There was nothing presumptious about it, the chapter John 1 goes on to make it very clear the WORD of God is Christ. If you cannot accept that then I dont know that you can believe anything in scripture.
And
zthe Word
abecame flesh and
bdwelt among us,
cand we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son
4 from the Father, full of
dgrace and
etruth. 15 (
fJohn bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said,
g‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”)
shortly followed by this incase you are still in doubt this WORD is christ that John testifies of.....
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold,
xthe Lamb of God, who
ytakes away the sin
zof the world! 30 This is he of whom I said,
a‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’