In the Bible, a name often signifies a person's identity, purpose, and reputation. It's not just a way to distinguish one person from another; it's a profound statement about who they are. Throughout this study, we'll explore how the names given to Jesus—from Old Testament prophecies to New Testament revelations—build a complete picture of His role in God's redemptive plan.
In this session we will take a look at the name/title The Word
John 1:1-14 (NIV) 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.
Opening Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ. As we open your Word today, we ask for the Holy Spirit to guide us. Help us to understand the profound truth that Jesus is the living Word, and to see how this reality shapes our lives. Amen.
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." - Isaiah 7:14
Matthew 1:23 NLT “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”
The Word
Key Scripture: John 1:1-14
We will be spending most of our time in this passage.
John 1:1-14 (NIV) 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.
⁶ There was a man sent from God whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. ⁸ He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
⁹ The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God2.
¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Discussion
1. The Identity of the Word (John 1:1-5)
John 1:1-5 NLT [1] In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He existed in the beginning with God. [3] God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. [4] The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. [5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
The Greek word for "Word" is Logos. In ancient Greek philosophy, the Logos was a complex concept often referring to the divine reason or mind that gives order and meaning to the universe. John uses this term intentionally to communicate that Jesus is the ultimate, personal, and living Logos—not an abstract philosophical idea, but the very mind and purpose of God made manifest.
Connecting to the Old Testament. The Old Testament often describes God's "word" as a powerful force.
In Genesis 1, God speaks and creation happens.
Genesis 1:1-27 NLT[1] In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. [2] The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. [3] Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. [4] And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. [5] God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day. [6] Then God said, “Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth.” [7] And that is what happened. God made this space to separate the waters of the earth from the waters of the heavens. [8] God called the space “sky.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the second day. [9] Then God said, “Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry ground may appear.” And that is what happened. [10] God called the dry ground “land” and the waters “seas.” And God saw that it was good. [11] Then God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.” And that is what happened. [12] The land produced vegetation—all sorts of seed-bearing plants, and trees with seed-bearing fruit. Their seeds produced plants and trees of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. [13] And evening passed and morning came, marking the third day. [14] Then God said, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years. [15] Let these lights in the sky shine down on the earth.” And that is what happened. [16] God made two great lights—the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars. [17] God set these lights in the sky to light the earth, [18] to govern the day and night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. [19] And evening passed and morning came, marking the fourth day. [20] Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.” [21] So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that scurries and swarms in the water, and every sort of bird—each producing offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. [22] Then God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply. Let the fish fill the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.” [23] And evening passed and morning came, marking the fifth day. [24] Then God said, “Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind—livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals.” And that is what happened. [25] God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. [26] Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” [27] So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Then Psalms 33:6 NLT says, [6] The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.
John's Gospel shows us that this powerful, creative "Word" is a person—Jesus Christ.
What three statements does John make about the Word in verse 1?
(The Word was in the beginning, the Word was with God, and the Word was God.)
What does this tell us about the nature of Jesus before His birth?
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). This statement establishes three key points about Jesus before his birth:
He is eternal: The phrase "In the beginning" echoes suggests that the Word was already in existence at the dawn of creation. He did not have a beginning but was with God from eternity past.
He is distinct from God the Father, yet in relationship with Him: "...the Word was with God..." indicates a separate identity, a companionship, and a close relationship within the Godhead.
He is fully divine: "...and the Word was God" is a powerful declaration of his divinity, stating that he shares the same nature and essence as God.
Jesus' Role in Creation and as the Source of Life
The passage continues to explain the Word's active role in the creation of the universe and his significance as the source of life and light:
Creator of all things:
"All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made" (John 1:3).
This verse asserts that Jesus, as the Word, was the agent of creation, meaning nothing in creation exists without him.
Source of life and light: John 1:4 states, "In him was life, and the life was the light of men."
This highlights that Jesus is not just the creator of physical life, but also the source of spiritual life and truth. He is the light that guides humanity out of darkness. The darkness, representing sin and ignorance,
John 3:19-21 NLT [19] And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. [20] All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. [21] But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”
Ephesians 4:17-18 NLT [17] With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. [18] Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him.
But this darkness ultimately fails to overcome this light
John 1:5 NLT [5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
In what way is the Word "life" and "light" ? How do these qualities impact us today?
The Word is called "life" because He is the origin and sustainer of all existence, both physical and spiritual. The Jesus is the source of eternal life for believers. This isn't just about a future existence; it's a new, spiritual quality of life that begins now through faith in Him.
John 10:10 NLT The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
The Word is "light" because He reveals truth and exposes darkness. We already said that darkness often represents sin, ignorance, and spiritual blindness. The light of the Word pierces through this darkness, offering spiritual understanding, moral clarity, and the knowledge of God.
Impact on Us Today
These qualities of the Word have a profound impact on us today:
Spiritual Guidance: The Word, through the Bible and the Holy Spirit, acts as a guiding light in our lives. It helps us navigate moral and ethical dilemmas, showing us the path of righteousness and revealing God's will. Without this light, we would be left in spiritual darkness, making decisions based on our own limited understanding.
Transformation and Purpose: Embracing the Word's life quality means we receive a new, spiritual life. This transformation moves us from a state of spiritual death to one of vitality and purpose. It gives us hope, meaning, and a restored relationship with God.
Overcoming Darkness: The passage states that "the darkness has not overcome it." This is a powerful message of hope. The light of the Word is more powerful than any form of darkness—be it sin, despair, or evil in the world. As we align our lives with the Word, we can live with the assurance that God's truth and life will prevail.
2. The Witness to the Word (John 1:6-9)
John 1:6-9 NLT [6] God sent a man, John the Baptist, [7] to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. [8] John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. [9] The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
1. Who is "John" in these verses, and what was his purpose?
"John" is John the Baptist. He was a man sent from God with a specific, divinely ordained purpose: to be a witness to the Light. His ministry was to prepare the way for Jesus, the Messiah. He did this by preaching a message of repentance and baptizing people in the Jordan River as a sign of their commitment to turn away from sin and prepare their hearts for the coming of the Lord.
Mark 1:4-5 NIV [4] And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. [5] The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
His purpose was not to draw attention to himself, but to direct people's focus entirely to Jesus.
John 1:19-23 NIV [19] Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. [20] He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.” [21] They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” [22] Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” [23] John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ ”
2. Why was it important that he clarified he was not the light?
He clarified Jesus' identity: When asked directly if he was the Messiah, Elijah, or a prophet, John humbly and repeatedly denied it. This was vital because his ministry was so powerful that many people might have mistaken him for the Messiah. By clarifying that he was not the light, but only a witness to it, he prevented people from putting their faith in him instead of in Jesus.
3. What can we learn from John's example about our own role in sharing the message of Christ?
John's example offers several powerful lessons for us today:
Humility is essential: John's humility is a profound lesson. Despite his popularity and spiritual authority, he always pointed away from himself and toward Jesus. We are called to do the same, ensuring that the focus remains on Christ and not on our own efforts or accomplishments.
Our purpose is to be a witness: Like John, we are not the light, but we are called to be witnesses to the light of Christ. Our role is to share the truth of what we have seen and experienced in our relationship with God, so that others might come to believe.
Clarity is key: John was clear about his purpose and his identity. We must also be clear in our message, focusing on the core truth of the Gospel. Our goal is to make Christ known, not to promote ourselves.
Prepare the way: John's ministry was about preparing people's hearts to receive Jesus. In a world often distracted and skeptical, our role is to "make a straight path," living lives of integrity and faith that open the door for others to encounter the Gospel.
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