Throughout the Old Testament, we encounter the phrase “the word of the Lord” in numerous places, revealing God’s direct communication with His people. From prophets receiving divine instruction to the psalmists extolling its power, the “word of the Lord” holds a place of profound reverence and authority. By the time we reach the New Testament, particularly in the Gospel of John, we see this concept brought to life in the person of Jesus Christ, whom John boldly identifies as “the Word.” Let’s explore the appearances and significance of “the word of the Lord” in the Old Testament and the stunning revelation of Jesus as the ultimate Word in the New Testament.

The Word of the Lord in the Old Testament

1. Genesis and Creation
   Right from the beginning, the word of God is presented as powerful and creative. Genesis 1 recounts that God spoke, and creation responded: “Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light” (Genesis 1:3, NKJV). God’s spoken word brought forth everything from light to life, establishing His word as not only active but life-giving.
2. Prophets and the Word of the Lord
   In the books of the prophets, the phrase “the word of the Lord” appears repeatedly as a phrase introducing God’s message to His people. For instance, the book of Jeremiah opens with, “Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying…” (Jeremiah 1:4, NKJV). These words reveal that God communicates His will, judgment, and promise through His prophets. Not only was the word of the Lord authoritative, but it was also filled with purpose, calling Israel to repentance, warning of coming judgments, or comforting with hope.
3. The Word in Psalms and Wisdom Literature
   The psalmists and writers of the wisdom literature also emphasize the power and trustworthiness of God’s word. Psalm 33:6, for example, states, “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth” (NKJV). Here, we see God’s word as the foundation of creation, underscoring its reliability and its life-sustaining nature. Proverbs 30:5 further describes God’s word as “pure,” trustworthy, and a shield for those who seek refuge in Him.
4. Divine Encounters
   Many Old Testament theophanies (appearances of God) involve the phrase “the word of the Lord came…” indicating a divine revelation or encounter with God. For example, 1 Samuel 3:21 records, “Then the Lord appeared again in Shiloh. For the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord” (NKJV). This description hints at a deeper, personal revelation in which God is not just imparting information but revealing Himself to individuals. The word of the Lord was thus not simply spoken words but a dynamic, almost tangible expression of God’s presence.

The Word of the Lord Becomes Flesh: Jesus as the Word in John 1

John begins his gospel with a remarkable introduction that would have been familiar yet awe-inspiring to his Jewish audience: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1, NKJV). John’s use of “the Word” (Greek: Logos) would immediately remind readers of the Old Testament “word of the Lord” that was active, powerful, and divine. However, John’s claim that this Word “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14, NKJV) is a groundbreaking revelation that Jesus Christ Himself is the living, incarnate Word of God.

Key Connections Between the Old and New Testament Understanding of the Word

1. Creator and Sustainer
   John identifies Jesus as the Word through whom “all things were made” (John 1:3, NKJV), echoing the Genesis account where God’s word is the means of creation. Colossians 1:16-17 further supports this by saying, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth… and in Him all things consist” (NKJV). Just as the word of God in Genesis created life, Jesus, the living Word, is both Creator and Sustainer.
2. Revelation and Truth
   In the Old Testament, the word of the Lord reveals God’s truth and His will. Through the prophets, it offered correction, wisdom, and hope. Jesus fulfills this role as the living embodiment of truth. John 1:14 declares that Jesus is “full of grace and truth,” and John 14:6 quotes Jesus saying, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (NKJV). Jesus is the complete and perfect revelation of God’s nature, showing us not only truth but grace and mercy.
3. God’s Presence with His People
   The phrase “the word of the Lord came to…” signified a divine encounter in the Old Testament, making God’s presence felt through His spoken word. Jesus, however, takes this to an entirely new level. In John 1:14, we read, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (NKJV). The word “dwelt” is literally translated as “tabernacled,” alluding to the Tabernacle where God’s presence resided among Israel. Jesus is God Himself dwelling among humanity, offering a direct and personal encounter with God.
4. Authority and Power
   The word of the Lord in the Old Testament carries unquestionable authority; when God speaks, things happen. In the New Testament, we see that same authority in Jesus. When He commands storms to cease (Mark 4:39) or calls Lazarus forth from the grave (John 11:43), His word brings transformation. Matthew 7:29 notes, “For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (NKJV). Jesus speaks as God speaks, for He is the living Word.
5. Judgment and Salvation
   In the Old Testament, the word of the Lord could bring judgment, as seen in prophetic books like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. Similarly, Jesus’ words bring both salvation and judgment. John 12:48 quotes Jesus saying, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (NKJV). The Word has come to save but also stands as the standard by which people are judged.
6. The Life-Giving Word
   In the Old Testament, God’s word gave life and was seen as a means of spiritual sustenance (Deuteronomy 8:3). In John 6:63, Jesus states, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (NKJV). He is the source of eternal life, and His words impart life to those who receive Him.

The Word Made Flesh

The Old Testament’s portrayal of “the word of the Lord” as powerful, authoritative, life-giving, and filled with God’s presence reaches its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. John’s declaration that Jesus is the Word serves as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments, showing that Jesus is the same Word that created the universe, guided Israel, spoke through the prophets, and now, in the New Testament, has come to dwell among us. He is the complete and final revelation of God, embodying every aspect of the word of the Lord seen in the Old Testament.

When we encounter Jesus, we encounter the same Word that brought forth life at the beginning of creation, the same Word that called the prophets, and the same Word that now calls us to believe and receive life. John 1:12 assures us that “as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (NKJV). As the Word made flesh, Jesus is the ultimate expression of God’s heart and mind, offering us the way to eternal life and communion with the Father.