JOHN 1:1 : Why Is Jesus Called "The Word"?
By Bro. Nathan
" In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (Jn. 1:1) KJV
Some members might find it strange na sa John 1 ay may title si Jesus Christ na "Word" which also appears sa ilang parts ng Gospel ni John as parallels and pericopes (1 Jn. ch. 1; Rev. 19:13), because why use word to a person? ang title na ito gives us further understanding sa role ni Jesus Christ here on earth as the Son of God. John 1 starts the book of John with John giving a prolouge that contains his explanations of who Christ was at the first place. ang structure ng gospel according to John starts with John 1:1-18 as the prologue and ang last chapters ng John as the epilogue, specially verses 30-31 which tells us why John wrote the book—that is written for the purpose that the reader might believe in His name. knowing the prologue at ang epilogue ng gospel of John is essential to know ang message ng buong book.
By this purpose to testify the divinity of Jesus Christ, binigyan Siya ni John ng title na "Word" (Gr. λόγος-logos) in which in Greek ay it can mean "spoken word" or utterance" or "expression". We express ourselves through our words and what we say defines and reveals our person too. Heavenly Father expresess Himself to us through Jesus Christ (cf. v.18; 14:6-14; Col. 1:15-17; Heb. 1:3). Furthermore, Jesus was called also by the title of "The Word" because of the following :
1.) For God created the Universe through Jesus Christ
—As verse 3 tells us that "All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being (Jn. 1:3; NRSV). in v. 1 ay gumagawa ng allusion si John sa creation account sa Genesis 1, by using the same words to begin his writing—"in the beginning....". as Harry Whitaker in his book, Studies In The Gospels, comments sa parallels nito sa Targum, which is ang Aramaic translation ng Old Testament (na widespread throughout Judea) reads :
"John Lighfoot suggests a parallel with Targum usage; e.g. “And Moses brought forth the people (at Sinai) to meet the Word of the Lord” (Ex. 19:17). And in Gen. 26:3, for “I will be with thee”, Targum has: “My Word shall be thy help”; and many such examples. Can it be doubted that in such passages allusion is intended to the angel of the Lord? In these places the rabbis had no use for a vague divine “Purpose” — Studies In The Gospels, no. 13: The Word (John 1:1-5)
And as Bruce R. McConkie comments sa parallel passage sa John 1:3 (Col. 1:15-17), he said :
"16-17. Christ created the universe and all things that in it are, but in doing so he acted in the power, might, and omnipotence of the Father. 'Worlds without number have I created,' is God's language, 'and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten.' (Moses 1:33.) 'By him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.' (D. & C. 76:24; John 1:1-3; Heb. 1:2.)" —Doctrinal New Testament Commentary Vol. 3
By authority given by Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ created the universe. Siya ang principle behind the creation —Col. 1:15-17; Heb. 1:3
2.) We learn about Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ
—Jesus as the divine self expression ni Heavenly Father, He is the one who reveals to us who Heavenly Father was. no one perceived (εωρακεν-eoraken) the Father except His only Begotten Son na eternally na kasama Niya eversince the Beginning (v. 18). In the context, sinabi ni John na Jesus is the perfect revelation of God to man (v. 17). ang Gospel na kanyang dala ay mula kay Heavenly Father (Jn. 3:34; 14:10, 24; 17:8), and He came here on earth to reveal who Heavenly Father is —Mt. 11:27; Jn. 14:6-11; 17:25-26; Heb. 2:1-3
3.) He made intercession between humanity and Heavenly Father
—By giving typologies from the Old Testament ay ipinaliwanag Ni John kung papaano ba gumawa ng intersection si Jesus Christ between sa humanity at kay Heavenly Father
Verse 14 tells us about sa pagbaba ni Jesus Christ here on earth by taking human flesh as we are. John wrote :
" 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." (Jn. 1:14) KJV
In the Old Testament ay bumibisita ang Dios sa Israelites through the Tarbenacle na kung saan ay present ang kanyang glory inside that structure (Ex. 33:9-10). Just like when nasa midst ng Israel ang glory ng Diyos at just like how Moses saw the glory of God (Ex. 33:12-23), nang dumating si Jesus Christ sa earth, He brought God's glory here and He is literally the "Tarbenacle among us" —Phil. 2:5-11; Heb. 2:7-9; 1 Jn. 4:2; 2 Jn. 1:7
When the Law was given, God's glory came down full of grace and truth (Ex. 33:6). Si Jesus Christ din mismo ay full of grace and truth (v. 14). God's intercession to man is through Jesus (Jn. 14:6; 1 Tim. 2:4-6; Heb. 9:15) and this is made possible through Jesus coming down to be a human being. take note, one name of Jesus is Emmanuel which means "sumasaatin ang Dios" (Isa. 7:14; Mt. 1:22-23). He is our mediator and is our only way para makabalik muli sa piling ni Heavenly Father and made the way for us to become like Him.
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