Dec. 24, 2000

John 1:1-18

Who is the Word?

1. Introduction

1. Illustration – Have you ever seen the movie The Matrix? There is a scene where Morpheus says to Neo, "You have the look of a man who accepts what he sees because he is expecting to wake up at any moment from a dream. Ironically, this is not far from the truth."
2. Context – Morpheus was referring to the bondage man was under to machines through an interactive computer simulation. But there is a parallel with our reality. So much of the time we wander around our world with no concept of the true reality of life. The spiritual reality of Who God is and what role He wants to play in our lives. Today we’re going to take a look at John 1 verses 1-18 – a passage that explains to all of us the true reality of God in Christ. Let’s read it together.

1. Scripture Passage

1. John 1:1-18 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. ⁶ There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. ⁸ He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. ⁹ The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. ¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵ John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’" ¹⁶ From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.
2. We’re going to go through this passage verse by verse to see what God is trying to tell us through it. I’ll be translating directly from the Greek, but you can follow along in your own Bible and make notes if you like.

1. Exposition from the Greek

1. Verse one – In beginning was the word, and the word was with (face-to-face or equal to) the God, and God was the word.

• The first thing we need to note is that Greek did not use definite articles (like "the") unless the author wanted to emphasis something or to identify a specific entity. So the apostle John is saying that "the word" is an actual being, and he goes on to say that God is a specific being. Otherwise the readers would have thought that "God" meant "nature" or "the earth."
• We also need to take note of the verb used in this verse. The English simply translates it as "was," which is an accurate translation but doesn’t carry all of the meaning of the Greek. The tense of the verb indicates timelessness, or an eternal existence. There is no point of origin indicated, and with the phrase "in beginning" it means that God has always been and that the Word has always been there with God.
• The third point here is the phrase "and God was the Word." Same verb use, showing us that God and the Word are separate but the same. Different personalities, but the same nature.
• So in the first verse we see that the Word is eternal, with continual timeless existence; that the Word is equal with God; and that all of the nature of God is in the Word – they are separate but the same. Let’s move on.

1. Verses two and three – This one (referring to the word) was in beginning with the God all things through him (the word) became, and apart from him (the word) existed (or became) not one thing.

• Not only has John reinforced the concept of the Word’s eternal nature, but he also now identifies the Word as the force behind the creation of the universe.
• The Word is timeless, the Word is equal to God, the Word is the same in nature as God, and the Word was in on the creation of everything.
• The phrase "not one thing" is very strong in the Greek, and the cases of the nouns indicate that the attributing of creation can only be to the Word. So the Word is a pretty powerful being.

1. Verse four and five – What thing has become in him (the word) life was (same verb as verse one), and the life was the light of humanity: and the light in the darkness shines, and the darkness it not conquer or understand.

• Powerful verses! Life became because of the Word. Life has its source in the Word. In other words, the Word is life, and the life of the Word is the light of all mankind! Now that is something to get excited about! But John doesn’t stop there.
• John describes another entity. Remember the deal about definite articles in Greek? John writes "the darkness." So there is another entity involved besides the Word and God. In spite of the personification of darkness, the light shines! The tense indicates that the Word is the "light that keeps giving light."
• John goes even further. He writes that the darkness neither understands, or comprehends the light, nor conquers or overcomes the light. There is a strong contrast between the personifications of light and darkness. And the darkness cannot comprehend or conquer the light.
• This brings an important question to mind: which side would you rather be on? The unquenchable and unconquerable light, or the uncomprehending darkness? Which side are you on right now?

1. Verses six through eight – Came a man, having been sent as a messenger from God, name of him John. This one (John) came as witness in order that he might witness about the light in order that all might believe through him (the light). Not was that one (John) the light, but in order that he might witness concerning the light.

• One important note here: the Greek subjunctive that we translate correctly as including the word "might" is not used to indicate any doubt. What is being discussed is expected to happen. "Might" here indicates the purpose for the witness.
• So John the apostle introduces us to John the Baptist. Not only is John the apostle laying the groundwork for what he is writing later in the chapter, but he also wants the reader to be sure to understand that the Word and John the Baptist are two different beings. The purpose of the witness is for people to believe in the light, which we’ve seen is another name for the Word.
• John writes further about the light.

1. Verse nine – Was the light the true (one), which illuminates (or enlightens, or sheds light upon, or instructs) every person, coming into the world.

• The Greek word kosmos, or world, means all of creation. In other words, not only is the True Light coming into the world, but he is enlightening or instructing or showing the people who God is. The Creator is coming into His own creation!
• And not only is the Creator coming, but the tense of the verb tells us that His coming will have continual, eternal effect or consequences.

1. Verses ten through thirteen – In the world was, and the world through him became, and the world him not know. Into ones own things came, and his own him not received (or welcomed). As many as received him, he gave to them authority (or power) children of God to become, to the ones believing in the name of him, the ones not from (indicating source) blood nor out of the will of the flesh (human effort) nor from the will of a man but (very strong contrast) from God begotten.

• John writes of the Word’s timeless, eternal presence in the universe, and reiterates that the Word created the universe. But then he tells us that the world didn’t know the Word. The knowledge here is experiential, meaning that the world isn’t in right relationship with the Word.
• John goes even further, telling us that the Word came into His own creation, and His own neither received nor welcomed Him. But then He gives a very strong contrast. As many as, or anybody, who received Him He gave the power, the authority, the right to become children of God.
• The believing is the action of the children of God, but the power and authority for them to become the children of God does not come from who they are or anything they do. God begets them as children of His. They become God’s children because God desires it, not man. Their only part is believing in the name of the Word.
• What does it mean to "believe in the name of" someone? It means to accept, to believe in everything that they are. Believing in the name of the Word means that you accept and receive everything He is on His terms. Let’s go on.

1. Verses fourteen through eighteen – And the word flesh became and dwelt (or set up home) among us, and we beheld (or watched with physical eye) the glory of him, glory as only begotten from father, full of grace and truth. John witnesses concerning him and has cried out saying: "This one was whom I spoke:" "the one after me coming before me has been, because first of me was." Because from the fullness of him we all received even grace upon (or on top of) grace: because the law through Moses was given, the grace and the truth through Jesus Christ came. God no one has seen ever; only begotten God the one being in the bosom of the father that one made known (God).

• Yes, this is a mouthful, but it is so important to understand. The Word, who is eternal and equal to and of the same nature as God, came into creation as a man. In other words, God became flesh. The Word is God with skin on. John says that the Word became flesh and many people saw His glory with their own eyes! This Word is full of grace and truth, and John the Baptist testifies that, even though the Word came in the flesh after he did, the Word has always been.
• John the apostle writes that from the fullness of the Word we all received abundant grace. God’s grace is personified in the Creator of the universe, the Word! So those who would receive God’s grace must receive the Word. That is the requirement.
• The law was given through Moses. The law required each person make blood sacrifices for their own sin. Contrasting the law is grace and truth. Does that mean that the law wasn’t graceful or truthful? No, because God exhibited His grace by giving the people a means of being in right relationship with Him. The law contains powerful truth about Who God is. But the people first disobeyed it, then used it as a legalistic system of righteousness. So the contrast is very strong.
• And here John finally identifies the Word by His earthly name. The Word is eternal, is equal with God, is the same in nature as God, created the universe, is the light and life and the salvation of mankind. The Word is Jesus Christ, the One Who brings grace and truth into the world and into our hearts.
• Nobody has ever seen God face to face, but Jesus Christ has come to make known the bosom, or heart, of God. That is what this passage is all about. Jesus Christ, the eternal Word, has come to make His Father’s heart known. The desire of the Father’s heart is that we will believe in the name of Jesus Christ and receive all of Who He is, so that we can become the children of God. Very powerful imagery!

1. So what?

1. Some of you may be saying, "so what?" "I don’t need anybody to make me a child of God." "I’m a good person." Being a good person isn’t enough, and if you don’t believe the truth, then what you believe doesn’t matter? You may then ask, "Why should I listen to some story written by a guy who’s been dead for nineteen hundred years?" The people who knew Jesus and those who had witnessed His life were still alive when John wrote this book, and if he had written anything that wasn’t true, they would have called him on it. And while archeologists have found many ancient copies of this book, no documents from Christians of this time refuting what John wrote have been found. Not one! The writings that we now know as the New Testament were quickly copied and distributed to all the churches, so if John had been lying he would have been just as quickly refuted. Those who witnessed the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ were willing to die horrible deaths for what they believed. What John has written is absolutely and irrefutably true! If you don’t believe it, the problem isn’t with John, it is with your own personal bias. All of us have biases. Are you going to let yours keep you from receiving Jesus Christ?
2. Others may be saying, "I’ve been walking with the Lord for a while, and this is nothing new to me." That may be true, but there are fresh truths here. The strength of the way God inspired John to write this passage should inspire us to take another look at the strength of our own beliefs. Are we willing to die for Jesus? Just as importantly, are we willing to live for the living Word?

1. Conclusion

1. Again I want to address those who have not received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Why haven’t you? Maybe the question should be: can you afford to be wrong? If I’m wrong and this is not the truth and you believe anyway, you get the comfort and support of the people of the church for the rest of your life. You get to give up bad habits and addictions, and have a lot of good company doing it. You get to learn how to live a good life and stay out of trouble. That is the cost of believing if I am wrong. What is the cost of not believing if I am right? You spend eternity in a lake of fire separated from the love of God as the punishment for your sins, including that of refusing to receive Jesus Christ God’s Son. You spend your life without the comfort, strength, peace, joy and love of the indwelling Holy Spirit. You spend your life and all eternity away from the love of God. Can you really afford to be wrong?
2. If you have never received Jesus Christ as your Savior, or if you did at one time walk with Him and have gotten away from Him, please come forward now as a sign that you want to receive Him and walk with Him. Someone will come and talk with you about how to receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. Come forward now.
3. If you are now walking with Jesus, but you have realized this morning that you have sinned by not completely buying into Who He is, by not attributing to Him all of Who He is or giving Him the glory for all He has done in your life, please come forward and pray right now. Get your relationship right with God.
4. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us! Let us thank God for His great gift. And let us believe Him for all of Who He is.
5. Those who want to receive Jesus as their Savior or come back to Him right now, pray with me now. Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, that I have done wrong in Your sight, and I need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now invite You to come into my heart and life. I now receive You. I want to trust You and follow You as Lord and Savior. Thank You for saving me! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
6. Those who have been walking with Jesus and have come forward because God has shown you that you haven’t completely bought into Who He is in some area of your life, or you haven’t been giving Him the glory for all He has done in your life, please pray with me now. Lord Jesus, we realize that we are weak and frail human beings and that our minds have a hard time grasping just Who it is You really are. But there are still areas of our lives where You have been trying to show us Who You are, and we haven’t given You the credit for Who You are in those areas. Or we haven’t been giving You the glory for what You have done and are doing in some areas of our lives. We confess that this is sin, and that we have sinned against You. Forgive us for our sins, Lord Jesus, and bring us back into right relationship with You. We want this Christmas to be the start of a new time in our lives, a time when we follow You with all of our hearts with no exceptions and no excuses. Thank You for becoming flesh so that we can receive You, believe in Your name, and know You. We praise You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
7. If you received Jesus for the first time today, we want to give you a Bible and some further instructions before you leave today. So please see me before you leave.