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John 1:1, 14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God . . . 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.

Four times in the first chapter of his gospel, John calls Jesus the “Word.” This translation of the Greek word logos is a strategic title that spoke to both the Greek and Jewish readers. Greek philosophers believed logos to be the reasoning or rational principle that supervised or governed the universe. To the Jew, “logos” was a reference to God. It was a translation of the Hebrew word dabar. Throughout the Old Testament, the “word (dabar) of the Lord” established covenants, communicated the law, and provided guidance.

John gives the word logos a new significance, describing Jesus himself. Logos is not simply a combination of letters but the expression of a message. When John calls Jesus “the Word,” he is saying that Jesus is both the mind and the message of God. He is the very expression of the Father. When you see Jesus, you see God. When you hear Jesus, you hear God. Jesus is the “image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). He is the “radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word” (Hebrews 1:3 NIV).

Many times in his writings, John called Jesus the Word. In 1 John 1:1 (NIV), he wrote, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched —this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.” And in The Revelation, John prophesied, “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God” (Rev. 19:11-13 NIV).

Lord Jesus,

You are the Word — the very expression of God. Thank you for coming to earth to show me the Father’s love by paying the penalty for my sins on the cross. Thank you for being the Word of God.

In your name, I pray. Amen.

Let us pray for you. Send your requests to prayer@ronmoore.org.

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Surviving a Spiritual Slump