The Eternal Word: Discovering Who Jesus Really Is in John 1

Have you ever stood beneath a starry sky and wondered about the vastness of our universe? Our Milky Way galaxy alone contains between 100 and 400 billion stars, and scientists now estimate there may be up to 2 trillion galaxies out there. It’s mind-boggling! But even more astonishing is the One who created it all. As we dive into John 1:1-5, we discover profound truths about Jesus that change everything about how we see Him.

The Most Profound Book in the World

Robertson said about John’s Gospel that it is “the most profound book in the world.” This isn’t surprising when you consider that 90% of what is written in John’s Gospel isn’t covered in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. John had a very intimate relationship with Jesus, being “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” and wrote with a specific theological purpose: to prove that Jesus is not only man but God Himself.

When we look at John 1:1-5, we’re standing on holy ground as we glimpse who Jesus truly is:

“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 was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:1-5)

Jesus Is God

The opening verses of John’s Gospel immediately establish Jesus’ divine nature. “In the beginning was the Word” – notice the tense here. It’s continuous, suggesting Jesus didn’t just exist at a point in time but has always existed. He is “co-eternal with the Father.”

The passage continues, “and the Word was with God.” The Greek here literally means “face to face with” – indicating an intimate relationship. Jesus was “co-existent with the Father,” in perfect eternal fellowship.

Then John makes the most profound statement: “and the Word was God.” Not a lesser deity or a created being, but fully God. Jesus is “co-equal with God.” As I’ve preached before, “Christ was not God the Father, but Christ was God the Son.”

Jesus Is the Maker of All Things

Verse 3 tells us, “All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.” Jesus is the agent of all creation! This “all things” means everything individually and separately.

As Colossians 1:16 affirms: “For by him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through him and for him.”

Spurgeon said it beautifully: “There is no corner of the universe where Christ has not set his mind.” The same God who created those trillions of galaxies sees every sparrow and counts the hairs on your head. That’s pretty cool! “He’s a God to love and to worship, and no matter what is out there, he knows who I am, he knows what I’m doing, He knows what I’m thinking, and he knows how I need to be more like him.”

Jesus Is Life and Light

In verse 4 we read, “In him was life, and the life was the light of men.” Jesus is the source of both physical and spiritual life. “All things physically are owed because of what Christ has done,” as Acts 17:28 reminds us: “In him we live and move and have our being.”

But more importantly, Jesus offers spiritual life. As I mentioned last week from John 10:10, “He came to give life and life more abundantly.” If you have Jesus, you have life!

The light of Jesus continues to shine in the darkness, revealing God, exposing sin, and providing direction and hope. As Psalm 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”

Most encouragingly, “the darkness has not overcome it.” No matter how dark our world becomes, Christ’s light cannot be extinguished. The light is shining! Hope is there because Christ is there.

Life Application: Responding to the Light

You have a choice about how to respond to the light of Jesus:

1. Turn to the Light – “Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Religion, philosophy, and self-effort cannot save you from sin’s darkness. Only Jesus can.
2. Walk in the Light – If you already know Christ, continue growing in your faith and understanding. Let His light guide your relationships, family, and community involvement.
3. Reflect the Light – Since Jesus is the light of the world, and you know Him, let His light shine through you to others who remain in darkness.

Remember, “The light is shining.” There is no need to remain in darkness. Jesus—eternal, co-equal with the Father, maker of all things, the very light and life—is waiting for your response today.