This is a second post on the use of the term “the Word” in scripture. In the first post we looked at the fact that the Word is equivalent to God. When we hear or read God’s Word we are encountering God Himself.
There is no more powerful statement about the Word than John 1. In the first few verses of this chapter we find out that the Word:
- Existed in the beginning with God (vs. 1-2)
- Made everything that exists (v. 3)
- Is the source of life (v. 4)
- Is the light that shines in the darkness (vs. 4-5)
At first one might wonder if John is just using poetic license to personify one aspect of God, but then John takes it one step farther. He explains, starting in verse 14, that the Word became flesh. This is not poetic license. This is reality. As if this was not clear enough John pushes his point even deeper. He declares that the Word:
- Is the glory of the One and Only (v. 14)
- Was literally seen by John (v. 14)
- Is full of grace and truth (v. 14)
- Overflows with blessing (v. 16)
- Has revealed God to us (v.18)
- Is God the One and Only (v. 18)
Jesus is the Word of God. When we see Jesus we see God.
In 1 John 4:8 we are told that “God is love”. And how do we know what love is? 1 John 3:16 (the other John 3:16) says we know what love is when we look at the cross. The Word became flesh and revealed the Father to us. He did this most fully when He died on the cross for us.
When we encounter the Word we encounter God and at the center of this encounter is the cross.
Question: What does the cross teach us about love? Please leave a comment.
by Jerry Wyrick, President of Worship Arts Conservatory