2: What’s the WORD? (John 1:1-5)

The Gospel According to John • Sermon • Submitted a month ago • Presented a month ago

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According to Dr. Dan Wallace who specializes in NT Greek manuscripts, “The Gospel According to John” IS found in the 2 earliest manuscripts we have of the gospel (p66 & p75).[1] Regardless of whether the writer attached his own name or others did later, we still wouldn’t necessarily know WHICH John this is referring to…EXCEPT THAT…

We looked at the INTERNAL EVIDENCE & EXTERNAL evidence to demonstrate having GOOD REASON to believe that “John” is actually the apostle of Jesus, a man who was one of the His dearest friends, a man who leaned against Jesus chest at the last supper, a man who was present at the cross as Jesus told him to take care of His own mother, a man who took her into his home for the rest of her life. That would be the same MARY who gave birth to Jesus.

When people ask me what part of the Bible they should read I often encourage them to read John’s Gospel, but it’s not the place I would send them to read the Christmas story. It contains no mention of the birth narrative with Mary & Joseph, a manger, angels, nor shepherds, or even a baby. But what we are going to discover today should make you appreciate Christmas at a whole notha level! Here’s how the disciple whom Jesus loved launches his gospel.

John 1:1–5 (CSB) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.

I know that’s a very ‘wordy’ passage. I usually read this puzzling part with people and often notice a “I don’t get it” look their faces. That’s when I skip ahead a few verses to help them see who the Word is speaking of in v. 12. But before we do that, let’s take some time to answer this question of why John chose to use “the word” and what it might have meant to his ancient audience.

Significance of the Septuagint (LXX) from Latin meaning 'seventy' often recognized Roman numerals LXX

Additionally, by the time of John’s writing, a Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, known as the Septuagint, had been around for over 200 years. Many of the New Testament writers quote from the Septuagint (LXX). So what, you might ask?

The Septuagint was a trusted translation for Jewish & Greek speaking folks. (You didn’t have to learn Hebrew to read the Scriptures - God speaks YOUR language!) John borrows terms from the Septuagint, starting with the very first phrase.

John 1:1a (CSB) In the beginning was the Word…

Have you ever heard that phrase - “in the beginning” before? Yep! Genesis 1:1 states…

Genesis 1:1 (CSB) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

John's phrase 'In the beginning' matches the LXX version of Gen. 1:1. (Ἐν ἀρχῇ) - en arche

John WANTS his audience to understand that in the beginning of all creation - before time, before matter, before space - no sun, no moon, no stars, no earth - before all that…the Word already existed. The Word is TIMELESS.

What’s “the Word”? Greek “logos” (λόγος) = message, word

In the Old Testament, God regularly acts by means of his word. He reveals His will & ways to His prophets (e.g. Moses, Isaiah) and people “by the word of Yahweh”. Further, the Scriptures say that the universe was created “by the word of Yahweh”.

Psalm 33:6 (LEB) By the word [LXX = logos] of Yahweh the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.

D. A. Carson writes: “God’s ‘Word’ in the Old Testament is his powerful self-expression in creation, revelation and salvation…”[2] - God CREATES life, REVEALS Himself, & SAVES through His WORD.

Now…before we go any further, let’s break the CODE and determine who “the Word” is.

John 1:14 (CSB) The Word [Greek logos] became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

What’s “the Word”?

Jesus!

John doesn’t lead us to wade into the shallow end of the pool, does he?. NOPE. He throws us in the deep end!

The synoptics (seeing together - Matthew, Mark, Luke) take a different tact to explain who Jesus is, but John - by the leading of the Spirit - is doing his own thing. This reminds me of ‘old school’ Sesame Street where “one of these kids is doing his own thing.” Remember this?

VIDEO Which one of these kids is doing his own thing?

Different from the synoptics, John doesn’t start off by showing us Jesus through humans’ perspective,

but from heaven’s perspective. Not from which family Jesus was born into or where He was born, born that

Jesus is TIMELESS. [in the beginning eternal]

John 1:1–2 (CSB) In the beginning was the Word [insert Jesus], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.

If Jesus is the Word, then this helps us as we read the passage. First, we see that in the beginning of all things was the Word/Jesus.

Jesus is TIMELESS. (eternal)

Next we see that the Word was with God. This is a relational phrase and is literally rendered “toward God” or face to face. Before the creation of the universe, Jesus was “with God”. Later, in another letter, John gives even more clarity. Notice the similar terms used in this letter.

1 John 1:1–2 (CSB) What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have observed and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—that life was revealed, and we have seen it and we testify and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us—

Who is John referring to when he says “the word of life/eternal life that was with the Father” and was revealed to him and others? Obviously, that’s Jesus.

John 1:1–2 (CSB) In the beginning was the Word [Jesus], and the Word [Jesus] was with God, and the Word [Jesus] was God. He was with God in the beginning.

So Jesus [the Word] was in the beginning and with God [the Father], and the Word [Jesus] was God.

This is some tough stuff, huh? How can Jesus be with God and be GOD? There’s only 1 good answer for that.

As seen in the previous passage (1 Jn. 1:1-2), God the Son was WITH God the Father. Jesus IS God the Son, but Jesus is NOT God the Father.

This is a DEEP MYSTERY in the Scriptures - there is ONE GOD revealed in 3 persons - Father, Son, Spirit (remember Jesus said to baptize in the name of Father, Son, & Spirit). Both the OLD and NEW TESTAMENT teach there is only ONE GOD, yet the Father, Son, and Spirit are called God in the New Testament. This is NOT “modalism” - the false idea God changes modes/plays different roles. So, the Father is not the SON, the SON is not the SPIRIT.

When God the Son prays in the garden, who does He pray to? THE FATHER. When Jesus ascends to sit at the Father’s right hand, who does He promise to send to empower & lead His followers? THE HOLY SPIRIT.

TRINITY = ONE GOD, 3 PERSONS (Co-equal & co-eternal. TRI-UNITY…Trinity).

Trinity Defined: Within the one being that is God, there exists eternally three coequal and coeternal persons, namely, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.[3]

(If you really want to dig in, read Dr. James White - The Forgotten Trinity [4] and 2 articles by Greg Koukl entitled “The Trinity: A Solution, Not a Problem” (2 parts). [5]

So we have seen John’s claim that…

Jesus is TIMELESS. (in the beginning).

Jesus is SINLESS. (with God [the father] & was God).

Next we see John’s claim that JESUS IS LIMITLESS. (created all things)

John 1:3-5 (CSB) All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.

Think about that for a moment…ALL THINGS were created through Him…the Word…Jesus!!! No wonder He could calm the storm or walk across the water! He created all of nature! No wonder Jesus could raise people from the dead…because in him was life - He created ALL LIFE!!! Adam & Eve…formed by the Word - Jesus!

And here’s the most incredible part of it all.

The Word, TIMELESS ONE who was in the beginning, stepped out of eternity into time. The one who never grows old, the one who never had a beginning …was BORN and had birthdays.

The Word, the SINLESS ONE who was with the Father and was Himself, GOD, lived among sinful people. Have you, even though you have personally sinned many times, CRINGED at sin you see in others? How must Jesus have felt as he watched His creation disobey His commands? We will see that play out in John’s Gospel as his tosses tables in the temple.

The Word, the LIMITLESS ONE, chose to limit himself in skin, choosing to reveal His power at certain times. The LIMITLESS ONE got tired & hungry. The LIMITLESS ONE chose to walk hundreds of miles & speak through a human voice.

The LIMITLESS ONE allowed Himself to be restrained by ropes, beaten by whips, to be spit on, slapped, abused, & crucified - by His own creation. And yet even after being murdered, that light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.

Into the middle of a dark world, Jesus showed up - the light of mankind. And all the world’s brokenness, fear, and selfishness can’t & won’t snuff out this light that shines in the darkness. The Word…God in Skin…is HERE.

Kent Hughes writes: “The serious student of John will find that each time he returns to the Gospel, Christ will be a little bigger.” —comparing it to Lucy’s experience with Aslan, the lion, the Christ symbol in C. S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia) As she gazed into Alan’s large, wise face, the conversation went like this:

“Welcome, child,” Aslan said.

“Aslan,” said Lucy, “you’re bigger.”

“That is because you are older, little one,” answered he.

“Not because you are?”

“I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.”

My prayer is that as we work our way this powerful gospel, that we will find Jesus to be bigger and bigger and bigger.

Are you BLOWN AWAY by the BIGNESS of Jesus? How BIG of a role does Jesus really play in YOUR daily life?

I pray you will seek Him - Jesus the Word, the TIMELESS, SINLESS, LIMITLESS ONE…who came to earth to live perfect & die for the imperfect…YOU & ME.

I challenge you to engage the Discussion Questions this week & share your thoughts with another believer.

PRAY

______________

Daniel B. Wallace 4. The Gospel of John: Introduction, Argument, Outline. https://bible.org/seriespage/4-gospel-john-introduction-argument-outline#_ftn2

D. A. Carson, The Gospel according to John, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991), 116.

James White, The Forgotten Trinity (Minneapolis: Bethany, 1998), 26.

https://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Trinity-James-R-White/dp/1556617259

https://www.str.org/publications/solid-ground-the-trinity-a-solution-not-a-problem-part-1#.XALo2aeZNQI

Kent Hughes, John: That You May Believe, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1999), 15.