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The Word Became Flesh
John opens his Gospel by explaining who Jesus is. Rather than retelling Jesus’ birth, he speaks about the Word, creation, light, witness, belief, and the Son who makes God known.
Understanding the passage
Understanding the passage
This opening begins with the Word in the beginning, with God and as God. It moves through creation, life and light, introduces John as a witness, describes both rejection and reception, and then names Jesus Christ as the one through whom grace and truth came.
John 1:1–18Main takeaway
John 1:1-18 presents Jesus Christ as the eternal Word who became flesh and makes God known.
Explore the teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01The Word before creationJohn starts at the beginning, before anything was made. The Word already was there, was with God, and was God.
Explanation
John starts at the beginning, before anything was made. The Word already was there, was with God, and was God. John then says all things were made through him. This means the Word is not part of creation as one made thing among others, because creation came through him.
02Life, light, and John’s witnessIn the Word is life, and that life is called the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Explanation
In the Word is life, and that life is called the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John then introduces a man named John, sent from God, whose role is to testify about the light so that people might believe.
03Coming into the worldThe true light was coming into the world and enlightens everyone. Yet the world did not recognise him, even though it was made through him.
Explanation
The true light was coming into the world and enlightens everyone. Yet the world did not recognise him, even though it was made through him. His own did not receive him. Still, those who receive him and believe in his name are given the right to become God’s children, born of God.
04The Word became fleshJohn states plainly that the Word became flesh and lived among us. He speaks of the glory of the only born Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Explanation
John states plainly that the Word became flesh and lived among us. He speaks of the glory of the only born Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. He then names Jesus Christ and says the only born Son has declared the God whom no one has seen.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does John say about the Word before creation?
02How is John different from the light?
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
John 1:1–18
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2The same was in the beginning with God.
3All things were made through him. Without him, nothing was made that has been made.
4In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it.
6There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him.
8He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light.
9The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.
10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him.
11He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him.
12But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name:
13who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14The Word became flesh and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the only born Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
15John testified about him. He cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’ ”
16From his fullness we all received grace upon grace.
17For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
18No one has seen God at any time. The only born Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared him.