The Word Revealed

The Prologue (1-18)

Every Gospel writer except John plopped Jesus down into a historical setting from the beginning of their story, to give the reader some perspective and background as to who Jesus was in history. John's Gospel is much like Genesis, where Moses declared God the Creator without first offering proof. John declared Christ as God, not proving so historically, not first recording the evidence of eyewitnesses, and not warming up the readers—just giving an absolute, transcendent declaration.

The Word (1-5)

John was revealing much about his perspective in his declaration of the beginning of the world. Before matter existed, the Word did. One could say that before matter, God's thoughts were somehow uttered and revealed through the Word, Jesus. The Greek word for “Word” is Logos. The best way I have found to define the word Logos is the essence, purpose, will, and nature of God, which found utterance through the Word.

John made three points clear concerning the Word:

• The Word existed before the beginning of matter.

• The Word was in a relationship with God.

• The Word was God.

Some religions translate the “Word” as a “god.” Of course, that would mean polytheism, or a belief in many gods. John proclaimed that God was as the Old Testament affirmed: One (1).

John worked his logic out: because the “Word” was God, the “Word” was in relationship with God at the beginning (2). He was the very utterance of God, which began the creation of matter. Nothing, nothing, nothing—and that cannot be over-emphasized—nothing was made apart from the “Word.” The utterance of God's thoughts was a living, creative force (3).

The “Word” was living life, so to speak. The “Word” was the living light, the first day-light God created. The “let there be light” of Genesis 1:3 came before the fourth day-light of the sun, moon, and stars. The “Word” was the light uttering God's thoughts, and this uttering and unveiling of God's light became life to people (4).

The light of God's Word, the light of Jesus uttering God's thoughts, can never be overcome by any level or any kind of darkness. The very nature of light is to dispel darkness. Light invades the domain of darkness and overcomes it. God's “Word” or light is thus impervious to defeat at any level—what He says, He will do (5).