John 1:1-18
"The only begotten Son", making known the Father – such is the summary of this gospel (v.18; see 1 John 4:9, 1 John 1:3, 1 John 2:23). The very first verse, in which every word is important, presents Him to us as the Word, an eternal Person, distinct from God, yet at the same time God. As far back as we are able to imagine, the Word was there (Psalms 90:2). But this creating Word, the unique source of life and light, did not speak to us from the heights of heaven, but came into the world (v. 9), making Himself subject to our limits of time and space. It is an unfathomable mystery that the Word became flesh (v. 14; 1 Timothy 3:16). The Word did not come as a swift messenger who returned immediately to the One who had sent Him. He dwelt (literally pitched His tent) among us, yet without ever ceasing to be "in the bosom of the Father" (v. 18). All that God is in His nature – love and light (grace for the heart and truth for the sinner’s conscience) has come to us and has shone out in this wonderful Person. But the moral darkness of man did not understand the true Light (v. 5). The world did not know its Creator. His own people did not receive their Messiah (v. 11). And you, reader, have you received Him? If you have, then you are a child of God (v. 12; Galatians 3:26).