This is an excerpt from a new series I’m preaching through and writing about. It takes us through the Book of John. You can hear the full audio by checking out my podcast: Michael J. Chanley Teachings, available wherever you get your podcasts.

What we learn from these opening 18 verses of John’s good news about Jesus (John 1:1-18) has the power to completely change our entire understanding of the world, of ourselves, and of everything we have ever learned.

We learn from John’s opening chapter that:

• The Word of God has always existed
• That Jesus is God in the Flesh, as a human being
• We discover the hope and grace and truth of God came to us as the man Jesus Christ and, although the world is full of darkness, Jesus, the light and hope of God, overcame the darkness.
• In verse 17, we realize the law, the legalistic constricting obsession of many, was in fact not the complete purpose of God… for that Law only pointed us to the grace and truth of Jesus Christ.
• AND… finally… we learn that Jesus has made God the Father known to all the world.

The final verse of John’s opening prologue, John 1:18 says this:

¹⁸ No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and ^f is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

Please don’t miss the importance of John’s introductory message. He begins his accounting of Jesus’ life by explaining Jesus is God. 

There is one God. 

He appeared to us in the flesh as Jesus Christ; and, this is pivotal to understanding Christianity.

To understand this final sentiment in vs. 18, let’s look at a Greek word used here. The final part of verse 18 says: “… the one and only son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.”

Where the English translates “is in closest relationship with the Father” the Greek word used there is Kolpos. 

Kolpos literally means “bosom.” In other words, “closest relationship with the Father” means internally a part of the Father. You get the visual picture here of a mother carrying a child in her womb, although womb is not used as the word… it is deeper… it is bosom… therefore, it is not a separate thing that is delivered… it is not a child that exists separately from the parent… it is the heart of God… the internal deepest part of God. 

Jesus, the bosom of God, has exposed God’s intent to us. He is God’s heart.

If then, we believe Jesus Christ is God, if we believe John’s testimony concerning Christ, what then shall we do? 

How should we act? 

What does it say about us?

Well, we should become God’s children by accepting Christ.

We should act in the way He has modeled for us, becoming love in action.

Understanding Jesus’ identity means we are heirs to a message that is sacred. And, if God’s love is for all the world, how can we not share it with others!?