The Logos and Creation

Through him all things were made;

Without him nothing was made that has been made (Jn 1:3)

Here we see John turning from his statement about the relation between the Word and God to the relationship between the Word and creation.

The Logos

Thus, we need to study one of the most important words in the opening chapter of John’s Gospel. It occurs a few times in verses 1 and 14. In English it is the word “Word” itself. In Greek it is the word “Logos”. Many branches of science derive their names from this word: theology; biology; sociology; psychology; you name it. In the Bible, this term refers to Jesus Christ, for he is the one who became flesh and made his dwelling among us. Even still we must ask, “Why is Jesus called “The Word”? What is the significance of this title?

An eight-year-old girl has an excellent answer. When asked why Jesus was called the “Word”, she said, “Because Jesus is all God wanted to say to us.” How genius! We believe this is the most comprehensive and straightforward answer. Her answer has to do with God’s self-revelation. I mean Jesus is the revelation of God.

Then what meaning would it have had for those to whom this Gospel was first written? For instance, what meaning would it have had to those with Jewish background? Most probably, any Jew who reads the first two verses of this Gospel, including the term “Word”, would refer to <Genesis>, the first book of the Bible, where we are told that the first act of God in the beginning was “to speak” and all things came into being. In other words, to the Jewish mind Jesus would somehow be related to the creative power of God and to the self-revelation of God in creation.

To the Jews a word was something concrete, something much closer to what we would call an event or a deed. A word spoken was a deed done. This is a typical way of Jewish thinking resulted from OT. What happens when God speaks? The answer is that it is done instantly. God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light (Ge 1:3). God said, “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire (Isa 55:11). Therefore, to the ordinary Jews, it is no strange at all that the Word of God somehow be seen and touched as well as heard, and that the “Word” might somehow find expression in a life. It would not be entirely strange either to learn, as the author of <Hebrews> puts it, that “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son”(Heb 1:1-2).

In short, we have seen what the “Word” as a description of Jesus would have meant to a Jew. But we must remember that the Jews were not the only who would be reading the Gospel. It must have been read by Greeks and by those influenced by Greek thought. What would “the Logos” mean to them? It is a divine “reason” or the “governing principle of the universe”. It is nothing less than the mind of God controlling the universe and everything in it. It is interesting to note that Plato, a famous Greek philosopher, once said to his students, “May be someday there will come forth from God a Word, a Logos, who will reveal all mysteries and make everything plain.” Now John is saying, “Oh, yes, Plato, the logos has come; now God is revealed to us perfectly.

Do you believe it? John is declaring that the unknown God of the Greeks, the hidden God of the Middle Ages, the silent God of the 20th century, is neither unknown, hidden, nor silent. He is fully revealed in Jesus. “It is true that no one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known”(Jn 1:18 NIV).

The Logos and Creation

Naturally this must be a stopping point for our study. But we cannot really stop here. For the point John is making is not only that Jesus is the revelation of God, but that Jesus was always active in revealing God. So even before his incarnation, there was no excuse for failing to believe.

You can see that in verse 3, where John lays great emphasis on the role of Christ in creation. What did Jesus do in creation? John says, “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” Here John does not say that all was made “by” him, but “through” him. This is a kind of very subtle statement about creation. It is like putting a safeguard on the creation theology. Namely, here we see a careful differentiation of the parts played by God the Father and God the Son. Creation is not the solitary act of either. Both were at work and for that matter, still are. Jesus said to his disciples, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working"(Jn 5:17). He also said in another place, "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does”(Jn 5:19).

What has God revealed about himself in creation? Paul answers by saying, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse”(Ro 1:20). This means that Jesus revealed God in two important aspects; his existence and his power. These two are sufficient to condemn all men for their failure to bow down and worship him.

We know the force of this verse from our own experience. Let me take a watch for example. We don’t assume that all the parts (steel, glass, bearings) possess the ability of organizing themselves into a watch. We posit the existence of a watchmaker. The watch is a design, and the design needs the designer. So it should be in the realm of nature. Jesus intended that we should recognize God’s existence and power through nature.

But nature is not enough. For one thing, no one has ever come to an obedient faith in the God of creation through nature. For another, the revelation of God in nature is not specific in terms of His plan, and it is not personal. So, Jesus was also active in revealing God through the Bible. As the famous reformer John Calvin once said, “God has written two books; the nature and the Scripture.” People may recognize God’s existence and his power, but if they would know his plan, they must consult the Bible. We may gain some knowledge about God through nature, but if we would meet him personally we must read the Bible. Knowledge means not just head-knowledge but a living and personal encounter with him. Through the nature we learn about him, but through the Bible we meet him, hear him, and talk to him.

You will remember that the apostle Paul preached the gospel to the men of Athens, he preached to the people who had the knowledge about God through the nature but did not know him personally. An altar in Athens was inscribed, “To the unknown God.” Some others were even more indefinite and vague; they say, “To whomever it may concern.” Paul preached to them, “Now what you worship as something unknown, I am going to proclaim to you.” He went to show that God, the creator of the world, was no blind deity, to be worshiped blindly, but a personal God who has willed that all men should live in harmony with his plan and purpose. “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent”(Acts 17:30).

Just like a uniform represents a purpose, so does a design. We are no accident but a design. The purpose of man the creature is twofold: to honor the Creator and to enjoy his creation.

The First and the Last

We have learned today a wonderful truth: God has spoken to man personally through Jesus Christ. Jesus is his best and greatest word to the lost world. He is not only the first and most important and all-inclusive word of God, he is also God’s last word. Jesus said, “I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End”(Rev. 22:13). If we do not receive him, the last word we will hear from him will be the word of judgment. He will either say, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world”(Mt 25:34), or he will declare, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers”(Mt 7:23).

Prayer

Our Heavenly Father, we are here again to worship you and glorify your name. We acknowledge that you are infinite, holy, and perfect, and thus you need nothing. You didn’t have to create us. We are here simply because you just want us to be. We thank that you have given us the gift of freedom so that we freely pay our allegiance to you and your Word, Jesus. We pray that we live a life pleasing to you and that we offer ourselves as a righteous instrument. In Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Questions to Consider

What would the “Word” (the “Logos”) have meant for those to whom this Gospel was first written; those with Jewish background and those with Greek background?

What does it mean by the statement that God has written two books; the nature and the Bible? Let’s discuss the purpose of each.

How can a man make a personal encounter with God? Does God speak to you every day? Do you hear and talk to Him every day?