John 1:1-18
The prophets gave many titles to teach the greatness and the work of the Holy One to come to earth, as the King, the Shepherd, etc. But here are told new titles that we will think more of that Holy One as always living: the first title is, “The Word.”
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.”
When we hear anyone say “The Word” we think of the Bible, God’s written words, but these verses mean ChriSt was Himself “The Word”,
It is by words we tell our thoughts to one another; so words express thoughts. God’s thoughts for the world were written in the Scriptures, hut the Lord Jesus came to live, or show by His life, and by His death, God’s thoughts to the world, He was the Living Word.
We know He is meant by “The Word”, because it says, “And The Word was made flesh (a form like men), and dwelt among us (among the people) and we beheld His glory” (v. 14).
Yet “in the beginning” He was “with God” and “was God”, and the next words are: “All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made.” (v. 3).
If we could read the first verses of the book of Genesis in the Hebrew as the Jewish people did, we might understand these wonderful words better; their word “God” meant more than one, what we call a plural word, teaching that the plan of all creation was by more than One, hut here we learhe One to “make all things”, or do, those plans, was The Word, the One Who came to earth, the Lord Jesus.
“In Him was life; and the life was the light of men” (v. 4).
There is nothing so necessary to us as life and light, and the Lord Jesus has given all life and light. But our natural life does not last always, and God wants to give eternal, unending life.
The One Who is the “true Light” was in the world, hut “the world knee Him not.” He came unto His owe, hut His own received Him not (v. 11)
“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.”
This is a wonderful promise, all who receive this One, or believe Him their life and light, are given a new undying life, like His, and called “sons” or children of God.
“I am the light of the world; he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12.
“For the Life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that Eternal Life which was with the Father and was manifested unto us.” 1 John 1:1, 2.
ML 05/05/1946