Crown Jewel

John 1:1-18

"1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 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. 15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.' " 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him." NKJV

John 1:1-18 is arguably one of the most profound passages in the entire Bible.  To me it is the “crown jewel” of the Scriptures.   I am not an Augustine, Luther, or Spurgeon.  I am just a simple sheep desiring to read and share the life of Jesus Christ with other sheep of my flock.  It is not possible for me to plumb the depths of all the wealth of this treasure.  Nor is it possible or wise to take only one day on it; in truth, we could sit and gaze at this passage for a lifetime and never truly comprehend its splendor.  We will take at least three days to just skim the surface. 

“In the beginning was the Word....”  The Apostle John, by the Holy Spirit gets right down to business from the very start focusing our attention on Jesus.  Jesus Christ is the very Word of God in human flesh.  We call this the “incarnation” (in flesh).  As God reveals Himself in Scripture, He shows us that what He speaks is Who He is.  Psalm 138:2 tells us, "I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name."  God’s name is holy and righteous, yet He magnifies His Word above His name. 

Jesus, the very Word of God came to earth as God the Son, God in flesh, the express image of the Father, the image of the invisible God. (Hebrews 1:1-3, Colossians 1:15-17).  All things were made by Him, through Him, and for Him.  He upholds all things by the Word of His power and by Him all things consist.  This is our pre-eminent, superior God-man, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

But we walk in darkness, enemies and separated from God in our minds by our wicked works, dead in sin, without life, without hope...until the light shone in the darkness and God Himself came in Jesus Christ.  The absolutely astounding miracle that Jesus would come into my darkness is a wonder that I cannot fathom.  As I write this, the impossibility of this miracle nearly takes my breath away, for I am not worthy of it.  All I can do is marvel at its profound beauty.  For this God in flesh who was Life itself.....died..... and rose again to give me life.  What an amazing wonder!  May this amazing truth shine in your darkness today and bring you light, and life and hope.  

Next: John 1:1-18 (Part 2)