John 1:1-18
The Word Becomes Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
The fundamental questions of Who, What, When, Where, and Why are essential tools for discovery and understanding...They guide our search for knowledge, help us learn about people, ideas, and are invaluable when seeking Truth itself, especially Absolute Truth...These foundational inquiries, often called the 5 Ws, unlock deeper insights into any subject we explore...
For me, these 5 Ws find their ultimate meaning and profound framework in Jesus Christ, the Absolute Truth...The Apostle John's majestic opening to his Gospel (John 1:1-18) powerfully sets the stage, revealing Jesus not merely as a figure in history, but as "the Word Who was with God, and the Word was God."...John proclaims that "Through Him all things were made," and that "in Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind."...This Divine Word, God Incarnate, "became flesh and made His dwelling among us," revealing His Glory to humanity, "full of grace and truth."...By reflecting on Who He is as this Eternal Word, What He embodies as the Light and Life, When He truly existed "in the beginning," Where His Divine Presence permeates all things, and Why He came to bring us Grace and Truth, we can truly grasp the expansive scope of His Divine Identity and eternal purpose...This exploration reveals how Jesus doesn't just point to Ultimate Reality – He perfectly encapsulates it within His Very Being...
WHO:
I begin by asking Who Jesus is, immediately identifying Him as the Divine One, sent by His Father from above...He is the One Who has the Closest Realtionship with the Father...He ask His diciples Who they thought He was...This question of His points us to His pre-existence and Divine origin, distinguishing Him from any mere human teacher or prophet...He did not come seeking Truth; He is the Truth...He is the one who "emptied Himself for us, to become a Servant for us, and to save us from our sins."...This speaks to His incredible humility and sacrificial LOVE as the very essence of Truth in action – a Truth that is not merely propositional, but redemptive and relational...So when we ask, "Who do we say He is?", we echo Peter's powerful confession: "You are the Divine One from God," recognizing His Unique Divinity and Authority...This Who defines the very source and unchangeable nature of the Absolute Truth we seek; it is not an abstract concept but a living Person...
WHAT:
I must believe What He is and it is What He said He Is: "He is the Truth, the Life, and the Way of Life."...This declaration echoes John 14:6, where Jesus Himself states, "I AM the Yay and the Truth and the Life...No one comes to the Father except through Me."...He doesn't merely teach Truth; He embodies it...Unlike subjective truths that shift with human opinion or circumstance, Jesus is the objective, unchanging Truth...He is the very essence of reality, the standard by which all other claims to Truth are measured...Furthermore, He is the Life, meaning that true existence and purpose are found in Him...And He is the Way of Life, indicating that the path to this Absolute Truth and Life is not through a set of rules alone, but through a relationship with Him. His What defines not just knowledge, but existence itself...
WHEN:
My belief of the When of Jesus is truly profound one: "He is beyond time, He lives in Eternity...Before Abraham existed, He IS AND WAS...He is the same yesterday, today, and forever...He is the Truth forever."...This emphasizes Jesus' eternality and His transcendence over the linear constraints of human time...The Truth that Jesus represents is not bound by historical periods, cultural shifts, or scientific advancements...It is an Eternal Truth, immutable and constant...His existence "before Abraham" (John 8:58) and His identity as "the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8) assure us that the foundation of our faith and the nature of Truth itself are anchored in an unchanging, Divine Reality...In a world constantly in flux and troubled, His When offers stability and eternal relevance...
WHERE:
In considering Where, I must say, "Jesus is and can be everywhere in the Universe...He is Divine." This speaks to Jesus' omnipresence, a characteristic of His Divine nature...The Absolute Truth is not confined to a single geographical location, a specific temple, or an exclusive group...Because Jesus is omnipresent, the Truth He embodies is universally accessible...It transcends geographical boundaries, cultural distinctions, and even the vast expanses of the cosmos...This means that regardless of where we are in the Universe, the Divine Presence of Jesus and the accessibility of His Truth are ever-present, offering guidance and understanding without physical limitation...
WHY:
Finally, I think about the Why of Jesus and connect the Why directly to His purpose: "He said He came to earth to testify to the Truth...Whoever listens to Him, finds the Truth, and the Truth will set them free."...This highlights Jesus' ultimate mission: to reveal the Father and to establish the reign of Truth in human hearts...His Why is rooted in Divine LOVE – a desire to liberate humanity from the bondage of sin, deception, and meaninglessness...As He told Pilate in John 18:37, He came "into the world, to testify to the truth."...The promise that "you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32) is the ultimate outcome of His mission...His Why provides the purpose and the transformative power of the Absolute Truth He embodies, offering not just knowledge, but freedom, peace, and reconciliation with the Creator...
In contemplating Jesus through these 5 Ws, we gain a holistic and profound understanding of Him not just as a Historical Figure or a Great Teacher...He is the Single, Most Important Man is the history of mankind that is the very embodiment of Absolute Truth – the Who, What, When, Where, and Why of all Ultimate Reality...