John 1 explained: The Word Becomes Human

The Word before everything (vv. 1-5)

Before naming Jesus, the writer calls him “the Word.” The term echoes God creating by speaking in Genesis 1, and Greek thinkers also used it for the reason behind the universe. This Word was with God and was God, made everything, and shines as a light in the darkness; translations differ on whether the darkness has not “overcome” it or not “understood” it, since the Greek allows both.

Light rejected and welcomed (vv. 6-13)

John the Baptist, a desert preacher and not this book's writer, is only a witness to the light; many scholars think this is stressed because some people still treated John as the central figure. The world and even his own people largely did not welcome him, yet all who trust him, starting with the Jewish followers later in this chapter, become God's children by God's doing rather than by birth or human choice.

The Word becomes human (vv. 14-18)

The Word became a real, mortal human and lived among us; the Greek literally says he “pitched his tent,” recalling the tent where God's presence dwelt with Israel in the desert. The law came through Moses, and now God's kindness and faithfulness arrive in person in Jesus, who makes the unseen God known; old copies of verse 18 differ on whether he is called “God” or “Son” there.

Who John is not (vv. 19-28)

Officials from Jerusalem ask if John is the Messiah (God's promised king), Elijah (expected back before God's great day) or the prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy 18); some translations call the senders simply “the Jews,” a phrase this book often uses for the authorities. John denies all three and calls himself only the voice from Isaiah preparing the way, not worthy even to untie the sandals of the one coming next.

The Lamb of God (vv. 29-34)

When John calls Jesus the Lamb of God who removes the world's sin, it may recall the Passover lamb, temple sacrifices, or the suffering servant compared to a lamb in Isaiah 53; scholars are unsure which, and Christians read it as pointing ahead to his death. John says he recognized Jesus by a promised sign, the Spirit coming down like a dove and staying on him, and old copies of verse 34 differ between “Son of God” and “God's Chosen One.”

The first followers (vv. 35-51)

Andrew, one of two followers of John who go after Jesus, brings his brother Simon, whom Jesus renames Cephas, Aramaic for “rock” (Peter in Greek). Jesus then calls Philip directly, and Philip invites a doubtful Nathanael to “come and see.” Nathanael is won over when Jesus shows he already knows him, and Jesus promises more, recalling Jacob's dream of angels going up and down between heaven and earth (Genesis 28) with himself as the link.

Key verse: John 1:14

Where Christians differ

Catholic, Orthodox and most Protestant Christians read verse 1 as saying the Word is fully God, distinct from the Father yet one with him; some groups translate it as “the Word was a god” and see a lesser divine being, while Unitarian Christians generally read the Word as God's own self-expression or plan, fully shown in the human Jesus.

Something to think about

Jesus's first words in this book ask two strangers what they are looking for. If someone asked you that about your life right now, what would you honestly say?