In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning…The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:1, 14)
As many of us know, when John talks about the Word, he’s referring to Jesus. He was with God in the beginning. And he is God himself. But why did John refer to Jesus as “the Word”?
There are various theories, but here are some thoughts.
In Psalm 33:6, the Psalmist says this,
The heavens were made by the word of the LORD,
and all the stars, by the breath of his mouth.
John also echoes this idea in verse 3.
All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. (John 1:3)
Many times in the Old Testament, we see the Word of the Lord coming to the prophets revealing God and his message to the people. (Isaiah 38:4, Jeremiah 1:4 for example).
John also talks about this in verse 18.
No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him. (John 1:18)
The Psalmist further talks about how God sends his Word to bring healing and salvation.
He sent his word and healed them;
he rescued them from their traps. (Psalm 107:20)
And Isaiah talks about the power of the Word that he sends.
For just as rain and snow fall from heaven
and do not return there
without saturating the earth
and making it germinate and sprout,
and providing seed to sow
and food to eat,
so my word that comes from my mouth
will not return to me empty,
but it will accomplish what I please
and will prosper in what I send it to do. (Isaiah 55:10-11)
And so John essentially says, “This Word who created all, who reveals the Father, who heals and saves, who accomplishes all of God’s purposes, he became flesh and dwelt among us.”
So take some time and meditate on these things. Meditate on who Jesus is. And worship him.
Come, let us adore him!
Christ the Lord.
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 