In the beginning was the WORD is a well known yet profound verse that we know. The gospel of John in the first 18 verses, introduces two important persons. This introduction is very important to understand the nature and purpose of these two important persons. If we observe,

1. The first 5 verses talks about a divine person called “the Word”, and his background and characteristics.
2. Verses from 6 to 8 talks about John the Baptist and his purpose.
3. Verses from 9 to 18 continues to explain the nature and greatness of “the Word”.

Before meditating on “the Word” lets try to understand why the verses 6-8 talks about John the Baptist in between. We can get some clues from John -1:19-21.

And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. -John 1:19-21

Drawing upon this verse, we gain insight into the perception held by the priests and Levites that John the Baptist could potentially be the long-awaited Messiah or Christ. As a result, they were dispatched to diligently investigate and ascertain whether he truly embodied the anticipated figure that had been awaited for countless years. It is noteworthy that the Holy Spirit guided the writer of this gospel to purposefully include verses 6 to 8, emphasizing the significance of the true Messiah.

Now, let us reflect on the profound idea of the “True Messiah,” who represents the embodiment of the eternal Word.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. -John 1:1-2

Let us break these verses into multiple statements.

1. The WORD was in the beginning.
2. The WORD was with God, that means, GOD was in the beginning.
3. The WORD was GOD. That means GOD is WORD.

Just to add more to this, let us also remember few other verses.

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. -Genesis 1:1-2

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. -John 4:24

Based on this we can deduce, that The SPIRIT was in the beginning and the SPIRIT was God.

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. -John 1:18

Based on this we can understand God is the heavenly Father whom we neither see nor comprehend. Just to summarize.

1. God is the Father
2. God is the Word (begotten Son)
3. God is the Holy Spirit

Now let us understand the characteristics of “the Word”,

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. -John 1:3

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. -John 1:14

Now, this verse tells us that “all things that were made” in Genesis Chapter 1, are made by “him, the WORD”. Here, the WORD is addressed as a person and that person is the only begotten of the Father, and he is the Son of God. We can also understand from Genesis 1:2 that the Holy Spirit was hovering over the waters to prepare the earth for the creation event. So, we can understand Father, Son and the Holy Spirit involved in the creation. Father designed, Holy Sprit prepared and Son implemented.

Father designed, Holy Spirit prepared and the Son implemented

Now, let us continue again to understand the characteristics of “the Word”.

In him was life; and the life was the light of men. -John 1:4

This verse tells us that, the Son of God who was the Word and now made flesh, has light giving life. Now, let us try to understand the statement. life and light are two different things. Life is the reason to be alive and, the light is the reason to see things around. Now “His life” is the light of men. As he is “the Word”, the Word is the light of men. As we already established, light is the reason to see things around in the physical realm. Now the life in the Word is the reason for us to see things in the spiritual realm. If we extend our observation on light, when the light is shed on things, it gives us an opportunity to observe the size, structure, texture, how to reach and how to touch etc. Because, you will be able to see the things in the first place, only when light is shed on it. Now, when the life in the Word is experienced, it will shed light or open things to our spiritual eyes to see things in the spiritual realm. That is why the Word of God is called the living word of God.

The opposite to light is darkness. If light helps to see things, darkness blinds us and we cannot see things and we lose all the opportunity to experience the things.

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. -John 1:5

When people embrace the life-giving power of the Word, they find light. On the other hand, when they ignore the Word, they remain in darkness. The light shines in the darkness, offering an opportunity for those who can recognize it to come closer. However, the darkness fails to understand it. This means that even if the Word reaches them when they are ignorant, they still struggle to grasp the profound life it contains. That is why the writer continues to say –

That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. -John 1:9-11

Here, “the Light” means the revelation of the Word that has the life which becomes the light for the people in the world. So, the Son of God was the true light and his life expressed via his word enlightens people who receives the revelation. This was happening from the beginning as we know, “the Word of God came….” many many times in the old testament. But the world could not know him. He came to his own, that means the chosen people of Israel. He (the Word) came to his own (the Israelites) as Jesus Christ, (the begotten Son of God and incarnate of the Word). But they did not receive him, because their darkness disabled them to comprehend him. But there are some people who could receive –

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. -John 1:12-13

There are people who accepted Jesus Christ as the Messiah. When they received him, immediately they became God’s own. They became God’s children. This is not because of some blood line, or heritage or any physical or natural means, but by the will of God through his Son.

God defined the true sonship as the belief in the name of His only begotten Son.

Finally, we know that the eternal Word, the only begotten Son of God is nothing but Jesus Christ.

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. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. -John 1:14-18

Jesus is the human expression of the Word of God, and also the Glory of God, who brought the truth and grace into this world. By truth he enabled us to understand who we are and our true relationship with the heavenly Father. By grace he enabled us to meet the requirement of having a son relationship with Father in heaven, inspite of our fleshly weakness, darkness and inability to comprehend the things of God. Grace is the empowering force that enables individuals to receive or achieve something, even in the face of their shortcomings or inability to do so on their own. Now, out of the fullness of Jesus Christ, we received grace for grace. In every situation where we experience shortcomings, we can find solace by placing our faith in the name of Jesus Christ. Through His boundless abundance, as the creator of all things, we receive the grace needed to overcome those shortcomings and achieve wholeness and perfection. These words of life are truly remarkable and exquisite, radiating in the midst of darkness to extend an invitation into His illuminating light.

Dear heavenly father, thank you for your will for me and the brothers and sisters who read this article, to save and make us your children through our faith in thy Son, Jesus Christ. We live in darkness, but your sent the true light to enlighten us. Thank you for your love and help us to receive the “life” in thy “Word” you will send in our situations to experience the grace and glory in our lives. We pray in the matchless name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, Amen.