by Shannon Caughey

If you were an outsider to the basketball world and then were introduced to some of its historically iconic players, you would likely be intrigued by the names given to them. Why is Ervin Johnson called “Magic”? What’s the meaning behind “Dr. J,” Julius Erving’s famous moniker? How come people called Allen Iverson “The Answer”?

We might similarly wonder about a name given to Jesus: “the Word.” In the opening chapter of the Gospel that bears his name, John refers to Jesus as “the Word” multiple times. He says in John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Later John proclaims (v. 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.”

Like the other names and titles of Jesus we’ve already looked at in this series of devotions, “the Word” gives insight that helps us know him more fully. The better our knowledge of who Jesus is, the deeper our motivation becomes to live and coach for him. Let’s consider the meaning behind “the Word” and how this name directs our response to Jesus.

First, as the Word, Jesus is God’s ultimate expression and revelation of himself. An integral way we express ourselves and reveal who we are is through the words we speak. In Genesis, God expressed himself by speaking creation into being. The phrase “And God said, ‘Let there be…’ and there was…” is repeated multiple times in Genesis 1. By opening his gospel with same phrase that launches Genesis—“In the beginning” (Gen. 1:1; John 1:1)—John intentionally parallels and builds upon the creation account. He is saying that God’s supreme expression of himself is in Jesus.

What do we learn about Jesus, “the Word”, from John 1? He is eternal (“In the beginning was the Word”) and he is God (“the Word was God”). He is also distinguishable (“the Word was with God”) in that he is God the Son (“the one and only Son”) who is sent by God the Father (“who came from the Father”). Jesus is God taking on human form (“The Word became flesh”) so that we have a chance to see and know God. As God in the flesh, Jesus is the ultimate expression of who God is and God’s heart for us.

Second, as the Word, Jesus is God’s ultimate and authoritative message of what is true. Throughout history before the coming of Jesus, God sent prophets as carriers of his words—his messages to people. Hearers were to recognize the words of the prophets as authoritative because they came from God. These messages demanded a response. By calling Jesus “the Word,” John points to Christ as the one who in and of himself is the ultimate “message” from God, with full divine authority. As Hebrews 1:1-2 puts it, “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…”

In Jesus, we can know what is true about our glorious God who is full of grace (John 1:14). Through Jesus, God definitively reveals his desire to draw near and dwell with us, making a way for us to draw near to him. As God’s ultimate and authoritative Word to us, a response from us is demanded. Will we believe fully in Jesus and what he says? Will we live and coach for him, gladly surrendering to his authority over us? Will we take steps to draw nearer to God through continually looking to and listening to Jesus?

There are deep and rich reasons Jesus is called “the Word.” How incredible and humbling it is that the awesome and eternal God speaks to us, reveals himself to us, and draws near to us through his Son. May we respond with faith and joyful obedience to the One who is the Word.

For reflection: Praise Jesus that he is the Word. Praise him because he is the glorious God in the flesh, who comes to us full of grace and truth. Pray that you would respond to Christ with faith and joyful obedience.