Jesus: The Word

Jesus said the Pharisees, “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58).  Scripture makes clear that Jesus existed before creation.  Scripture is also clear that Jesus was not a part of creation but the cause of it.  John beautifully describes the pre-incarnate nature of Jesus:

John 1:1-3

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

We know that this Word is an introductory statement about Jesus.  John goes on to write in verse 14, “And the Word was made 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.”  Word is another title for Jesus.  John uses a particular Greek word here, “logos,” and although it is translated as “word” here, implies a deeper meaning.  Logos is sometimes used to refer to the written scripture but another Greek word, “rhema,” also relates to the written scriptures specifically.  Logos, on the other hand, implies the expression of thought or an idea.  Jesus is the full expression of God.  We see this presented in scripture as well.

Colossians 1:15-17

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Hebrews 1:1-3

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

The Word, as the Second person of the Trinity, is the full revelation of God.  Even Jewish readers of John’s Gospel would recognize what was implied.  The Word in the Old Testament was associated with God’s will and power being revealed to the people of God.  They knew about God because of the Word.  As Hebrews stated, this Word came many times by prophecy and at times by miracles.  Now, we Christians today have the full revelation of God through Jesus Christ.  In the Old Testament, God was asking, “can you hear me now?”  In the New Testament, the Word was made flesh and made the message clear.