John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
The Eternal Word
In the beginning, before time and space carved their existence, there was the Word. John, a devoted follower of Christ, opens his gospel with a profound revelation: that the Word existed with God, and the Word was God Himself. This verse unveils the majestic nature and divine identity of Jesus Christ.
John beautifully expresses the eternity and deity of the Word, highlighting that this Word not only dwelled with God but was God.
By using the term "Word," John emphasizes both the communicative power and the creative authority that Christ embodies. As we delve into the depths of this profound verse, we come to understand that Jesus is the very expression of God's heart, the embodiment of His wisdom and truth. The implications of this verse are immense. It reveals that Jesus did not merely come into existence at His birth in Bethlehem, but that He has always existed, coeternal with the Father. This pivotal truth points towards the essence of the Triune God—three distinct persons, yet one divine essence. John's intention in presenting this foundational truth from the outset is to establish the deity of Jesus Christ and to ground the faith of his readers in the person of the Word. It serves as a bedrock upon which the rest of his gospel narrative will be built.
As we meditate on this verse, we are invited to encounter the eternal nature of Jesus and to deepen our understanding of His divine identity. It reminds us that the Word has always been and forever will be. This truth beckons us to marvel at the unfathomable love of God, who chose to enter into our temporal existence as the eternal Word made flesh, the Son of God incarnate. May we approach this verse with awe and wonder, allowing its profound truths to reverberate within our souls and deepen our love for our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.