In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
John 1:1-3
Today: Read John 1
The Gospel of John is the last of the four gospels to be written. Like the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), John records much of Jesus’ earthly ministry, including His death, burial, and resurrection. But this final Gospel is often referred to as the “gap” filler in that it gives us a deeper theological and eternal understanding of the Person of Jesus. At the very beginning, John gives us some major revelations regarding the Person of Jesus Christ. Consider these three truths:
- Jesus is eternal!
Often Jesus is thought of as someone who only lived in the past. Some regard Him only as a man who walked the earth doing good things. Others may say that He is some sort of prophet. But for those who are in a saving relationship with Jesus, He is the very Son of God, the Savior of the world!
The truth is that Jesus is eternal. He was and is and will always be. He is the Word (logos) and He was with God is the beginning. This means that even before God spoke this world into existence, Jesus was there. He was with God in the beginning and He was God. So how was He with God and yet was God at the same time?
There have been many analogies used throughout time designed to try and explain how God is One yet reveals Himself in three distinct Persons. I believe that these analogies can be helpful but they all fall short of completely and accurately describing this amazing truth. Although some people confuse a triune God as being “many gods”, triune means that there is only one God but He exists in three Persons. In other words, God can be referred to as our heavenly Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are each unique in the Godhead yet they are all the same God. Here are some scriptural examples of God being referred to as all three Persons at the same time:
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
2 Corinthians 13:14
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…
Ephesians 3:14-17a
At Jesus’ baptism, we also see all three Persons of the Godhead represented:
After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”
Matthew 3:16-17
We are even instructed to baptize people referencing all three Persons of God:
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit…
Matthew 28:19
So Jesus is not just a historical figure or a good teacher or some sort of prophet. Jesus is eternal and lives today! He was in the beginning with God. He was with God and He was God!
- All things came into being through Jesus!
All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
To be quite honest, without Jesus, this world would not exist. John tells us that all things came into being through Him and that apart from Christ nothing would have come into being. As important as personally knowing Jesus as our Lord and Savior is the understanding that this entire world belongs to Him. God created it and it is His. Paul confirms this wonderful truth:
He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
Colossians 1:15-17
This might not sit well with those who would like to be in control and act as the “captains of their own souls.” But the truth is, without Christ, we would not exist. Even when we read the original creation account found in Genesis, we see the evidence of this triune God at work”
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…”
Genesis 1:26a
The use of plural pronouns is not a mistake. God was conversing with Christ in the beginning as they contemplated the creation of mankind. “Let Us make man”…”in Our image”…”according to Our likeness” are all indicators of the creative design of our triune God. Jesus is eternal and was with God in the beginning. It is by Him and through Him and for Him that all things were created!
- Jesus is God in the flesh!
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
Here is where we see the truth about the earthly Jesus. “The Word became flesh!” In other words, Jesus was God walking around the earth in the flesh. Because of God’s triune nature, he was able to descend to the earth while never giving up His heavenly throne. When we Jesus, we see God (John 14:9). When we hear the words of Jesus, we hear the very words of God (John 12:49). If we desire to know the invisible God and understand His character and nature, we need not look any farther than Jesus. But for me, the most amazing part of all of this is that Jesus brought with Him grace and truth. Consider the following:
For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
John 1:17
Grace is goodwill and favor. It is that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, and loveliness. Grace is everything good that we desire to be present in our lives and it comes through the Person of Jesus Christ. In addition to this goodwill and favor, Jesus brings us the truth about Himself, about our spiritual condition, and about this life in general. Everything we desire to achieve in this life is found in Jesus.
I like that John contrasts what Jesus brings to that of the Law. When we attempt to live life according to the Law (by our own moral goodness), we always end up falling short, frustrated, and forlorn. But when we place our faith in Jesus and His goodness and favor, we find spiritual power and victory to thrive in this life and live in the security that the life to come is ours as well!
One last truth about Jesus…He never changes! Consider the following:
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:8
Unlike people, circumstances, and the weather, Jesus never changes. We can count on Him to be the same loving, wonderful Savior that we have always known Him to be. Jesus is eternal, is living today, and will never change! That is something rather someone in whom we can place our trust!
If you read one chapter of John every day, you will finish the entire Gospel in just 21 days. If regular Bible study is not a part of your life, I would like to encourage and challenge you to set aside the next 21 days and commit to reading through the Gospel of John. It is not enough that we just learn about Jesus, we need to personally know Him and the amazing difference that He can make in the life of everyone who is willing to receive Him into their lives. May God bless you as you make the study of His Word a priority in your life!
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