Lesson 1: John 1:1-14 - The Word

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 was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
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 bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.
8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.
11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
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 have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The entire book of John will show us the truth of who Jesus really is. John 1:1 is perhaps both the greatest declaration and the greatest mystery in the Bible. From these first words in verse 1 we learn Jesus the man was at the same time God. A comparison with verse 14 tells us how this union of God and man came to be. It is a vital part of our salvation to accept the truth of Jesus being God, since only the blood of God could pay the price to redeem us from our sin.


As Creator-God, He is Life itself. He breathed the breath of life into Adam (Genesis 2:7). He is also our Light. This is the Light which shows us both our sin and our way (Psalm 119:105). But mankind is in darkness and cannot understand the Light God sent to us. So God sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for the Lord Jesus. His task was to be a witness to the Light so that all might believe in Him. He was to show others the Light but he himself was not the Light. Even though Jesus, the Creator and true Light, was in the world, the world did not recognize Him.

As Creator, all people were His, yet they refused to receive Him. They loved the darkness instead (John 3:19). But those who received Him were given the power and authority to become God’s children. These children are born from above by God the Father. God the Word lowered Himself to become a man. A babe in a poor family. Incredible, unbelievable, impossible yet gloriously true. We saw His glory.

The most amazing gift in the Bible is the grace of God made possible by the blood of Jesus Christ the God-man. We are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). Without the grace of God, we are completely helpless in our sin. Someone defined grace as “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.” Christ paid the way for us to become the children of God. Praise His name!

*Who do you say Jesus is?