Scripture: John 1:1-18

I. Jesus the Word creates us.

A. The first three words in John’s Gospel are “In the beginning.” These words remind us of the creation of the world in Genesis 1. The Word, who is Jesus (John 1:14), creates. Words express who we are and what we think. You get a picture of who someone is by their words. Words reveal you. Jesus then reveals God and is God (John 1:1). Jesus is distinct from God yet is God. Isaiah 9:6: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  The child Jesus is also the Mighty God.

II. Jesus the Word gives us light and life.

A. John says about the Word in vs. 4, “In him was life, and the life was the light of men.” Jesus is life. He gives life. Most of the time when John writes about light in His Gospel he is not referring to light in creation but light in the sense of revealing the knowledge of God and light in the sense of living a moral and holy life. We see this use of the word light in John 3:19: “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.”

III. Jesus the Word confronts and divides us.

A. The light of Jesus demands a choice. You can stay in the darkness and believe lies. Or you can come into the light, believe the truth about Jesus and become light yourself. The darkness of the world and its rejection of Jesus is described in vs. 10-11. But you can become a child of God (vs. 12). You will be divided from the world after you believe in Jesus.

IV. Jesus the Word reveals God in the flesh to us.

A. In vs. 14-18 we see several words and events related to Exodus 32-34. The word dwelt (vs. 14) literally means to pitch one’s tent. It refers to the beautiful tabernacle tent where the people of Israel would meet with God. God now meets us not in a tent but in Jesus. We have seen Jesus’ glory (vs. 14). Moses had asked God to show him His glory. God now shows us His glory in Jesus. Jesus came to us full of grace and truth (vs. 14). These words also describe God in Exodus 34:6: “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” Steadfast love = grace. Faithfulness = truth. God’s grace came through the Law of Moses (vs. 17). Grace in place of grace came through Jesus.

Application:
Look at Jesus. He is the Word of God who reveals the glory of God to us.
Sources:
The Bible
Commentaries by D.A. Carson, Herman Ridderbos, and Edward Klink.

Sermon Discussion Questions

1) What did John mean by calling Jesus the Word? How is Jesus distinct from God the Father? How is Jesus one with God the Father?
2) How does the world respond to the light of Jesus? How do Christians respond to the light of Jesus?
3) In what ways is John 1 a fulfillment of the Exodus story? How is Jesus a picture of God to us?