The gospel of John is at once very simple and very deep. The simple words of this introduction roll off the tongue (even in English) so well that little children can learn them. But how profound in the way they describe our Savior! Here is one place we read about the divinity of Christ. Christ is God.

Jesus is not mentioned by name in is passage, but we figure out quickly that it is Jesus Christ who is being described. He is the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us (v 12). Jesus is the perfect expression of God for us. In Christ, God not only spoke our language, but took our form so we might know him and his love for us.

There are three things we learn about the Jesus Christ in these few verses. The first is that he existed in the beginning. This is not just the beginning of Jesus’ ministry or the beginning of the people of Israel. It is the beginning of all beginnings. At Creation itself, the Word was there; Christ was there. The Word was active in creation. Like God the Father and God the Spirit, the Word existed before all things.

The second thing it says about the Word, the Son, is that he was with God. This implies that the God the Father and God the Son are not different words for the same person. We believe in the Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They have the same essence, but are three persons. There is diversity within the Godhead. Community and love exist within the Trinity. We learn that the Word who was in the beginning was also with God.

The third thing we read about the Word is the clear statement that the Word was God. Throughout the Gospel of John, this is taught and demonstrated. This gospel begins with a strong statement of who the Savior is. It does not focus on where he was born, what he did, what others said about him or who brought him gifts. Those are important points taken up elsewhere. But here we read about who Jesus is so that we might believe in him and by believing have life in his name. Here we have a clear and emphatic statement that the Christ is fully divine.

Because Christ is divine, his death takes on a whole new meaning. If Jesus were just a man, what would his death accomplish? He would die for his own sin. If he was a perfect man, he might be able to die for one other. But Jesus was not just a man. As the eternal Son of God, his death was far more infinite than all the sins of all the people of the world. His death and resurrection is powerful enough to atone for all of our sins. When we trust in him, our sins are forever removed from our hearts. They will burden us no more.

A fourth reason that the Divinity of Christ is so important is that we know that our infinite Savior is able to satisfy all the needs of our hearts. We bear so many burdens. We endure so many pains. We face so much difficulty. Our hearts cry out for help. In Christ we can find all that we need. Our needs are many, but they are not infinite. God is infinite. God’s Love is infinite. God’s Redeemer is infinite.

The Reformed Presbyterians (the R in ARP) wrote of the all sufficiency of Christ even while facing death in the Killing Times. Read from William Gordon’s last letter as he awaited martyrdom: "Christ triumphs in me, blessed be his name! I have all things. I burden no man. I see that this earth and the fullness thereof is my Fathers. Sweet, sweet is the cross of my Lord. The blessings of God upon the cross of my Lord Jesus. My enemies have contributed, beside their design, to make me blessed. This is my palace, not my prison…I think this is all, to gain Christ. All other things are shadows, dreams, fancies and nothing." In Christ we can have all that we need. No matter what you are facing, in Christ the divine Redeemer, you can have all you need.

John’s gospel begins with this description of Christ. Christ is God. You will see it throughout the gospel. But who do you say that Christ is? What do you think of Jesus Christ? To believe in him is to enter into eternal life.