“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”John 1:1-3
The opening of John’s Gospel takes us back to Genesis and the creation of the world. “In the beginning…” Jewish readers would immediately fill in “…God created the heavens and the earth.” But John gives a twist. In the beginning…the Word. Who is this Word?
This Word was with God. With, an important preposition that connotes communion. God and the Word were moving towards each other, were together.
The Word was God. Not, the Word was “a god” or “the god.” The Greek has no article in front of theos (God). The Word was part of the Godhead. John is making use of Trinitarian theology. The Word is not just divine, it is deity.
The Godhead of the Word is affirmed in the next statement, “Through him all things were made…” Bible readers will immediately thing of Colossians and Paul’s affirmation of Christ’s supremacy.
“For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.” Colossians 1:16
Only God can create out of nothing. Only the God who creates out of nothing can reign over everything.
The Christmas story does not begin at the manager. Jesus’s life story does not begin with an angel visitation to Mary. Jesus first appears in scripture in Genesis 1, “the Word was with God, the Word was God.”
Who is Jesus to you? This is the question you must answer at Christmas. He’s not the baby in the manger anymore. That was a moment in history. Our culture allows for a secular celebration of baby Jesus. I hear the music in the stores, lyrics about “baby Jesus.” Our culture does not allow for celebration of the Godhead Word becoming flesh, bringing light and truth. Jesus is, however, still the Word. The Word in the beginning, the Word now, and the Word forevermore.
Shepherds didn’t bow before a baby. They bowed before the Word. Do you bow before a baby or before the Word?
kelrohlf says
good question…it is easy to look at the little baby and forget the Word…May the Word of Christ dwell in you richly…and me, too 🙂
sondrakraak says
Amen and Amen! Thanks for reading.