“Who do you say that I am?”

“These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31, NIV).” The apostle John clearly states his purpose in writing his gospel narrative. John walked closely with Jesus through His years of ministry. He followed Him to the cross, and later cautiously entered His empty tomb. He knew this Jesus and wanted others to know Him as well.

In presenting the gospel narrative, John uses many names for Jesus, each name emphasizing a different aspect of His character. A study of these names can expand our knowledge of Jesus and enrich our relationship with Him.

Christ, the Living Word

John opens his Gospel by presenting Jesus as the Living Word of God. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This passage sounds similar to Genesis which also opens with the existence of God.

John presents the Living Word as existing before the creation of the heavens and earth. Immediately he sets Jesus apart from any other person. He is not just a man, or even the first of God's creations, but before creation.

The phrase “with God” implies interrelationship. The Living Word not only existed before creation but also had access to Deity. The next phrase explains why: “the Word was God.”

With broad strokes John begins painting a picture of Jesus as eternal in existence and divine in character. And John wants us to believe this. John further presents Jesus, the divine, eternal Word of God, as being active in creation. Again, John parallels the Genesis account by affirming God as Creator.

John saw Jesus turn water into wine, walk on water, break bread to feed thousands and heal all who were brought to Him. John was convinced that Jesus, the eternal Word of God, was present when God “spoke” creation into existence.

This picture of Jesus could leave Him exalted and inaccessible, except for another detail John includes in the picture. In John 1:14 we learn “The Word became flesh.”

The eternal, divine Word of God entered human existence to dwell with those He created. John adds an affirming sentence to show he knew what he was talking about: “We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John recorded his observations and experiences so you and I could believe in the Jesus he knew and loved. Ask the Lord to reveal Himself to you as “the Living Word” today. Let His glory fill your heart.

1. How do we follow that example of “fleshing out” the Word of God in our daily lives?

Next week : Christ, the Living Word in Action