‘The Word’ – what does the Bible mean by this?

It is not just any particular word, written or spoken by people, and it isn’t Microsoft Word either. ‘The Word’ also isn’t an object or a sound. The question really is not what, but who. Who is the Word?

The Word is a person. This is the particular title that the Apostle John uses for the Lord Jesus Christ, as made clear in John 1v14. Part of the reason for using this title is that John wants to emphasise that Jesus Christ is the full revelation of God – God manifest. Later in the Gospel, John records the Lord saying “If ye have seen me, ye have seen the Father”

Now, before we come to consider the person of the Word in more detail, let me set out a framework for what we are looking at. Over the next three articles we will be looking briefly at what the Word has done, what He is doing and what He is still do.

The Word in the Past

Here, we will look at the Word in the gospel of Jesus Christ according to John, chapter 1:1 – 3, and then bring two points out from this

“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.”

John 1:1-3

1. The Word is part of the eternal, almighty, holy Godhead
2. The Word is the great Creator Communicator

The words “In the beginning” take us to the beginning of the universe, where “God created the heaven and the earth” in power and love (that humankind might dwell with the triune Godhead). However, as we later sinned and rebelled against God, He had to cast us out from His presence – from fellowship with Him – because He is holy and righteous (Genesis 1 – 3).

It is clear that in Genesis 1:1, God is not Himself a created being. He is eternal, the “Alpha and Omega” as is written in Revelation 1:8.

Then in verse 3, we read of the Word speaking: “Then God said, ““Let there be light”; and there was light.” This Communicator is speaking here as the Creator, and this very same thought is in John 1v1. This Word is the same Communicator who John tells us was “with God and … was God”. Though on this occasion, the Word is not auditory. It is not a voice from heaven, but more wonderfully, the Word came down (Philippians 2:5-11) and took on flesh (John 1:14). We will just finish with these words from Stephen Baker.

“Jesus Christ is the Great Communicator, not just communicating in words but communicating in Himself, by His very person, how He lives and what He does.”

Stephen Baker, at https://seekthetruth.org.uk/index.html

With that we will conclude until the next time to think of the Word from the past to the present. I hope you will think over these things until then, take care.