John 1:1-3New International Version (NIV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
This was on purpose. During John's life, people did not question whether Jesus was a real person - he had made headlines across the country and everyone knew at least a little about this guy's life. Not everyone knew, however, that he was God. John wanted his readers to know right from the start that Jesus was really God all the way back to the beginning of time.
Some historians would say that Jesus was an important figure that we should study, but deny that the person could really be God. CS Lewis, a Christian author, said that Jesus was either crazy for claiming to be God, a liar, or else he really was the son of God. There is no reason to follow someone who fits into the first two categories, but if he is really God, we should pay attention!
It might seem like a strange way to describe Jesus - the Word. The term comes from the Greek word 'logos' which sometimes refers to a 'word,' but it would more appropriately be described as the thing that comes before the word. Before there is a word that comes out of your mouth there is a thought that comes into your head. That thought which precedes the word is the logos, and the One who precedes the world is Jesus. Jesus did not come into being 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem - Jesus was around since the beginning, since creation.
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