What do John 1:1,14 mean when they declare that Jesus is the Word of God?

From the heart of Dr. Robert L. Taylor, Th.D., Bible Teacher & Expositor. Apostle John says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Later John says, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). The answer to this question is found by first understanding John’s purpose for writing his gospel. Once we understand that John’s purpose was to introduce the readers of his gospel to Jesus, establishing who Jesus is and what He did, all with the aim of leading them to embrace the saving work of Jesus in faith, we’re given a better understanding why John introduces Jesus as the “Word.” Jesus is referred to as the “Word” or God because He embodies God’s message and is the ultimate expression of God’s will. The Greek word translated as “Word,” signifies the expression of thought, revelation, and God’s total message to humanity. Jesus is the embodiment of this message, having become flesh and dwelling among us. What is the message? Jesus is God’s perfect revelation of Himself in the flesh, so much so that John would record Jesus’ own words to Philip: Jesus *said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? (John 14:9). What was John’s purpose in writing his gospel? His purpose is found in these words, “Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31). Be encouraged!