Jesus. Jesus the Son, the Word, is the one who is before all things. Here, the phrase “In the beginning was the Word” (Jn. 1:1) does not mean that Jesus, God the Son, existed from “the beginning”. The existence of God, that is, the being of God, has no beginning. In other words, God has no beginning in existence. The reason is because God is self-existent. Look at Exodus 3:13-14: “Then Moses said to God, ‘Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you. Now they may say to me, 'What is His name?' What shall I say to them?’ God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM’; and He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, I AM has sent me to you.’” These words are the words of God's calling Moses. In order to fulfill the promise God made to Abraham, He called Moses and sent him to Egypt with the mission to bring Abraham's descendants and lead them to the promised land of Canaan. Then Moses asked God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you. Now they may say to me, 'What is His name?' What shall I say to them?’” (v. 13), God’s answer was “I AM WHO I AM’; and He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, I AM has sent me to you” (v.14). The Son Jesus (Jn. 10:30), who is the Word who is one with God the Father, is also “I AM WHO I AM.” Here, the word “was” (1:1) does not mean that the Son Jesus, the Word, existed from then on, but rather that He existed before Himself and existed even in the beginning. Here, “the Word was with God” (v. 1) means that God the Father, who is the only one, is with God the Son (Triune God). Here, “the Word was God” (v. 1) refers to the equality of God the Father and the Son Jesus, who are equal with God. Look at Philippians 2:6 – “who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped.”
We must think of the triune God. Look at Matthew 28:19 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” This word is the basis for pastors to baptize “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” when baptizing. Look at 2 Corinthians 13:14 – “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” This word is the basis for pastors to bless us with benediction. Look at John 1:4 – “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.” The Word (v. 1) is “the life” (v. 4). In other words, Jesus is the life. Look at John 6:48 – “I am the bread of life.” Look at John 11:25 – “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies.’” Look at John 14:6 – “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’” The life is the Light of men (1:4) means that the Son Jesus is the Light. God the Father is Light. Look at 1 John 1:5 – “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.” God the Father and Jesus the Son are the Light (Triune God). Let us all commit ourselves to getting to know Jesus. We must all grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. I sincerely hope and pray that the Holy Spirit will become our teacher and teach us the truth so that we can come to know Jesus through the Word of God. Our lifelong wish is to earnestly know the ransomed love of Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the Word made flesh (Jn. 1:14). Jesus, who became the Word, is self-existent (Exod. 3:14) and was with God the Father, and this Word is God (Jn. 1:1). God the Father and Jesus the Son are one (10:30) (Triune God). Jesus the Son is the Life and the Light. I earnestly hope and pray that the Holy Spirit will convince us all of these words.