Mar 9 - 02 - John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word

and the Word was with God

and the Word was God.

John 1:1

                                                                              Bible Rank: 2

 

Who was the Word?

 

Notice… I didn't say, "'What' was the Word?" The Word was – and is – a "who." It is Jesus. Says a few verses after this, "the Word became flesh and dwelt in among us." And when it starts talking about "the glory, as of a Father's only Son," it is clear that this is talking about Jesus!

 

So what is the significance that "in the beginning was… Jesus"?!

 

Many people, upon hearing that God created and "it was good, " assume that human sin was a surprise to God. Assuming that, many people you knew the Old Testament as a series of stop gap measure as God tries to make things right again. God sent a flood. He gave his Law. He delivered people with spectacular signs like the parting of the Red Sea. He sent prophets and teachers and kings like David. He loved them ... and disciplined of them ... and challenged them ... and called them back again and again. And when nothing else worked, God tried one last ditch effort – he sent his only Son.

 

Have you ever heard that? Have you ever listen to that? Have you maybe even heard someone say that?

 

John 1:1 proves that that is not the case. It reveals that Jesus was alive billions of years before Christmas. He was there from the beginning. And I can imagine, in the moments before creation, I can imagine God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) having a conversation that went something like this…

 

·         Father: So it's decided?

·         Son and Spirit: Yes, yes, it's decided.

·         Father: We're going to create.

·         Son and Spirit (with great enthusiasm): Yes, yes, we're going to create.

·         Father (much more serious): But you know what this means?

·         Jesus the Son: Yes, I know what this means.

·         Father: If we create human beings -- who are free yet are not God -- they will eventually sin. And that sin will separate them from us.

·         Son and Spirit (sadly): Yes.

·         Father (to Jesus, the Son): And you know what that means ...?

 

From the beginning, Jesus-the-Word knew what this meant. From the beginning, Jesus accepted that he would have to come down pay the penalty of our sins. (In a future day, we'll talk about why a holy God can't just excuse sin and remain just ... yet a loving God couldn't just cast aside those whom he loved.) Therefore, from the beginning, Jesus knew the cost of creating: He would have to come down and die for us.

 

This verse sounds very esoteric. Very deeply theological. It is perhaps the greatest love note ever written. From the beginning, Jesus knew the cost of creating: He would have to come down and die for us ... and he did it out of love!

 

In Christ's Love,
a guy who is not worthy
for the journey
(so all I can be is grateful)