Jesus: God's Word

The first chapter of John's gospel is a veritable doctrinal treatise on the relationship between God and His Word (John 1:1-5, 14-18).  There are several features that stand out in John's first chapter.  The most important and challenging teaching is that Jesus' relationship to the Word:  Jesus is the Word.  This is remarkable, Jesus, in His very nature, is the Word of God.  The theological implications of this assertion refers mainly to the action and work of God's Word.

First of all, the Word of God is His agent of creation; God spoke creation into existence.  Therefore, Jesus, as the Word of the Lord, is God's agent of creation (Rom. 11:36; 1 Cor. 8:5-6; Col. 1:16).  Because the Word is the agent of creation, and Jesus is that Word, it then makes sense that Jesus, the Word, was present with God at the beginning.

However, the Word wasn't just present at the beginning, with God in a passive sense.  Rather, the Word was God, meaning that the Word, defined as Jesus, is God.  This is one of the clearest declarations into the divinity of Jesus as the Son of the Lord, a member of the Holy Trinity. Jesus is God.  In very nature, He is the incarnate God, the Son of the Most Holy Lord.

The Word of God is also the agent of His holy judgment (Rev. 19:13).  This is confirmed throughout the Old Testament when prophecy is spoken: "Hear the word of the Lord" or, "Thus says the Lord."  When God's righteous judgment is meted out, Jesus, as the Word, is the agent of that judgment. Thus it is Jesus who will be the agent of God's perfect and final judgment.

Because Jesus is the Word of God, when we read the Bible, we are learning Jesus.  Therefore, we should desire to read and study the Bible so that we would know Jesus and grow in relationship with the Holy Lord.  As we read the Word of God, we are actively engaging in conversation with Jesus.  By prayer led by the Spirit, we can close the communicative circle and truly grow in relationship with the Lord.  This is beautiful.  Let us desire to read more of His Word to learn more of His Son, Jesus, and so to grow in relationship with Him!