JESUS: THE ETERNAL WORD

JESUS: THE ETERNAL WORD

John 1:1-18 (vv.1-2)

Dr. Wm. J. Maxwell

First Presbyterian Church, Newport, RI

November 27, 2005

The Praise Team assembled before the waiting and attendant congregation. They had prepared and rehearsed a great deal in order to lead the people in a ministry of music. A call to worship was given from the Psalms, followed by a few songs of worship.

Then came a familiar song, and yet one with a powerful sense of devotion as the Holy Spirit moved in a very special way in the hearts of the assembly. It was as if, in that moment in time, everything in life paled in comparison to the matchless glory of Jesus Christ. They sang not about Christ, but to Christ, in a spirit of love, devotion and loyalty:

You are my strength when I am weak,

You are the treasure that I seek,

You are my All in All.

Seeking you as a precious jewel,

Lord, to give up I’d be a fool,

You are my All in All.

Jesus, Lamb of God,

worthy is your name.

Jesus, Lamb of God,

worthy is your name. [i]

Under the inspiration of the same Holy Spirit, I believe the apostle John wrote with the same goal in mind, that being the lifting up of the glory of Jesus Christ. Toward the end of his life, he wrote the Gospel of John, with an expressed desire given towards the end: “… that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.” [ii] This desire, that we see Jesus as our All in All, can even be seen in the very first chapter.

Here, in the “Prologue,” John writes masterfully of the nature and character of Jesus Christ. In these eloquent lines, we are led in a spirit of love, devotion and loyalty to our Lord Jesus Christ, whose incarnation and birth we celebrate during this special season. During this season, we will be focusing upon this eloquently written, Spirit-inspired passage. We will be looking at verses 1- 18, taking these verses a section at a time, and having prayerfully and thoughtfully considered them together, may our response be to Jesus: “You are my All in All!”

THE TEXT AND ITS MEANING

In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He was with God in the beginning. (vv.1,2)

In just two sentences, the apostle brings forth some vastly significant truths for our consideration. Let’s take this phrase by phrase.

“In the beginning …” is a phrase that should be familiar to us. The Bible begins with these very words in the book of Genesis, indicating the time before creation, before the world was ever made. This is to say then that the “Word” existed before the world was created, before the universe ever came into being. This does not refer to the Man Jesus, but to the Person who became a Man, or incarnate (see verse14).

To say this is to say that the Word is not a creature or a created being, but rather One who is eternal and everlasting. Since there is but one Being who is eternal, that being God Himself, we may come to the conclusion that the “Word” is divine, something Jesus declared about Himself on numerous occasions, and in many ways.

“In the beginning was the Word …” A word is that by which we communicate with other people. It is the way we express our thoughts, our reasoning, desires and intentions. It is the medium of expressing ourselves, giving form to our thoughts and reasoning.

Likewise, the Son of God is called the “Word” because He is the ultimate expression of God. The author of Hebrews puts it this way:

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being … [iii]

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God …” Here we find an expression of intimacy and relational closeness. Here is a union that is intimate and close, and one that occurred before the creation of the universe.

The Word is then in some sense distinct from God the Father, which Jesus made note of. His prayer in the Upper Room, for example, as recorded by the apostle John, includes these words: “Now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world began.” [iv]

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Lest someone come to the faulty conclusion that the Word is an inferior being, a created being, John affirms here that the Son is equal Father in substance or essence.

Here is an affirmation of the Christian doctrine of the Trinity. Although the Bible never uses this word specifically, it is nevertheless taught in Scripture. The second Person of the “Godhead” has characteristics unlike the first Person, and yet they are the same in essence and substance, so that we do not have two or more gods, but one God.

It is critically important for us to understand what the Bible is teaching here. Take., for example, the society of Jehovah’s Witnesses, which is not truly a Christian society or denomination. They do not believe in the Trinity, but believe instead that “Satan is the originator of the trinity doctrine.” [v]

Based upon their own translation of the Bible, they are convinced that Jesus Christ is not God the Son. In official statements, they say that “… the true Scriptures speak of God’s Son, the Word, as ‘a god.’ He is a ‘mighty god,’ but not the Almighty God, who is Jehovah.” [vi] Again, they state, “In other words, he was the first and direct creation of Jehovah God.” [vii]

Where they find a basis for this, strangely enough, is in our text for this morning. They note that there is no definite article in the Greek, so they make their own translation: “… and the Word was a god.”

But this is a distortion of Scripture, for the Bible never promotes or endorses polytheism, the existence of many gods. Secondly, the Greek word for God often occurs without the use of a definite article. Thirdly, the word order in this sentence is intentionally arranged by John for the sake of emphasis. It literally reads, “… and God was the Word.”

Now, please don’t misunderstand what I am saying. I am not trying to demean or belittle the members of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Many of them are in fact quite sincere about their beliefs. But their beliefs are wrong and I don’t want you to be deceived by such false teaching, even if (and especially) it comes in a cloak of sincerity. We need to know what the Bible really teaches for our own sake, and also in order to be prepared to share this with anyone who knocks on our door. [viii]

Now, the second verse reaffirms the preceding truths, so that, what we have here in summary is this. In Jesus Christ, described here by John as the “Word”, we have One who is eternal and timeless in His being, distinct from God the Father and yet fully divine, in being God the Son.

As the Holy Spirit leads us to focus upon such glorious truths regarding Jesus Christ – that He is eternal, the full expression of God as the Word, fully divine and fully God, and yet God the Son – then what should be our most appropriate response?

IN THIS SEASON OF ADVENT AND BEYOND, WE SHOULD SURELY TAKE TIME

TO REFLECT UPON SUCH GLORY AS WE FIND IN JESUS CHRIST.

We can do this, even now as we find ourselves entering into this new season of Advent. With this in mind, I’m so grateful for the traditions of our church, such as the lighting of the Advent Candles in the Advent Wreath. When I was young, my parents were never outspoken about their faith, though my father was a deacon and my mother a Sunday School teacher. In fact, both of them taught in Sunday School. But they always made sure of this tradition being followed in our own individual family. How even more significant is this Wreath, as observed and treasured by the family of God’s people, assembled here in this place!

I’m also grateful for our Advent Devotional. This gives us the opportunity to consider the mystery, wonder and joy of this special season, by reading the testimonies and writings provided by our brothers and sisters in Christ, many whom we know personally, and know quite well.

There will also be numerous opportunities to reflect upon the Savior’s birth, with services of worship on Sunday mornings and evenings, a special music celebration of Christmas, a children’s pageant, Christmas Eve services and even a service on Christmas Day.

Now, some may say to me, “Pastor, isn’t this all a bit too much? After all, this is a very busy season!” I cannot deny the fact that it is a busy season for all of us. But more often than not, the problem lies with us, allowing ourselves to be immersed in so many activities that aren’t necessarily all that important. I get caught up in all of these, too. But I want to make this year’s Advent season different than the others, and I hope and pray that you do as well. For, as majestic and full of glory as Jesus Christ is, how can we not spend time in thinking of Him, and in giving Him our worship, love and devotion?

On the 24^th of August, 1683, the gifted servant of Christ and His Church, John Owen, lay dying. Owen had just finished a work of meditations on the glory and majesty of Christ. William Payne, another minister and friend of Owen’s, arrived at Owen’s bedside to tell him the good news that his manuscript had just been accepted for publication. (By the way, it is an excellent book which I am currently reading).

In response, Owen gave his friend this memorable reply as he knew his time had come: “I am glad to hear it; but, O brother Payne! the long-wished for day is come at last, in which I shall see that glory in another manner than I have ever done, or was capable of doing in this world.”

Owen had often reflected on the glory of Christ in the course of his life. He stated: “In this duty I desire to live and to die. On Christ’s glory I would fix all my thoughts and desires, and the more I see the glory of Christ, the more painted beauties of this world will wither in my eyes …”

John Owen earnestly wanted others as well to ponder over the glory of Christ. In an earnest plea, he said:

Is Christ … glorious in our eyes? Do we see the Father in Him? Do we daily meditate on the wisdom, love, grace, goodness, holiness and righteousness of God as revealed to us in Christ?

Do we realize that to see this glory in heaven will be our everlasting blessedness? Does the sight of His glory which we have here increase our desire for that perfect sight of it we shall one day have of it above? [ix]

The season of Advent is only just beginning this morning. But I want this season to be different … to be different for me and for you. Let’s see these seasonal activities, not as an encumbrance or burden, but rather as a means of freeing us to love even more the Christ of such majesty, beauty and glory.

May we see them as a means whereby we behold in our minds and hearts with awe the glory of the Eternal Word, who was with God in the beginning, and who is God. And may the sight of His glory which we have here, only increase our desire for the perfect sight of it, which we will one day most surely have!