In The Beginning Was The Word

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men... And the Word became 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." (1)

Here John uses the term "Word" as a designation for Jesus, who came to reveal the character, mind, and will of God. Jesus was with God in the beginning and He is God. Jesus was the active agent in creation, "All things were made through Him." His life was and is "the light of men." And He came to live with us, "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us."

John, a life long disciple of Jesus, began to discern the glory of Christ when John the Baptist bore witness saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me. 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God." (2)

John was present when Jesus took him, Peter and James up on a high mountain and "He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light." (3) John was present when Lazarus was raised from the dead. He was present when lepers were cleansed, the lame were made to walk, blind men were made to see, water was made into wine, and Jesus walked on the waves of the sea. John was the first disciple to the tomb after the resurrection of Jesus. He witnessed his resurrected Friend when "He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight." (4)

John, along with the other 11 disciples and a multitude of other witnesses, testified to what he saw, heard and experienced during the 3 1/2 years he spent with Jesus. Following the resurrection of Jesus, John dedicated his life to the mission and ministry of Jesus. His testimony is, "We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life." (5)

1. John 1:1-4, 14.
2. John 1:32-34.
3. Matthew 17:2.
4. Acts 1:9.
5. 1 John 5:19, 20.