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Excursus: Jesus the Word

  • Unique use of the word “Word”
    • John 1 presents “the Word” without any modifier [footnote text=“Such as, "the word of God," "the word of life," or "the word that was spoken."”] or prior introduction of its identity. [footnote text=“"The word" is also used without any modifier in some other places, such as Mk 2:2; 4:15; Acts 8:25; 11:19; Phil 1:14 etc. But the contexts of these passages indicate that “the word” in these verses are a reference to the word that was preached.”]
    • “The Word” is identified with God: He was God (Jn 1:1).
    • “The Word” takes on personal qualities: He became flesh (Jn 1:14).
  • Basic meaning of “word”
    • A “word,” (λόγος, logos), is a spoken form of communication. Its function is to express the speaker’s mind, emotion, and will (cf. Mt 12:34).
    • Used absolutely with the definite article, as in John chapter 1, “the Word” suggests that it is a communication that surpasses all other “words.”
  • The Word and God
    • “The Word” in John 1:1-2 is closely associated with God
      • He was in the beginning
      • He was with God
      • He was God
    • Therefore, “the Word” is the ultimate expression of God who communicates God’s thoughts and will as well as God’s being.
  • Understanding “the Word” in John 1 in the context of the Scriptures
    • A speaker’s word reveals and expresses the speaker’s identity. As such, “the word of the king is supreme” (Ecc 8:4) because the king has supreme authority.
    • Creation through the Word
      • All things and the world were made through the Word (Jn 1:3, 10). God the Creator acted through the Word.
      • Psalms 33:6 – By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
    • The Word is life
      • In the Word was life (Jn 1:4). God, the Lord of life, gave life to men through the Word.
      • In the Old Testament, God’s word likewise carried life (Deut 32:47; Ps 119:50).
    • The Word is light
      • The Word is the truth light that gives light to everyone (Jn 1:4-5, 9)
      • God’s word is also depicted as light (Ps 119:105, 130)
    • The Word acts
      • In John 1, the Word is not merely a voice or a writing, but He acts in the created world
        • He came into the world (Jn 1:9, 11)
        • He gives the right to become children of God (Jn 1:12)
        • He became flesh and dwelt among us (Jn 1:14)
        • He made God the Father known (Jn 1:18)
      • Similarly, we see that God’s word also acted in the Old Testament
        • The word of the LORD came (e.g. Gen 15:1; Jer 1:2, etc).
        • The word of the LORD at times was more than a voice, but also involved a visual experience (Isa 1:1; Amos 1:1; Mic 1:1)
        • The word of the LORD went forth to accomplish God’s purpose (Isa 55:10-11).
    • Jesus Christ is the ultimate Word
      • Outside of the Gospel according to John
        • The prophet like Moses whom God would raise up is the Lord Jesus (Deut 18:15; Acts 3:22, 23). God’s command is that we must hear whatever He tells us. The identification of Jesus as that prophet finds its parallel in John 1 in the identification of Jesus as the Word. We must hear everything that the Word tells us because He is the very expression of God Himself.
        • Moses spoke about the commandment that is neither too hard or far off. The word is very near us. It is in our mouth and in our heart, so that we can do it (Deut 30:11-14). Paul interprets the word as Christ when speaking about the word of faith (Rom 10:6-9). As such, Jesus Christ is the embodiment of the word of God in the Old Testament.
        • God spoke by the prophets in the past at many times and in many ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son (Heb 1:1-2). The Bible places Jesus Christ the Son of God side by side with the prophets of old and contrasts them. Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God in these last days who surpasses all the prophets before Him. Through Him God speaks to us. Therefore, He is “the Word.” Incidentally, Hebrews 1:2 also mentions that God created the world through His Son. The parallel with John 1 is striking.
      • In the context of John
        • The theme that Jesus is the Word pervades the Gospel according to John and is the central message of the book.
        • Structurally, John 1:1 and 1:18 form the opening and closing of John’s prologue and the two verses are thus closely related. In verse 18, the Gospel tells us that Jesus, who is at the Father’s side, has made Him known (Jn 1:18). The word for “make known” means to report. Jesus is the Word because He fully reveals to us God the Father whom no one has seen.
        • Jesus speaks and does what the Father commands Him (Jn 7:16; 12:49, 50; 14:24, 31; 15:10; 17:8, 14)
        • Jesus does the work of the Father (Jn 5:17, 36; 10:32, 37, 38; 14:10; 17:4)
        • Jesus manifested the Father’s name (Jn 17:6, 26)
        • Jesus is one with the Father (Jn 10:30, 38; 14:10, 11, 20; 17:11, 21-23)
        • Seeing Jesus is seeing the Father (Jn 14:7, 9)

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