“In the beginning was the Word, and the Worth was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” - John 1:1-5

In this passage John uses three different names to refer to Jesus: the Word, the Life, and the Light. Now it’s easy to see why John would use ‘Life’ and ‘Light’ to describe Jesus because those are terms that Jesus used to describe Himself! But why did John use the word ‘Word’ to describe Jesus? We’ll attempt to answer that a little later.

The first thing we encounter in John’s gospel is that “In the beginning was the Word.” When we see these words, they should make us think of another portion of Scripture. What other book of the Bible begins, “In the beginning…”? Genesis. Genesis begins, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” I think that John uses those words in his gospel to make us think back to the beginning, to creation. John wants us to see that the Word was present in the beginning, in creation. It is important for us to note here how we know that this ‘Word’ that John is talking about, is indeed Jesus. If you skip down to John 1:14 we get a clear picture, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” The Word is Jesus.

As we move forward in this passage John tells us that, “the Word was with God.” Here, John shows that there is distinctness between Jesus and God the Father. While the word ‘Trinity’ is never used in Scripture it is passages like these that reveal the truths behind the doctrine of the Trinity. We see that Jesus has a relationship with God the Father.

Then John makes a bold statement and says, “and the Word was God.” John tells us that Jesus is God! As Christians this is a very important thing for us to know and believe. Jesus is God!

Right before we get to verse 3, John emphasizes that Jesus was in the beginning with God. This sets up what he is going to talk about next. Here is where I will attempt to help us understand why John uses the word ‘Word’.

In verse 3 John says, “All things were made through him.” Let’s think back to Genesis. How did God create? By speaking, He spoke things into creation. Well, when we speak, what comes out of our mouths? Words. Words come out of our mouths. So if, “all things were made through him (Jesus),” wouldn’t it make sense for John to call Jesus the ‘Word’? God spoke words, and His Word (Jesus) carried out the action of creation. Christ is the vessel through whom God created.

John continues in verse 3 by saying, “and without him was not anything made that was made.” So without Christ… nothing was created. We see this in Colossians 1:16, “For by him (Jesus) all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things were created through him and for him.” Also in Hebrews 1:2, “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”

These passages help us to understand that Christ created the world. The entire Trinity had a part in creation, but Jesus is the one who actually physically created. I believe that this explanation for why John calls Jesus the ‘Word’ is faithful to Scripture and also helps us to understand his purpose better.

Then we look at verse 4 which begins, “In him was life.” When we look at this verse, we need to examine what kind of life was he talking about? I think the main focus and intention of the author is to help us understand that eternal and spiritual life is found in Christ. This works in perfect unison with the author’s written purpose in 20:31. Also in John 14:6 Jesus refers to himself as the life, “I am the way, the truth, and the life…”  However, I think it is reasonable for us to think that John may have been referencing physical life as well. Although that is not the main point of this verse. Jesus was the creator, he is the originator of physical life. So in him was spiritual life and in him was physical life.

Verse 4 concludes, “and the life was the light of men.” Then verse 5 continues talking about the light, “The light sines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” In this verse we see the illustration of light and dark that is used so many times in Scripture. Darkness represents sin, death, Satan, lies, deceit, etc. and Light represents holiness, truth, Christ, salvation, etc.

When Jesus was crucified, the religious leaders thought that they had won. They thought that they had rid the world of someone who was blaspheming the name of God and that they would go back to waiting on their messiah. They were wrong. They symbolize the darkness. John tells us that the Light shines in the darkness and the darkness HAS NOT overcome it. I believe that John is referencing the resurrection here. Darkness – sin and death, has not overcome Christ. He has defeated sin and death in his resurrection which is an AMAZING truth.

When we look at all these things, it is important for us to remember John’s purpose for writing this book found in 20:31,

“But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in his name.”

I think that John gives us a lot to chew on in this passage. He makes the claim that Jesus is God, he tells us that Christ created the world, and he tells us that Christ has defeated the darkness. John starts off his gospel very strong. He is accomplishing his purpose right from the beginning.