John is one of my favorite Biblical authors. Though a fisherman by trade, John thinks like a poet and skillfully wrote five New Testament books: the Gospel of John, three letters (First, Second, and Third John), and Revelation. The first chapter of John’s gospel is so rich, shelves filled with books could be written about it—and no doubt have been.
Let’s limit ourselves to a single verse.
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” John 1:14.
By calling Jesus the ‘WORD,’ John argues that Jesus embodies all of who God is in a single man. The Greek word ‘logos’ (translated ‘word’) includes three ideas. First, Logos simply means ‘Word.’ Jesus is the Word of God, an expression or statement “spoken” by God in order to reach man. Second, Logos includes the idea of something essential or fundamental. Jesus embodies the essence of God, the thoughts and truth of God. Third, Logos (from which we derive the word ‘logic’) conveys the sense of logic and reason. Thus, by calling Jesus the Logos of God, John is identifying Him as the essence of God come to earth in a form as simple as a single word—a single man—yet one that persuasively appeals to our sense of logic and reason.
Jesus is the truth of God embodied in a man and sent to persuade us to believe.
In verse fourteen, John is saying that Jesus embodies God’s appealing truth in a human form, lived among us, and we beheld His glory, grace, and truth. John elaborates a few verses later:
“No man has seen God at any time, but the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has EXPLAINED Him” John 1:18.
Jesus is the LOGOS of God, the WORD MADE FLESH. He dwelt among us so that we could see not only God’s love, but the logical appeal of following Him.
Jesus appeals not only to the heart, but to the MIND.
God, help us to understand You better. Give us insight into Your truth. May we embrace the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us.
ΑΩ
Household Words: 