We know that the central theme throughout scripture is Christ Jesus. He can be seen on nearly every page. Some chapters stand out among the rest. The chapters of Isaiah 53 & Exodus 12 to name a few.

John one is remarkable for the titles it tells us that our Lord and savior wears. This article attempts to describe the meaning of those titles. For the sake of room, we will study the first 4 titles, then next week we’ll finish with the other 3.

7 Titles of Jesus in John chapter 1:

THE WORD: (v1) “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,”

Jesus is called the Word because His life, death, burial & resurrection will become the GOSPEL, the good news. It will be the message all must hear and obey. It is this word by which mankind can be saved.

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved,” [1Cor 15:1-2a]

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GOD: (v1) “…the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

This verse clearly states that Jesus is God. Some may deny it, but scripture supports it.

“Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.:”

“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” [Col 2:9]

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” [1Tim 3:16]

[Jno 5:18; cr. Col 1:15; Phil 2:6]

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LIFE: (v4) “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” Jesus would go on to say later,

“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

[John 14:6]

Eternal Life can only be found through Jesus.

“When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” [Col 3:4]

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” [John 10:10]

“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” [1John 5:11]

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [Romans 6:23]

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LIGHT: (v7) “The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.”

God is often described as light. So too His ways. The Light that is Christ is pure & holy. Several passages use light to describe God.

“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

[1John 1:5]

“And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” [Rev 21:23]

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” [John 3:19]

“I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.” [John 12:46]

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Next week we’ll examine the next 3 titles of Jesus in John 1.

—Spencer