John 1:1-5
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Digging Deeper
Can you recite John 1:1 by heart? I can and I am almost sure you can as well. Nearly every Christian who studies the Bible can recite John 1:1 by memory. Furthermore most of us know the controversy interpretations of John 1:1 of whether the Logos is a created divine being or is the Logos part of the eternal Godhead, being God Himself.
If John wanted to declare that the Logos had a beginning, what verb could he have used to reflect his understanding of the Logos? Hint, look at verse 3. Interesting that the Apostle John doesn’t use that verb which would have outright stated his creation by God. Does this affirm for us that the Logos was God, not that the Logos became a divine being? How does that help or doesn’t help us in our understanding of the nature of the Logos?
John 1:2-5 further explains the nature of the Logos. It is worthwhile to study that in light of Genesis 1-2. That another day. However, the deeper thought is not so much as to the nature of the Logos, but the effect of the Logos upon our lives. If our discussion is only about the nature of the Logos, then we may forget the words of the Logos! The nature of the Logos is to lead the listener or reader to obey the words of the Father.
Hebrew 1 says this, “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs” (NIV).
If the Logos/Word is God, we ought to be upholding and fulfilling the words of the Logos from the Father. If we are true followers of Jesus Christ, we would obey His words for one day we will give an account to him of what we did with His words. Did we fulfill them or do we ignore them?
Application Thought
Are we upholding and fulfilling the words of the Logos? If we are failing to do so, what are the reasons why you and I are not fulfilling His Word? How might your life truly change if you truly believe that the Logos is God? Are you willing to become more of a doer of the word than just a hearer of the word? The Word has something to say to us each and every day. What is He saying to you today?