John 1:1-2 THE WORD WAS GOD Our minds are limited as to a real conception of eternity. It is very hard to explain in words something that is without a beginning or an end. Sometimes a marble, a ring, a circle of any kind is used to try to express what something endless is like. However vague our understanding is of things beyond our experience, there is much that we can believe by faith - there is much we can do by faith. When we read of "The Word" already being in the beginning, we wonder at what that "Word" is and what the beginning is. Is "The Word" a unit of speech? Is it a principle of reason like the Greeks taught many years ago? Or were the Hebrews right when it was written, "The Word of the Lord is right; and all His works are done in truth." "By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth." The very first act of creation on the world was done by the spoken Word, "And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." To the Jewish people "The Word" was another expression for God.
So "In the beginning was the Word," John wrote, and that would be easily accepted by the Jews as an expression for God. Then came the statement, "And the Word was with God." What is this? Another distinct personality, separate from God? This is not just a vague idea or passing comment, but a stated fact that there was Someone in the beginning with God. Then John's words really would arouse the attention of the readers (as it should us), "The Word was God." The impact of the word "was" is that in each use in this verse it is continuous - with no beginning or end. This is not marking off time segments such as years or centuries. This Person of whom John wrote was eternally existing as God because He is God.
In the first fourteen verses of John 1, "The Word" is repeated. By putting those phrases that describe the theme introduced in verse 1, together, we can learn more about "The Word" very quickly. "In the beginning was the Word" [v.1]; "And the Word became flesh..." [v.14]. "And the Word was with God" [v.1]; and the Word "dwelt among us" [v.14]. "And the Word was God" [v.1]; and the Word was "full of grace and truth" [v.14]. It is impossible for anyone to explain God. But the theme of the Gospel of John is that God is explaining Himself to us in terms we can grasp. "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself."
To the Jews who would read this, there would be an antagonistic response right away when this "Word" was identified as the Lord Jesus Christ. To Greeks this would probably be considered a ridiculous idea. But to us who know Him and believe on Him with all our hearts, this is a wonder of wonders. Our Lord and Savior is the Eternal God! He is not like God. He is not a god nor is He only godlike. He does not only have a divine nature. He is the One True God - and yet in these words there are two Persons mentioned. In this first verse of the book teaching us the truth that Jesus is God, there is the statement that tells us of two Persons of the Trinity that we call, the Godhead.
Verse two doesn't only repeat what was said in verse one, but teaches us that who He is and what He is, He always was. He did not come into being at some particular time. He did not become a Person when He was conceived in the womb of the virgin Mary. He existed as a Person from all eternity. He is, always was and always will be, the Eternal Son of God. He did not become, a son; He always was the Son. He did not become a god after His crucifixion and resurrection as some religions teach. The physical changes He assumed after His resurrection did not make Him any more than He was before. By His own choice He limited Himself as a man when He was establishing Himself as a man among men. His character never changed. His power was never limited as to Him possessing it. He just limited the use of His powers to continually give proofs that He was who He claimed to be.
The theme of the book is established right in the first verses. Then it is illustrated and described in a wide variety of examples, and in the teaching, He gave on occasions of meeting different people in different life situations. In this book He is often giving profound teaching when dealing with individual people. Personal contact and communication with individuals are a basic way of giving faithful words to "faithful men, that they may teach others also." The whole Gospel of John then is given to us so we will not mistake who the Lord Jesus Christ is, the proofs of His deity and humanity in the same Person, and the results God expects from this exegesis - "that believing ye might have life through His name."
To try to define the indefinable is altogether a great waste of time. However, the revelation of Jesus as God is a great truth to mine. Eternal in His being and also eternal in all His existence - Is hard for us who measure time and space when we are limited by distance. So, I admit freely there are things way beyond my understanding - But in faith I know they are not beyond my spiritual comprehending. Because purposely God has chosen to reveal to us Jesus as "The Word. And in Him I place my personal faith, and with gladness own Him as Lord.
When I make that step of faith, difficult things start to make sense. I can accept the fact that One on the throne in heaven, to earth was sent. There was a purpose in God's mind when Emmanuel came here to dwell. Some things have to be shown, that are in words, impossible to tell. That was an act of grace that was great, when He who was rich became poor. If He had not been willing to come, every person would be lost evermore. He who was God and with God, became a man to be here with man. To reach earth that was His footstool, He crossed a tremendous span.
Limiting the uses of His almighty power and His divine authority - As the God-Man He was a human, but never ceased to be deity. His creatorial powers were not limited, but in order to identify with us - He became found in fashion as a man, so that in Him we would trust. Each step of His life, each miracle He before men did perform - Changing water into wine, walking on water and calming a storm Was a proof that His powers were not diminished, they were to use as He could wish. Through "The Word" that dwelt with us," we are able to be eternally blessed.
"Father, I praise Thee for sending Thy Son to be the Savior of the world. Lord Jesus, I thank Thee for being willing to come and be my Savior and Lord. Amen."