Billy Sunday once said in a sermon that there are 256 names given for Jesus in the Bible. Then he added, “I suppose this was because He was infinitely beyond all that any one name could express.” Sunday’s comment reminds me of an observation made by Ralph Waldo Emerson who said that Jesus’ name “is not so much written as ploughed into the history of this world.”
I’ve been working on a series of lessons for the Wellandport VBS about the names of Jesus based on material from Apologetics Press. The five we’ll be studying are Messiah, Nazarene, Lord, Almighty, and Savior. I wish we could have a sixth lesson from today’s text
In the beginning of his prologue, the apostle John wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
In the following verses a wonderful description is given of the Word and the testimony from John the Immerser. To remove any doubt who the Word is, the apostle declared in verse 14.
“And the Word became 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.”
John affirms that Jesus was “the Word.” And “the Word was God.”
“Word” is from the Greek word “Logos,” a very nuanced and profound word. Greek scholars say Logos “embodies a conception or idea…an oracle or utterance which God discloses…a thought, or declaration…what is communicated by instruction…or uttered by the living voice.”
“Logos” was very familiar to the Jews since it frequently occurred in the Septuagint version. The verb communicated the repeated expression “God said” in Genesis 1. They used Logos to describe God’s divine action in creation, as well as His verbal communication with mankind. Logos was the dynamic power of Jehovah.
To the Greeks, “Logos” embodied a great philosophical thought. The pre-Socratic philosopher Heraclitus said it was “the unifying principle of cosmic law by which all things happen.” The Stoics called it “the great creative force.” Logos is the reason why we have a cosmos instead of chaos.
Over time “Logos” took on a new meaning to suggest that which mediated between God and creation and it set the stage for John’s usage in his Gospel.
JESUS IS “THE WORD”
(1) Jesus is the Eternal Word. “In the beginning was the Word….. He existed in the beginning, NOT because he had a beginning as a created being, but because He is eternal. He was from “the beginning.”
(2) Jesus is the Divine Word. “The Word was God” (Jn 1:2) The word “God” is “theos” and means Deity. Jesus was divine. Jesus was Deity. Jesus was God.
(3) Jesus is the Creative Word. The text says, “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” (Jn. 1:3). When Jehovah said in Gen 1:26, “Let us make man in our image,” he was speaking to the WORD, the co-creator.
(4) Jesus is the Illuminating Word. “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:4-5) . Life and light are reoccurring themes in John’s gospel.
Jesus is the life. But what is necessary to sustain life? Light! Twenty-four times “light” is used in John’s Gospel and most are spoken by Jesus himself who said, “I am the light of the world,” Jesus gives light and sustains life.
(5) Jesus is the Incarnate Word. To the Jews, “Logos” was the unseen power and majesty of God demonstrated in His work and creation. To the Greeks, “Logos” was philosophical. But John defies both schools of thoughts with the affirmation THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH.
WHAT “THE WORD” MEANS TO US?
Jesus is the compete revelation of God. The express image of God. The essence of Godhood. Jesus is the main message of the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, Jesus is the theme of God’s Holy Book. Jesus is the final Word on all matters of spiritual significance. The Father emphatically announced, “Hear Him!” (Matt 17:5). He is the Father’s spokesman today (Heb. 1:1-3).
“The Word was made flesh.” He was weary. Thirsty. Hungry. He groaned. Wept. And suffered. He experienced the pains and problems of the flesh.
He partook of humanity that we might enjoy divinity. He was afflicted that we might be healed. He was rejected that we might be accepted.
Jesus, The Word, died that we might live. And He arose from the dead, that we too may be resurrected to eternal life.
“The Word” is the centerpiece of civilization. The object of our worship. The focus of our celebrative communion.
Behold His glory! See His grace! Discover His Truth! Jesus. The WORD!
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
ThePreachersWord 
The Trinity is Central to who Jesus is. Isaiah 9:6 speaks of The triune figure of God that comes into the world [to dwell among Isaiah’s audience].
Listen closely to the text, keeping in mind how children come into the world, as male and female and when a man matures he leaves his parents (his mother and father) and unites with his wife, and the two become one flesh [newly begotten man (son)].
Here’s Isaiah’s text: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Now look very closely. Can you see how Christ as testified by John the Forerunner in John 3:28-29 comes alive in the Johannine faith community?
The people suppose the Rabbi they call John is the Christ. So John tells them straight out. He is not the Christ. And so people often stop up their ears right there and fail to listen to how he had said earlier, “I am a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ ”…and how in John 3:28-29, he testifies that he is not the Christ but sent ahead of Him. And clarifies this by saying:
The Bride belongs with the Bridegroom The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him.
Ephesians 5:31-32 says: “a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is profound, but I am speaking about Christ and the church.”
Now go back and listen to Isaiah…and see the mystery unfold as two become one and enter into a faith community that has been prepared to receive them…
A Wonderful Counselor [advocate] and a Might God [El Shaddai…the breast of God, the Grace] become sisters known to the Gospel as Mary and Martha. Now look further and see how two brothers appear: One called the Everlasting Father and the other called the Prince of Peace.
Thus two sisters and two brothers form one messianic unit…each bearing the name Jesus. Jesus the Woman called Mary; Jesus the Woman called Martha; Jesus the Man called the Husbandman ie Bridegroom and Jesus the Rabbi aka John aka the Forerunner.
Now you may be scratching your head in puzzlement. However do not fret or be anxious. There is only one thing that is necessary …and Mary did make the right choice and so…the Crucifixion did happen…and she standing on the Cross said to those listening to her breathing her last “single” breath…[Everlasting] Father [Christ my bridegroom] into your hands I commit my Spirit. ah…and then Joseph of Ari mathea claims the body…and both he and Nicodemus wrap Jesus’ body in their sheets…and this buries Jesus…
Thus the mystery…and the many names of Jesus confuse believers…and yet this is no fairytale.
Many see how the Word of God is accomplished (not through war or violence) but as the Branch (the Amygdala) spoken of in Jeremiah 1:11; Isaiah 11:1 and John 15;1 comes alive “as promised” in the fullness of time…uniting heaven and earth with the Crucifixion and the Resurrection and the Ascension.
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