Let’s read those “simple yet profound” verses. “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 were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.”

We learn in verse 1 that at the beginning of time “the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This means that “the Word” was already in existence before time began and that He was “with God” and He “was God.” Who is “the Word?” Verse 14 gives us the answer, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of THE ONLY BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER, full of grace and truth.” We learn here that “the Word” was the “eternal Son of God” who “became flesh”; in other words, God the Son became a true Man (you can learn of His miraculous birth in Luke 1:29-35).

Why is the God the Son called the Word? The word “Word” is the Greek word LOGOS which means, “the expression of thought, a saying or statement” (from Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words). What we are learning here is that God (the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (see Matthew 28:19) chose to have God the Son to be the One who would “reveal God to men.” He was the One who would SPEAK TO MEN and give mankind God’s thoughts.

How does He reveal God to man? We have that brought out in verses 3 & 4. Verse 3 teaches us that “all things were made through Him.” The Word is the CREATOR of the universe and everything in it! We read of Him as Creator in Colossians 1:15-16, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.” Through creation God has “spoken to man and revealed Himself.” We see this truth in Romans 1:19-20, “Because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the CREATION OF THE WORLD His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by THE THINGS THAT ARE MADE, even His eternal power and Godhead.” In other words, the physical creation that was “created by the Word, the Son of God” reveals to men God’s POWER and His DIVINITY.

Verse 4 teaches us something else. It says, “In Him was LIFE and THE LIFE was THE LIGHT of men.” When “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” His Divine Life was on display for all men to see. It is called “the light of men” because just as “natural light reveals physical things around us” so “His Divine life revealed to men the very nature of God.” 1st John 1:1-2 speaks to this: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Fathe and was manifested to us.” When people heard Jesus speak and saw Him in action, they were “seeing the very LIFE of God;” the Divine Nature which is “eternal life.” That is why Jesus could say, “He that has seen Me has seen the Father.” He was revealing the nature of God to mankind! He “became visible in order to reveal the invisible God to man.” We see this truth in John 1:18, “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” If men had faith to see, they were able to witness that “God is LOVE” and that “God is LIGHT” (1st John 1:5 & 4:7-11). Everything Jesus said and did revealed God’s LOVE and HOLINESS to men. He also taught them that they could be “born again” resulting in the Divine Nature (of LOVE and HOLINESS) being imparted to them (see John 3:1-7, 14-16; 5:24 with 2nd Peter 1:4).

In closing, let’s read Revelation 19:11-13, “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He JUDGES and MAKES WAR. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe DIPPED IN BLOOD, and His name is called The Word of God.” Jesus came the first time to “reveal God’s grace” so men could be saved, but when He comes the second time He will “reveal God’s righteous judgment” upon ungodly sinners. Again, Jesus is called “the Word” because He is the “revealer of God’s Mind and Heart” and at this time He must reveal God’s holiness in Divine Judgment.  (DO)  (600.1)