John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
"In the beginning was the Word." This was not the beginning of the
Word; rather, the Word was already there IN THE BEGINNING. I think I might have
made better grades in English if I had been as interested in word meanings,
sentence diagramming and verb tenses when I was in school. Our view of Jesus
must begin before the beginning of time. The first thing God created was time.
He created it for our benefit, not for His. Before He created time, God is. Or
as He told Moses, "I AM." There is no changing with God. He always
has been and He always will be - the same. Yes, I still have trouble
explaining that one to myself, much less to children when they ask, "Where
did God come from?"
The same applies to all three in the Godhead: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
They were already there "in the beginning." Yes, the Son of God was
already there when God said, "Let there be light." How can we know
this to be so? We often quote the words of God in Genesis when He said,
"Let US make man in OUR image." That, to me shows the complete
Godhead being active in creation. There is another passage in the New Testament
that shows the eternal aspect of Jesus. We find these words in Revelation 13:8
"... the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."
I really do not want to get weighed down in a morning devotion with such a deep
thought; yet, this must be considered in order to understand the word,
"Word." There was a covenant (promise) made even before the Lord God
said, "Let there be light." This covenant (promise) was made between
the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The result of that covenant is that God would
have a people unto Himself. This covenant was made (spoken) before the
foundation of the world between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Word of
redemption was spoken even before the transgression of Adam. We will look at
this more tomorrow, but for now, let us know that "Word" was made flesh
and related to us when Jesus laid down His life on the cross.
I won't try to bring the Greek Word into this devotion, but the word,
"Word", carries different connotations. But one of the meanings is
"to relate". How do you and I relate our ideas or thoughts to one
another? Is it not by words spoken and actions taken to carry out the words or
ideas related to another? Another definition of Word is to
"make or show a connection between, to feel sympathy with; identify
with."
How does this Living Word show a connection with us? How is this Living Word
able to feel sympathy with us? How is this Living Word able to identify and
relate with us and to us? John 1:14 tells us, "The Word was made flesh
and dwelt among us." Hebrews chapter 2 tells us that because He was made
of the seed of Abraham, He is able to identify with us, relate to us the things
of God that we need to know, and able not only to sympathize with us, but able
to give comfort and assistance to us in our most difficult times.
Praise God for the Living Word of God being made flesh.