John 1 is one of the most powerful chapters in the Word of God! This reveals Who Jesus is, where He came from and why He came, so plainly and clearly! Verses 1-5 (AMP):
1IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. 2He was present originally with God. 3All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. 4In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. 5And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it].
Then verses 9-12, 14:
9There it was--the true Light [was then] coming into the world [the genuine, perfect, steadfast Light] that illumines every person. 10He came into the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him [did not know Him]. 11He came to that which belonged to Him [to His own--His domain, creation, things, world], and they who were His own did not receive Him and did not welcome Him. 12But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name--
14And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.
God the Son was in Heaven with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. They planned the great plan of our salvation and, at the proper time, He left His glory in Heaven and came to be born as a human being without an earthly father. The perfect combination of God (100%) and man (100%)! He paid the price and bridged the gap by becoming sin with OUR sin, so that He could redeem us from the control of the enemy and release us from the penalty of sin! HALLELUJAH! Here are these same verses in the Wuest Translation and the New Living Translation:
Wuest:
1 1-5 In the beginning the Word was existing. And the Word was in fellowship with God the Father. And the Word was as to His essence absolute deity. This Word was in the beginning in fellowship with God the Father. All things through His intermediate agency came into being, and without Him there came into being not even one thing which has come into existence. In Him life was existing. And this aforementioned life was the light of men. And the light in the darkness is constantly shining. And the darkness did not overwhelm it.
9-10 He, the aforementioned Word, was the light, the genuine light which enlightens spiritually every man as it comes into the universe. In the universe He was, and the universe through His intermediate agency came into existence, and the world of sinners did not have an experiential knowledge of Him. 11-13 Into the midst of His own possessions He came, and His uniquely-owned people did not take Him to themselves. But as many as appropriated Him, He gave to them a legal right to become born-ones of God, to those who place their trust in His name, 14 And the Word, entering a new mode of existence, became flesh, and lived in a tent [His physical body] among us. And we gazed with attentive and careful regard and spiritual perception at His glory, a glory such as that of a uniquely-begotten Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
1 1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and His life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.
9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn't recognize Him. 11 He came to His own people, and even they rejected Him. 12 But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
14 So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son.
AS you allow yourself to meditate on the great love of the One, True God that would cause this wonderful plan to be put into action, you should NEVER doubt Him or His Word ever again! Obey Joshua 1:8 and meditate on this Word, day and night, and it will rise so big within you that doubt, fear, guilt, worry, condemnation will have no place! Amen! I like this picture!
Shalom in Him!
