The importance of John 1:1 cannot be overstated.  John is linking the eternal God that created everything at the very beginning of time with Jesus.  This Word was not just with God in the beginning, He was GOD.  And this God was now appearing in human flesh and blood to live among us, shows us the power of God, the love of God, and most importantly the character of God.  See Jesus, see God.  If you look to Jesus you look to God.  They are one and the same person in two different forms.  One was still the infinite and omnipresent God, one was finite and local and part of time and space.  If you can comprehend this great mystery, then the rest of John will be a piece of cake!