the word

Water cooler conversation:  

  • What was your biggest win this week? What was your biggest challenge?

  • Name something about Christmas that most people like, but you dislike.

Unpack the Message:

John 1:1-18 can be considered the prologue to the story of Jesus and introduces us to the concept of hypostatic union—the personal union of Jesus’ two natures, fully God and yet fully man. Each of the gospels shines light on different aspects of Jesus’ story, with John’s gospel being the most theological of the four. 

John opens his gospel by telling us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” “Word” here is translated from the Greek word  “logos” and establishes Jesus as part of the Trinity. The Word/Logos is the revelation of God in action; there is a Being known as the Word; this Being is God because He is eternal (In the beginning), and this Being is God because He is called God (the Word was God).  Therefore, Jesus is logos—God as He is revealed in action. Verse 2 tells us that He was with God in the beginning, so we learn that Jesus is eternal, personal, distinct, and divine. Jesus existed before creation, within the Trinity, separate from God the Father yet equal in His divinity. 

Verse 3 tells us that The Word created all things that were created; therefore, Jesus is an uncreated Being (Colossians 1:16). Jesus is God’s purpose and power revealed in one human child. Then in verse 4, we read, “In Him was life.” The Word is the source of all life. John uses the ancient Greek word “zoe” (the “life principle'), not “bios,” which is simply biological life. Jesus, the life-giver, has the power to create life and sustain it. He, the Incarnation, is the life-giver who will one day lay down His life for all humanity (Ephesians 2:1), rescuing us from spiritual death.

Verse 5 promises us that “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.” Just as light floods the darkness, Jesus will always give us victory over darkness. No matter what our struggle—doubt, fear, depression, sin, shame, addiction—that darkness cannot stand against the light of Jesus Christ. There is victory in Jesus Christ. 

  1. Why do you think John chose to call Jesus “the Word” (John 1: 1)? What did God want to tell us by sending Jesus to the world?

  2. Read Hebrews 1:1-2. In what way is Jesus the ultimate word of God to man? 

  3. How is John 1:1-5 similar to Genesis 1:1-5?

  4. What does the analogy of Jesus as the Light of the World mean to you on a personal level?

  5. What does it mean to walk in darkness? We are all sinners, so do we all walk in darkness? What clues can we get from the phrase “practice the truth”?

  6. Why is the deity of Jesus Christ foundational to Christianity? Can a person who denies His divinity be saved?

Make a Move:

Commit to memorizing John 1:1 this week. Use it as a constant reminder of God’s love for you knowing that this amazing “Word” [Jesus] came to give you life and is ready to help you overcome your darkness. 


Prayer Prompt:

Jesus, we thank you that You have defeated the darkness of this world. Help me to trust You to defeat any darkness in my life—doubt, fear, anxiety, family problems, financial distress—and trust that You are already working to bring light if I will step aside and allow you full control. Amen