The Word at John 1:1 is the Word expressed by the man Jesus in his ministry, and the Word expressed by Jesus was the Father Himself who was explained/expressed/revealed through Jesus' proclamation of the Word. This is what John means when he says, "The Word was God." This flesh, Jesus, explained/expressed the Father to us through the things he said and did, and those things are the proclamation of the Word. God the Father is Light and that Light shined through that flesh named Jesus. The Father abiding in him did the works: the Word proclaimed was God the Father. The Father tabernacled in that flesh named Jesus and that flesh named Jesus explained/expressed the Father in terms of all the things he did, the will of the Father because the Father dwelling in him did the works. John 1:1 refers to the beginning of the Word of Life proclaimed to the world which reveals the Father Himself to the world. Jesus' ministry was the beginning of the Word. Now, as Jesus said, "YOU are the Light of the world." No one has seen God the Father but the Father's love was manifested in the flesh named Jesus in everything he did. Now, if you abide in God, and God abides in you, it's your turn to do the same. 1 John 4:12-16.

John 1:3 refers to everything that came to be beginning with the baptism of John and through the Word as proclaimed by Jesus in his ministry. Jesus' ministry was the beginning of the new creation of God and his disciples are the firstfruits of the new creation, those who shine as the stars in the heavens.

In John's Gospel, there are layers of meaning. John does use language which alludes to deeper things. But we must clearly understand the top layer, the most basic message of John, before we can understand those deeper layers. If you are truly led by the Spirit of Truth, that understanding will be far easier.