John 1:6-18 / The Word Made Flesh
The Word Made Flesh
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
The opening of John’s Gospel is a thunderclap of theological depth. John takes an idea that was widely understood—both in Jewish thought and Greek philosophy—and makes the disruptive claim that the Logos, the divine Word, is not just an abstract principle but a person—and not just any person—Jesus Christ.
The Word That Shapes Reality
Ancient cultures understood that words had power. A king’s decree could shape an empire, and God’s Word in Genesis spoke the universe into existence. John leans into this idea and declares that Jesus himself is God’s Word in human form—the full revelation of what God wants to say to the world.
But this brings up an important distinction: the Word of God is not the Bible. The Bible contains the Word and bears witness to the Word, but the Word is Jesus. If we mistake the book for the Person, we risk using scripture to silence Jesus rather than letting Jesus interpret scripture for us.
Jesus is what God has to say to this world. And history shows that people have always struggled to recognize him.
Who Sees Jesus? Who Misses Him?
Throughout John’s Gospel, two groups emerge:
1. The Powerful, Who Miss Him: The religious leaders, the priests, the politicians—those with wealth and status—fail to see Jesus for who he is.
2. The Marginalized, Who See Him Clearly: The blind man, the Samaritan woman, Mary Magdalene—those outside the structures of power—recognize him.
John’s community understood this personally. They had been cast out of their faith tradition and rejected by their own people.
So, John’s Gospel keeps asking the question:
Who recognizes Jesus?
And perhaps more urgently: Do we?
The Word Becomes Flesh in Us
When the word becomes flesh and enters the room, we stop paying attention to the words on the page and start looking at the presence of Christ in our midst. The story of Jesus, the Sermon on the Mount, the way of the cross—these are not just things to read about, accept, and say that you believe in; they are somethign to order your entire life around.
Christianity isn’t a list of doctrines to affirm. It’s an order of life centered on the reality that Jesus is King. John’s Gospel warns that the challenge for Christians is that power can blind us. If we are in a social location of privilege, comfort, or influence, it will be harder for us to see Jesus. The comforts of life can get in our way, cloud our judgment, and stoke fires of bitterness and hatred that threaten our unity. This is also why we must not give the powerful in our world too much attention, whether in admiration or outrage, or we are in danger of losing sight of the One who actually reigns.
John's Gospel calls us to lift our eyes, to look past the noise, and to recognize the quiet, upside-down kingdom of God breaking through. And to let the Word become flesh in us, so that the world can see him.
Discussion Questions for House Church
1. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” If Jesus is the living, breathing “Word” of God, what does that tell us about how God speaks to the world? How is this different from simply saying, “The Bible is God’s Word”?
2. Power and Recognition: John highlights that those in power—religious leaders, politicians—struggled to recognize Jesus, while the marginalized saw him clearly. Why do you think power makes it harder to see Jesus? Have you ever had a moment where your own comfort, status, or assumptions made it difficult to recognize where God was at work?
3. Jesus and Projection: The personality study in the UK showed that people tend to see Jesus as similar to themselves. Why do you think that happens? Can you think of any ways you may have projected your own values, preferences, or personality onto Jesus?
4. The Word Becoming Flesh in Us: Think about something you’ve practiced so often that it became second nature—like learning to drive, play an instrument, or speak a language. How does this compare to the way faith is meant to shape us? What are some practices that help the life of Jesus become instinctive in us, rather than just something we believe?
5. God at Work in Unexpected Places: John’s Gospel warns that God’s work doesn’t always look like what we expect. Sometimes, God’s presence looks messy or even like defeat. Have you ever experienced a situation where you later realized God was at work, even though it didn’t look like it at the time? How does that challenge the way we expect God to move?