Why is Jesus called the Word?

It could be said that the Bible has one purpose: so that we may know God. And nowhere do we know God more clearly than in Jesus Christ. “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known” (John 1:18). This is the start to understanding why Jesus is called the Word.

Known by creation

Take a look at creation, and, undeniably, “the heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge” (Psalm 19:1,2). But take a closer look in Genesis chapter 1 and notice how the heavens and the skies were created. It was by the powerful refrain of each day that God made all we see: “God said . . . and it was so.” Those two words, “God said,” speak volumes of our God and of the Word, Jesus Christ.

John is clear in his gospel: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:1-3). John is also clear who this Word is: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14). We call him Jesus.

Do you see the connection? “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). “God said,” and by his Word there was light, sky, plants, trees, sun, moon, stars, birds, fish, animals, and us. How powerful is that! Simply because God spoke, the result is that “we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). This is a testimony to why Jesus is called the Word, “for in him all things were created” (Colossians 1:16).

Known by his miracless

Jesus’ miracles are also a testimony to why he is called the Word. Take close notice of this sequence of miracles in the gospel of Mark:

• Jesus and his disciples are in a boat on the Sea of Galilee. A serious storm overcomes them. The disciples are crying out to Jesus to save them. And what does Jesus do? “He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ ” (Mark 4:39). Then what happens? Everything is calm.
• After Jesus calmed the storm and reached his destination on the other side of the sea, a demon-possessed man comes to meet him. The demon, knowing who Jesus is, shouts, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” (Mark 5:7). And what does Jesus do? He says to the demon, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” (Mark 5:8). Then what happens? The demon-possessed man gets his life back.
• After Jesus restored the demon-possessed man’s life, a desperate synagogue ruler named Jairus begs Jesus to heal his 12-year-old daughter. But before Jesus reaches Jairus’ house, some people announce that Jairus’ daughter has died. Jesus goes to the house anyway. And what does Jesus do? “He took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha koum!’ (which means ‘Little girl, I say to you, get up!’)” (Mark 5:41). Then what happens? The girl gets out of bed and enjoys something to eat.

Do you see the connection? Why did the storm immediately die down? Why did the demon immediately leave the man? Why did the girl immediately rise from the dead? In essence, because Jesus said so. All of Jesus’ miracles testify that he is the Son of God. They also testify why he is called the Word.

Known by his grace and truth

The power of the Word is undeniable. But as great as creation and Jesus’ miracles are, we encounter the power of the Word personally in grace and truth.

It is devastating to think of what comes out of our mouths compared to the Word and what comes out of his mouth. The Word used his words to create. How often do we use our words to destroy? The Word used his words to heal. How often do we use our words to hurt? The Word used his words to give life. How often do we use our words to kill? Is it any wonder why the prophet Isaiah, when standing before the holy God, cried, “Woe to me! . . . I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty” (Isaiah 6:5)?

But follow the sequence of Jesus’ death and resurrection. What do you see? What do you hear?

• As Jesus’ enemies nailed him to the cross, what does Jesus say? “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Quick question: When you hear those words, do you think of those nailing Jesus to the cross first, or do you think of yourself first?
• Then, on the cross, after Jesus had received a sour wine to quench his thirst, what does he say? “It is finished” (John 19:30). Three simple words in English, one powerful word in Greek, “Tetelestai!” Jesus declares, “Your debt to God is paid in full. Judgment for your sin has been served.”
• Then after Jesus died for the sins of the world, Sunday comes, and what are the first words the risen Savior speaks to his disciples? “Peace be with you!” (John 20:19). What does that mean? “Death is done! Salvation is won!”

Because this is so important, listen to Jesus’ words again: “Father, forgive them.” “It is finished.” “Peace be with you!” So says the Word made flesh, “who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). These words are “the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). They come from the one who died for your sins, the one who rose for you in victory. They testify to why Jesus is called the Word.

Jesus came to make the Father known, and he has done so through the power of the Holy Spirit and his gospel.

Again, the power of the Word is undeniable for all the reasons stated. But that power gets really personal when you realize that “faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:17). Do you see the connection? Jesus came to make the Father known, and he has done so through the power of the Holy Spirit and his gospel.

As you consider the great miracle of your faith in Christ, think of what has brought you to the point of reading this article. What do you know? What do you have to confess? “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word” (Hebrews 1:3, emphasis added). Yes, sustaining you with his grace and truth. That’s the Word. That’s your God.

Author: Daniel Baumler
Volume 113, Number 1
Issue: January 2026