Understanding the Person Jesus Christ
At the heart of Christian doctrine lies the profound understanding of who Jesus Christ is and what he accomplished with his life, teachings, death, and resurrection. He is not merely a historical figure or a moral teacher; rather, Scripture and church tradition consistently affirm Him as the eternal Son of God who became man, the only Mediator between God and humanity, and the promised Redeemer of the Old Testament. A robust and informed faith requires a deep grasp of the biblical foundations and covenantal fulfillments that establish his identity and multifaceted roles.
Jesus Christ: The Eternal Word Made Flesh
The Gospel of John declares:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God [...] And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:1, 14).
The Logos (Word) of God, the eternal Son, did not merely assume a new role in history but took on human nature while remaining fully divine.
This prolouge, as it is often called, “summarizes how the ‘Word’ which was with God in the very beginning came into the sphere of time, history, tangibility—in other words, how the Son of God was sent into the world to become the Jesus of history, so that the glory and grace of God might be uniquely and perfectly disclosed. The rest of the book is nothing other than an expansion of this theme.” (See: Carson, D. A. (1991)The Gospel According to John., p 179).
Carson continues his commentary by highlighting that the phrase "In the beginning" in John 1:1 intentionally echoes Genesis 1:1, establishing a direct link between the creation of the universe and the new creation brought through Christ (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:17). The Greek term archē (ἀρχή), translated as "beginning," often conveys the meaning of "origin," reinforcing Jesus' role as the divine agent of creation (John 1:3–4). This suggests that the Word (Logos) existed eternally before all things. Additionally, Carson notes that John's Gospel may subtly reference Mark 1:1 ("The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ"), expanding the scope of Christ's origins beyond His public ministry to His pre-existence before the universe.
Furthermore, John’s Gospel presents the incarnation as the supreme revelation of God—the eternal Word (Logos) became flesh, making God fully known in human form. Unlike rationalism, which reduces God to an abstract concept, or mysticism, which lacks clarity, the incarnation provides a concrete, historical manifestation of God. This revelation surpasses even prior Scriptural revelation, as affirmed in Hebrews 1:1–2, which contrasts God's past communication through prophets with his ultimate self-disclosure through his Son. In Christ, God enters human history, assuming full humanity except for sin, ensuring that knowing Christ is knowing God himself.
The incarnation—the event in which God the Son took on flesh—is a mystery at the center of Christian theology. As Hilary of Poitiers put it,
"He did not lose what He was but began to be what he was not. He did not cease to possess his own nature but received what was ours."
John contrasts Jesus' selflessness with others who seek personal glory (John 5:44; 12:43), emphasizing that the incarnate Word sought only to glorify the Father (John 5:41; 7:18; 8:50). Those who witnessed Jesus—such as John and the early disciples—beheld His divine glory, which was not self-derived but granted by the Father. This aligns with Stephen’s vision in Acts 7:55, where he saw the glory of God, specifically in Jesus at His right hand. The term "One and Only" (monogenēs), traditionally rendered "only-begotten", conveys the unique and deeply loved relationship between the Son and the Father. Thus, the glory revealed in Christ is nothing less than God's glory, made visible in the Word-made-flesh.
The Mediator Between God and Humanity
Humanity, marred by sin, stands separated from a holy God. Jesus alone, as the God-Man, can bridge this chasm:
In His divine nature, he fully represents God.
In His human nature, he fully represents humanity.
This “dual identity “makes him the perfect mediator and redeemer (1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and mankind, the Man Christ Jesus”). His incarnation was not an arbitrary act but a necessary step in God's redemptive plan, enabling him to offer himself as the atoning sacrifice for sin.
Paul emphasizes Christ's humanity not to deny his deity (cf. Philippians 2:5–11) but to highlight that Jesus fully shares in our humanity, enabling believers to be united with Him before God. As John Calvin notes, Christ must be both truly God and truly man to serve as an effective mediator—one who represents both parties. In His divinity, He upholds God's justice and mercy, while in His humanity, He provides the perfect obedience required for reconciliation.
Christ secures forgiveness of sins through his sinless sacrificial death while satisfying God's just judgment. This mediation is universal in scope, encompassing all kinds of people, regardless of status or identity. As Calvin affirms, Christ is the only mediator available to all, without distinction, ensuring salvation is accessible to rich and poor, male and female, rulers and servants alike.
This understanding is not merely academic but the bedrock of Christian faith. Upon this cornerstone—Jesus Christ—our hope and salvation firmly rest. "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:11).
In conclusion, John’s Gospel emphasizes that Jesus' witness to God is unparalleled because He alone was with God from the beginning and is God Himself. Unlike anyone else, only Jesus has descended from God; he thus possesses firsthand knowledge of divine truth (John 3:13, 3:31). This theme, introduced in the prologue, recurs throughout the Gospel, shaping the reader’s understanding of Jesus' mission and work. As Herman Ridderbos highlights, it is only by recognizing Jesus’ divine origin and authority that we can fully grasp the significance of his coming, his teachings, and his redemptive work. (Ridderbos, H. (1987). The Gospel of John: A Theological Commentary., Eerdmans. (Kindle ed., location 1312.)
Resources for further study:
Blomberg, C. L., (2009). Jesus and the Gospels: An Introduction and Survey. (2nd ed.). B&H Academic.
Köstenberger, A. J., & Taylor, J. (2014). The Final Days Of Jesus: The Most Important Week Of The Most Important Person Who Ever Lived. Crossway.
Reeves, M., (2015). Rejoicing in Christ. IVP Academic.