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 came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be
4/ through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race;
5/ the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6/ A man named John was sent from God.
7/ He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.
8/ He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.
9/ The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
10/ He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him.
11/ He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.
12/ But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name,
13/ who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man's decision but of God.
14/ And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth.
The plainest reason why the Son of God is called the Word, seems to be, that as our words explain our minds to others, so was the Son of God sent in order to reveal his Father's mind to the world.
What the evangelist says of Christ proves that he is God. He asserts, His existence in the beginning; His coexistence with the Father. The Word was with God. All things were made by him, and not as an instrument. Without him was not any thing made that was made, from the highest angel to the meanest worm. This shows how well qualified he was for the work of our redemption and salvation. The light of reason, as well as the life of sense, is derived from him, and depends upon him. This eternal Word, this true Light shines, but the darkness comprehends it not.
Let us pray without ceasing, that our eyes may be opened to behold this Light, that we may walk in it; and thus be made wise unto salvation, by faith in Jesus Christ.
Christ was in the world when he took our nature upon him, and dwelt among us. The Son of the Highest was here in this lower world. He was in the world, but not of it. He came to save a lost world, because it was a world of his own making. Yet the world knew him not.
When he comes as a Judge, the world shall know him. Many say that they are Christ's own, yet do not receive him, because they will not part with their sins, nor have him to reign over them. All the children of God are born again. This new birth is ( 1 Peter. 1:23 ) Spirit of God as the Author.
By his Divine presence Christ always was in the world. But now that the fullness of time was come, he was, after another manner, God manifested in the flesh.
But observe the beams of his Divine glory, which darted through this veil of flesh. Men discover their weaknesses to those most familiar with them, but it was not so with Christ; those most intimate with him saw most of his glory. Although he was in the form of a servant, as to outward circumstances, yet, in respect of graces, his form was like the Son of God, His Divine glory appeared in the holiness of his doctrine, and in his miracles. He was full of grace, fully acceptable to his Father, therefore qualified to plead for us; and full of truth, fully aware of the things he was to reveal.
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