Knowing The Word: John 1:1-18, In the Beginning

Today I start a new weekday Bible reading plan. We begin with the the Prologue from the Gospel of John before turning to Old Testament readings that point forward to Jesus, The Word.

Like the first notes of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, John writes with boldness, drama, and clarity, using the first words in the Bible from Genesis to begin his gospel, linking Jesus to God before creation. John’s central message is that Jesus is God. John calls him “The Word,” who never had a beginning. He has always been with God. He predates the world—the world he made. In Genesis God’s Word is powerful and active in creation. Now that Jesus has appeared, John sees him as this Word. Not only is he God’s agent in creation, he is God himself—“very God of very God, begotten, not made.” This changes our understanding of God and how we can understand the Old Testament readings I'll be writing about over the next three months until I turn to the New Testament. It also helps us to know that the God of creation is not removed from us but is known in the face and saving actions of The Word, our Savior Jesus Christ.

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

God our Father, help us to understand in the midst of the suffering caused by natural disasters and acts of evil that Jesus, your Son, The Word, is one with you in power, purpose, and praise, and that he is our anchor in the midst of life’s storms.