In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God (John 1:1).

Jesus Christ did not make His debut on that first Christmas morning in Bethlehem. He existed before creation “in the beginning.” In fact, it was “through Him” that “all things were made” (John 1:3, ESV). Even when we look back to the book of Genesis, we read that God said, “Let Us make man in Our image” (Genesis 1:26) referencing the presence of Christ.

The Word John speaks of as he opens his gospel presentation is none other than Jesus Christ. We know this because later, in verse 14, John tells us, “The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.” Imagine the depth of that reality. The Word, who is God, came down to dwell among us. Jesus walked among us.

He was flesh, bones, sinew and blood, and yet He was also the perfection of the divine. At one moment He was hungry because He was fully human. The next moment, He miraculously fed 5,000 because He was fully God. One moment Jesus agonized on a cross and died because He was fully human. Three days later, He rose from the grave because He was fully God. We read, “God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him” (Colossians 1:19, CSB).

Without Jesus, we would have no chance of understanding God. “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him” (John 1:18).

How does God make Himself known? Through Jesus. To understand and know Jesus is to understand and know God.

Philip had been one of Jesus’ disciples for almost three years when he came up with an interesting request. “Show us the Father,” he said, “and it is enough for us” (John 14:8). Jesus’ answer puts His request in perspective. “Don’t you know me Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).

Jesus took everything there is to know about God and put it on a shelf that we could reach. He is the complete revelation of God Himself. That’s why you can’t go around Jesus and get to God. He is the only begotten Son. Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius—no prophet, teacher or king can make that claim. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life,” Jesus says, “No one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6, CEB).