Jesus: The Eternal Word, the True Light, the Only Begotten (John 1:1-18)

 Jesus: The Eternal Word, the True Light, the Only Begotten

Introduction

All we know about the earthly life of Jesus is found in the four Gospels contained in the New Testament. Each Gospel writer presents Jesus in his own characteristic way—like four portraits, four camera angles capturing the same divine reality, each shedding light on a unique facet of who Jesus is. And even together, they only begin to touch the surface of His fullness.

As John himself testifies in the final verse of his Gospel.

John 21:25

“And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.”

The Four Gospel Perspectives

Mathew wrote for a Jewish audience. He emphasises Jesus as the Messiah, the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy, and confronts the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. Mark, addressed to Gentiles (Romans), highlights Jesus’ actions, miracles, and His life of servitude. Luke, also written to a Gentile (Greek) audience, offers many parables and intimate details about Jesus’ early life. He emphasises Jesus’ (the Son of Man) heart for sinful women, the poor, and social outcasts like tax collectors.

Then comes John the most theological of the four, significantly different in both content and tone. The audience is the whole world and presented Jesus, the Son of God, God in the flesh.

The Gospel of Matthew, Mark and Luke are commonly called the Synoptic Gospels. The word "Synoptic" comes from the Greek words: "syn" (συν) meaning "together" or "with" and "opsis" (ὄψις) meaning "view" or "sight". "synoptic" (συνοπτικός) literally means "seeing together" or "a common view."

These three Gospels often recount the same events, sometimes in the same order, and occasionally with nearly identical wording. In contrast, John gives us a different lens—one that emphasises not just what Jesus did, but who Jesus is. This Gospel complements the Synoptics by going deeper into the identity and mission of Christ as the Son of God. 

It has no parables, no casting out demons, no account of Jesus' birth, baptism, or the Last Supper (as a meal). Instead, John emphasises Jesus’ identity through long theological discourses, signs, and personal encounters. The focus is on Jerusalem rather than Galilee and includes multiple Passovers, indicating a longer ministry. 

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Hallmarks of John’s Gospel

Seven “I AM” statements directly link Jesus to Yahweh of the Old Testament (Exodus 3:14).

 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

• • “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35)
• • “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12)
• • “I am the door” (John 10:9)
• • “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11)
• • “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25)
• • “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6)
• • “I am the true vine” (John 15:1) 

Seven specific signs that are not all found in the Synoptics. Each sign points to Jesus’ glory and identity, not just compassion or power.

• • Turning water into wine at Cana (John 2:1–11)
• • Healing the royal official’s son (John 4:46–54)
• • Healing the paralytic at Bethesda (John 5:1–15)
• • Feeding the 5,000 (John 6:5–14) – in other Gospels
• • Walking on water (John 6:16–24) – in other Gospels
• • Healing the man born blind (John 9:1–7)
• • Raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1–45)

John 20:31

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”

He chooses seven signs (a number symbolizing completion) to reveal Jesus’ divine identity—not to record everything Jesus did.

Extended, personal dialogues, that reveal profound spiritual truths and emphasize individual faith.

• • Nicodemus (John 3), 
• • Samaritan woman (John 4), 
• • Martha and Mary (John 11), 
• • Pilate (John 18–19). 

Who wrote this Gospel?

We know it was written by John, the apostle and this is because Irenaeus, a disciple of Polycarp (who was taught by John himself), wrote in his book Against Heresies (Adversus Haereses), Book III, Chapter 1, Section 1:

“Then John, the disciple of the Lord, who also had leaned upon His breast, did himself publish a Gospel during his residence at Ephesus in Asia.”

Also, Clement of Alexandria (late 2nd century) called it the “spiritual Gospel” and affirmed that John, one of the apostles, wrote it to complement the Synoptic Gospels. In his book Ecclesiastical History, Eusebius (4th century) quoted earlier sources, affirmed that John the Apostle was the author and linked the Gospel to his time in Ephesus.

Quote (via Eusebius quoting Clement) Book VI, Chapter 14, Section 7:

“But that John, last of all, conscious that the outward facts had been set forth in the Gospels, was urged on by his disciples and divinely moved by the Spirit, composed a spiritual Gospel.”

John is the son of Zebedee, brother of James and business partner of Peter and Andrew.

Some scholars deduced that he may be the cousin of Jesus, as his mother is Salome, the sister of Mary according to Matthew 27:56, Mark 15:40, John 19:25. 

He refers to himself simply as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” and lived longest of the 12 apostles and was the only one who died a natural death.

When was the Gospel written?

Probably toward the end of the first century but before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD according to some scholars due to the lack of reference to the destruction of the city. But other scholars place it around 85 -125 AD. It was written in Ephesus, modern Turkey.

Jesus, the Word of God (John 1:1-3)

John 1:1-3

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 

While Matthew, Mark, and Luke begin their Gospels with the birth of Jesus or the ministry of John the Baptist, John opens with a bold theological declaration that takes us all the way back to eternity past.

• • Matthew traces Jesus’ genealogy to Abraham.
• • Luke goes even further—to Adam.
• • But John goes back to the very beginning: before time, before creation, into the eternal realm.

Jesus, “The Word of God ”

John introduces us to “the Word” (Greek: Logos)—a term loaded with meaning for both Jewish and Greek readers. And in John 1:14 and 17 he finally declares that the Word is Jesus.

John wrote in Koine Greek, the common language of the Roman Empire. He uses the word Logos, which in Greek philosophy, especially from Heraclitus and later the Stoics, referred to:

• • The rational principle that governs the universe
• • The mind behind the cosmos
• • The divine logic, harmony, and order in creation

To Greek philosophers, the Logos was impersonal—a force. But John redefines Logos as a Person, not a concept: “The Word was with God… and the Word was God.”

This would have shocked Greek thinkers. Logos, to John, is not just divine order, but a divine Person, eternally with God, and fully God.

In the Jewish world, particularly among Aramaic-speaking Jews, the equivalent term was Memra, used frequently in the Targums—Aramaic translation of the Hebrew Scriptures.

Rather than saying “God said,” the Targums often say “the Memra (Word) of the Lord said…”. It became a reverent and indirect way to speak of God’s presence and activity.

Genesis 1:3

In Targum Neofiti, the verse reads:

“And the Memra of the Lord said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light by His Memra.”

Genesis 28:20–21

Jacob's vow is rendered in Targum Onkelos as:

“If the Memra of the Lord will be with me... then the Memra of the Lord shall be my God.”

So, when John declares Jesus as the Logos, it echoes the Memra—the Word who creates, speaks, and dwells among His people. Jesus is the eternal Word, with God, and is God.

The Word Is Eternal and Divine

John 1:1 makes it clear that

• • The Word was in the beginning (eternal)
• • The Word was with God (distinct)
• • The Word was God (divine)

So, the Word had been in the beginning of the world, but did not start then, but had always been there. He was with God, and the Word was God. This emphasises that the Word is a separate, distinct person and still is God in divinity. This is the mystery of the Trinity—One God in three persons, the Father, the Son (the Word), and the Holy Spirit.

Throughout the Gospel, Jesus makes divine claims. And the Jewish leaders understood exactly what He meant, that they wanted to stone him for blasphemy. 

John 10:31-33

Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him.  Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?”

 The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.”

Jesus also declared that He has been there for eternity with the Father in multiple occasions. He affirms His eternal pre-existence, and the love and unity He shared with the Father before creation.

John 17:4-5

I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together [a]with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

John 17:24

“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

The Word Created All Things

John echoes Genesis 1, especially in the Targum Neofiti) and aligns perfectly with other New Testament writings:

Colossians 1:16

For by Him (Jesus) all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

Hebrew 1:2

has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

From the Targums to Greek philosophy, John 1:1–3 speaks to every culture and every heart. He declares that the Word is not a force, but a Person—eternal, divine, Creator, and Savior. And this Word became flesh (John 1:14)—Jesus Christ, full of grace and truth.

The Word is Life and Light 

John 1:4-5 

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.

The Greek language employs three distinct words to convey different aspects of "life": βίος (bios), ψυχή (psuchē), and ζωή (zōē). 

Bios refers to physical life

1 Timothy 2:2:

“...that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life (bios) in all godliness and reverence.”

Psuche refers to soul life (emotions, intelligence and will). It is the source of the word “psychology”

Matthew 16:25

“For whoever desires to save his life (psuchē) will lose it, but whoever loses his life (psuchē) for My sake will find it.”

John 10:11

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life (psuchē) for the sheep.”

Zoe represents the uncreated, eternal life of God 

John 1:4

“In Him was life (zōē), and the life (zōē) was the light of men.” 

John 10:10

“I have come that they may have life (zōē), and that they may have it more abundantly.”

 John 5:11–12

“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life (zōē), and this life (zōē) is in His Son. He who has the Son has life (zōē); he who does not have the Son of God does not have life (zōē).”

In John 1:4, the word used is zōē—the highest form of life. This eternal life originates in Christ, the Word, and it is the light of men—our source of spiritual insight, truth, and hope. This is the very heartbeat of John’s Gospel: Jesus is not just alive—He is Life. He is not just illuminating—He is Light.

The Light shines in the darkness. Darkness represents sin, death, spiritual blindness, and rebellion. This darkness cannot become any darker, although we may feel it does. In fact, darkness is not a substance, but the absence of light. So, whenever the world appears to get darker, it is because the world is going in the wrong direction, further away from the source of Light, Jesus. 

Darkness cannot fully comprehend, in other translations, overcome or seize (Greek: ka-TE-la-ven κατέλαβεν) the light. Darkness has no power to extinguish or even fully grasp the Light of Christ. The spiritual darkness of this world is the absence of Christ. And wherever He shines, darkness flees.

Nature of Jesus (John 1:6-18)

John the Baptist

John 1:6-8

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 

John the Baptist, not John the apostle, is introduced as the man who came to bear witness of the Light, Jesus. To teach people about the One who was coming after him. He was not the One. John deliberately declared that. John came to prepare the way, to prepare people’s hearts. How? He taught repentance. Repentance is not just feeling sorry for sin (regret), but involves a complete change of mind, heart, and direction. It means turning away from sin and turning toward God. 

The Greek word for repentance: μετάνοια (metanoia)

“Meta” (μετά) = after, beyond, change, “Noia” (from nous/νοῦς) = mind, thinking, understanding. So, Metanoia is a change of mind/heart that results in a change of behaviour.

Matthew 3:2 – John the Baptist says:

“Repent (metanoeite), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

Acts 3:19 – Peter preaches:

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out...”

2 Corinthians 7:10 

“For godly sorrow produces repentance (metanoian) leading to salvation...”

Jesus, the true Light

John 1:9-13

That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Jesus is not just a light but the true Light. In this world, there are multiple flickering lights that people may follow, but only One True Light that gives light to every man. So, no man is denied the light. This does not mean that all people are saved (universalism), but every man has a chance because everyone sees the light, but only some accept, and others don’t.

Light exposes our sinful nature, and some people hate the light because they are not ready to repent of their sins, so they prefer darkness. They prefer not to expose their sin even to their selves.

John 3:19–20 

“And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

Jesus came to us, His creation. By Him everything was created, but His creation rejected him, refused to acknowledge that He is their creator. Isn’t that sad? It is very sad and shows how far humanity has fallen from God, that humanity didn’t recognise its own creator. 

But there is good news in the next verse. There is a BUT.  Only those who receive and believe in His name become the children of God. This new birth is not a physical one but a spiritual birth of God.

And there are two conditions to becoming a child of God.

• • Believe in His name 
• • Received Him

The Greek word used for “believe” is πιστεύω (pisteuō), which means to believe, to trust, to have faith in, to place confidence in. 

John did not mean that we should just believe in the existence of God or that Jesus once lived on earth. No, because even demons believe that according to James 2:29, “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!”

But what we must do to be children of God is to believe in Jesus’ name, the Word of God, God, the Creator of all things, the only begotten Son of God. We ought to have faith and entrust our life to him, have confidence in the Lord and in what Jesus did for us on the cross. Then we must receive his gift of salvation.

Ephesians 2:8–9

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Jesus came for everyone, shone spiritual light on every man, but only those who believed in Him are saved, and become the children of God. He is the creator of al,l but only some are children of God.

Jesus, the begotten Son

John 1:14-18

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 bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ” And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

And finally, John reveals in verse 17 who he meant by “the Word”. Jesus, the Word of God became flesh and lived with us on this earth. He ate, drunk, taught, slept, and wept. He shared all our human joys and pains. He who shared God’s glory, the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth lived amongst us. 

Through Jesus, we received God’s grace, which is a gift we do not deserve as sinners. Moses brought the law, but Jesus brought us grace and truth. No one has ever seen God, except through Jesus.

When Moses asked to see God, His Glory. In Exodus 33:20, God replied “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.”

1 Timothy 6:16

“who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.”

In John 14:8-10, we see Jesus declaring He is the manifestation of God.

Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.

I would end with this last point about the Greek word for “only begotten Son” is μονογενοῦς (monogenous). From “monos”, which means only, and “genos”, which means kind or type. From this came the different English translations “only one of a kind”, “unique”, or “only begotten”. And He is of the father, which represents equality. He is not just one among many sons, but the only one of His kind, fully divine, from the Father.

So, Jesus our Lord and Saviour, the word of God, the manifestation of God in the flesh, brings us grace and truth, and through him we become spiritual children of God when we have faith in what he did for us and receive His Gift.

References

[1] The Lion Handbook to the Bible, Fifth Edition https://koorong.com/product/the-lion-handbook-to-the-bible-5th-edition_9780745980003?srsltid=AfmBOop_0MbEWzUyNyl7l1rYS-7XJNe50jP3bC3oaVkQhSL0WN74Tj2w

[2] God The Son 01, John 1:1-18, God the Son Revealed as Man, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU36ji0rBbk

[3] John 1 (Part 1) :1-5  In the Beginning was the Word, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMoiUXL97pM

[4] John 1 (Part 2) :6-18 The Word Became flesh and Dwelt among Us, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MtDCPurZNk