Opening Scripture — John 1:1–18 (KJV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by 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 And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men 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 lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
13 Which 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 was made 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 bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me, for he was before me.
16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
18 No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
Scene Description
Before the world began, before the first beam of light shone across the void, before the rhythm of days and nights, the Word was. He stands eternal, uncreated, dwelling face to face with God and yet Himself God. The silence of eternity was never empty, for the Word filled it with fellowship and glory. From Him the cosmos was summoned into being. By His voice the foundations of the deep were set, the stars arrayed, the hosts of heaven ordered, and the earth clothed in its beauty. Every creature carries the mark of His wisdom, for without Him nothing came to be.
Yet the Word who framed the heavens did not remain distant from His creation. Life dwelt in Him, and that life was the light of men. It was the radiance that gives meaning to every breath and the clarity that pierces the shadows of ignorance and sin. Darkness has always risen against that light, but it has never prevailed. The light continues to shine, untouched and unconquered, for the Word Himself cannot be overthrown.
And then, in the mystery of God’s eternal plan, the Word became flesh. He who was before all worlds took on the substance of His own creation. He dwelt among men as one who pitched His tent in their midst. Eyes beheld a glory hidden from ages past, a glory not of burning fire and consuming smoke as on Sinai, but of grace and truth embodied in the Only Begotten of the Father. Here stood the Creator in human frame. Here walked the Giver of life with feet that could be weary, with hands that could be pierced. Here, in Christ, the eternal Word entered time, not as a visitor who departs but as the Redeemer who abides.
Reflection
John begins his gospel not with Bethlehem, nor with Jordan, nor even with Eden, but with eternity itself. He pulls back the curtain to reveal that the Jesus he proclaims is not a prophet who arose in history, but the eternal Word who gave history its beginning. By naming Him the Word, John declares that Christ is the revelation of the Father, the very speech of God, the perfect communication of His will and His being. What God has to say to the world, He has said fully in His Son.
This Word is not only with God but is God. Distinction and unity stand together in holy mystery. The Son is not the Father, yet He is of the same essence, fully divine, eternally dwelling in perfect fellowship. All creation flows from Him, which means that nothing exists outside His sovereign hand. The galaxies wheel in their orbits because He has set their course. The smallest atom holds together by His sustaining power. The invisible realms of angels, thrones, dominions, and powers exist because He decreed their being.
But John’s vision presses further. In Him was life. The source of vitality, the spark of existence, the beating of every heart, and the stirring of every breath all find their wellspring in Christ. And that life is not a blind force but the light of men. Light gives direction and truth. Light reveals what darkness conceals. The presence of the Word brings illumination, not only in the act of creation but in the unveiling of God’s will. Even when sin brought shadow over the earth, even when hearts grew dull, the light never ceased to shine. The darkness could not contain it, could not master it, could not put it out.
Then John brings us to the holy mystery of incarnation. The Word was made flesh. The eternal Son took on the frailty of human nature without surrendering His deity. He did not merely appear as a man but truly became man, entering the lineage of Adam, yet without sin. In Him the fullness of God dwelt bodily. He tabernacled among us, fulfilling the pattern of Israel’s wilderness tent, where the glory of the Lord descended to dwell with His people. But here the glory was not veiled behind curtains of woven fabric. It was seen openly in Jesus Christ, the glory of the Only Begotten, radiant with grace and truth.
From Him flows a river that never runs dry. Of His fulness we have all received, grace upon grace, mercy upon mercy, blessing upon blessing. The law given through Moses testified to holiness and exposed sin, but it could not give the power to cleanse the heart. In Christ grace comes with truth, and truth with grace, in a union that saves and sanctifies. He makes known the Father, for He is in the bosom of the Father, the eternal interpreter of the divine, the perfect revelation of the unseen God.
Application
The Word has been spoken. The revelation is complete. The eternal Son has entered history, and the invitation stands open: receive Him. To as many as received Him, He gave power to become the sons of God. The greatest privilege a human soul can know is offered freely. To be counted as a child of God, born not of earthly descent nor human will but of God Himself.
Receiving Him means more than acknowledging facts about Him. It means bowing before Him as Lord, confessing His name, and trusting His work. It means allowing His light to search your heart, to expose what is hidden, and to lead you in the way of holiness. It means resting in His grace, drawing daily from His fullness, and walking in the truth that sanctifies.
The world did not recognize Him, and His own did not receive Him. That blindness remains in many hearts. But the text declares that the true Light enlightens every man. The witness goes out. The invitation is sounded. The choice stands before every soul: to walk in the shadows of unbelief or to step into the light of Christ.
For the believer, the call is to dwell in Him. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us; now by His Spirit He dwells in us. Let your life be a tent set apart for His presence. Let your days be marked by prayer and praise, by Scripture hidden in the heart, by obedience shaped by His commands. Walk in grace and truth. Let mercy season your speech and holiness guard your conduct. Bear witness to the Light as John did. Lift up Christ with clarity and with urgency, that others might believe.
Expanded Scripture with Commentary
Verses 1–2 declare the eternal existence of the Word. “In the beginning was the Word.” He did not come into being; He already was. The Word was with God, in eternal communion, face to face in perfect fellowship. Yet the Word was God, sharing the divine essence, not as a lesser being but as true God. This is the foundation of all gospel proclamation. If Christ is not eternal, He cannot save. If Christ is not God, He cannot reconcile. John anchors us in eternity so that the gospel may be seen as the eternal purpose of God Himself.
Verse 3 affirms His creative power. All things were made by Him. Creation is not an accident of chance. The Word ordered it, framed it, and filled it. The structure of the universe, the laws that govern it, and the beauty that adorns it all speak of His wisdom. Without Him nothing was made. This absolute statement leaves no corner of existence outside His sovereignty.
Verses 4–5 unveil His role as life and light. Life originates in Him. Spiritual vitality, eternal existence, and the hope of resurrection all rest in Him. That life shines as light for mankind, revealing truth and guiding the way. Darkness opposes, but it does not overcome. The history of the world is filled with rebellion against God, yet the light continues. The gospel advances, and the Word shines unquenched.
Verses 6–8 remind us of the witness of John. God prepares heralds. John’s mission was to point to the Light, not to replace it. His testimony served the purpose of belief. The pattern continues in the church, where every disciple is called to bear witness, pointing beyond themselves to Christ.
Verses 9–11 show the tragedy of rejection. The true Light entered the world He made, yet the world did not know Him. He came to His own covenant people, but many hearts were hardened. The blindness of sin prevents recognition, proving the need for divine birth.
Verses 12–13 announce the gift of adoption. To those who received Him, He gave authority to become sons of God. Faith is the hand that receives. New birth is the miracle that follows. This birth is not by natural descent or human striving but by the power of God. Salvation is God’s work from beginning to end.
Verse 14 is the summit: the Word became flesh. Here is the incarnation, the union of deity and humanity in one Person. He dwelt among us, fulfilling the tabernacle type. The disciples beheld His glory, glory that revealed His unique sonship, full of grace and truth. In Jesus we encounter the very presence of God, approachable and saving.
Verses 15–18 continue the testimony. John the Baptist declares the preexistence and supremacy of Christ. From His fullness we receive an unending supply of grace. The law given through Moses was holy but incomplete. Grace and truth find their perfection in Christ. No man has seen God, but the Son, dwelling in the Father’s bosom, has declared Him. In Jesus, the unseen God is perfectly revealed.
Christ
All Scripture leads us here. Christ is the eternal Word, the radiant image of the invisible God, the Creator of all that exists, and the Light that gives life to men. He is the One who entered His own creation to redeem it, taking flesh to reconcile man to God. He is the new and living tabernacle, the fullness of grace and truth, the only begotten who declares the Father.
The gospel is not an invitation to religion or philosophy but to Christ Himself. He is the life that defeats death, the light that scatters darkness, the grace that covers sin, and the truth that sanctifies. To receive Him is to enter into sonship with the Father. To reject Him is to remain blind in the shadows.
Lift up your eyes to behold Him. Bow your heart to confess Him. Walk in His light with confidence, for the Word who was in the beginning is with you still. And when all ages are gathered before the throne, it will be His glory that fills eternity, His voice that speaks peace, and His light that shines forever.