In the Beginning

John 1:1–5 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

In the Beginning At first glance, seems to be speaking in riddles.

John says in the beginning was the Word .... Who is this Word the one who was with God and was God?

The key to discovering the answer is found in verses 14 and 15,

John 1:14–15 ESV

14 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. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”)

In the Beginning At first glance, seems to be speaking in riddles. Who is this Word in the beginning that was not only with God, but He was God?

God sent His son, the second person of the trinity into this world, he became flesh. and those disciples and others beheld him, even seeing his glory as they were with him on the mount of Transfiguration. So the one who has always been and became flesh is Jesus Christ.

Now back to verse one what does it mean that he is called the “Word.” Well we know he is called many things, but the significance here has a special meaning

The key to discovering the answer is found in verses 14 and 15, And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us . . . John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’”

We begin to see that this Word is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter One: God Is Here! (John 1)

God’s “Word” to reveal His heart and mind to us. “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9). A word is composed of letters, and Jesus Christ is “Alpha and Omega” (Rev. 1:8), the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. According to Hebrews 1:1–3, Jesus Christ is God’s last Word to mankind, for He is the climax of divine revelation.

The word was, signifies the past, and with God signifies the present, it declares the eternity of God. The with God portion of the Scriptures also signifies that is He a part form him but also inseperable from Him who is the Father

We begin to see that this Word is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 1:18 ESV

18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

John 17:5 ESV

5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

What do our words do?

What do our words do?

What was Jesus’ purpose in coming to this earth? Jesus came to this earth to reveal the mind of God, the Father, to the world. His love and Salvation to mankind.

Our words explain what is on our minds to others. What was Jesus’ purpose in coming to this earth? Jesus came to this earth to reveal the mind of God, the Father, to the world.

It is important that we note this, as we have learned much of what we know about God, the Father, through the ministry of Jesus, who is God, the Son.

What else are we told about Jesus in the first five verses of John?

Verse 2 says that He was with God in the beginning...

Genesis 1:1 ESV

1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:26 ESV

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

New Testament IVa: John 1–10 Overview

The eternal, creative, divine Word of the Father accomplishes whatever it says, while human words disappear as soon as they are spoken (ATHANASIUS), which is why this Word is set apart from human words that did not even exist in the beginning

Not only was Jesus with God, but Jesus is God, existing with God in the beginning. As the Son of God, He created this world; as a matter of fact, we are told that nothing exists that was not made by Him. How can that be?

Colossians 1:15 ESV

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

Colossians 1:16 ESV

16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

We are already beginning to discover, in just a scant three verses that Jesus was no ordinary man. Indeed, we can barely even comprehend what is being explained to us.

Not only was Jesus with God, but Jesus is God, existing with God in the beginning. As the Son of God, He created this world; as a matter of fact, we are told that nothing exists that was not made by Him. How can that be? We are already beginning to discover, in just a scant three verses that Jesus was no ordinary man. Indeed, we can barely even comprehend what is being explained to us.

We are already beginning to discover, in just a scant three verses that Jesus was no ordinary man. Indeed, we can barely even comprehend what is being explained to us.

As we stop and think about this same Jesus being the Creator—our Creator—we must ask ourselves, as our Creator, is there anything about ourselves that Jesus does not understand?

Of course not, as our Creator He knows more about us than we can possibly know? Is there anyone more qualified, then, to help us understand who we are and who God is? No! He, because He came to this earth as a human, yet is still God, is in the unique position to know us intimately.

Not only does He know us intimately, but He, alone, has the answers to any questions we could pose. What else is explained to us in , verses 1 through 5?

Look at verse4 - 5

John 1:4 ESV

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

John 1:4–5 ESV

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. Already, in the opening verses of the Gospel of John, we come to see the contrasting worlds of light and darkness. Life was a part of the Light.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. Already, in the opening verses of the Gospel of John, we come to see the contrasting worlds of light and darkness. Life was a part of the Light.

The opposite then, must be true: death is a part of darkness.

When Jesus shines His light into the darkness, those in the darkness do not understand Him. Therein lies our true dilemma!

When sin entered the world through Adam and Eve, the world was cast into darkness. We, then, as creatures of this world are creatures of darkness; as such, we do not understand Christ, the Light of life. What are we to do? Where can we go for help? Now we have a better understanding of who Christ is and what His purpose was in coming to this earth.

He who existed in the beginning would not only reveal God the Father to us, but He would also open the sin-darkened eyes of His children so that they could see and recognize Him. Those whose eyes are not opened cannot comprehend the Light of the world. There is the answer to our dilemma! Go to Christ. He not only is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, He is the only One who can give that life to us.

There is nothing that we can do, by ourselves, to come to Christ. Salvation is entirely the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

As we cast ourselves down at His feet and cry, “Help me, Lord. I cannot save myself,” He will reach down and lift us to our feet and open our eyes—and now, we can see! Could it really be that simple? Yes!