Saturday, January 8, 2005
John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word ... He was in the beginning with God.
ALPHA AND OMEGA
Christmas songs are still in the air. At least there's no reason they shouldn't be. Epiphany is really part of the Christmas season. Epiphany means "revealing" -- and during Epiphany Christians have long rejoiced in the revelation of the answer to that age-old Christmas question: "What Child is this?"
It's like unwrapping a Christmas present, the gift of God's own Son, and finding the gift to be more wonderful than you imagined possible. John's Gospel was written with such a revealing in mind (cp. Jn 20:31) and so opens with a statement that fairly takes our breath away.
John calls Jesus "the Word" -- a very special name, and he writes that the Word was in the beginning. Our simple minds cannot begin to grasp what the inspired Evangelist here says with the simplest of words.
Jesus was in the beginning -- present, existing, active. Before there was a universe, Jesus was. And He always was. Before there was ever a beginning Jesus was already there, existing from the limitless stretches of eternity before time itself existed. There has never been a moment without Jesus. Before He took on human flesh, before the manger, before Jesus was born, He had already been.
Think of what this means. The One who comes as your Savior; the One who stands by your side and says, "Come to me you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest;" the One who reaches out and takes you by the hand and says, "Be of good cheer. Your sins are forgiven. I will never leave you." He has been there, has seen all your trials and troubles. He knows the origin of sin; its ravages and its pain. He knows its effect; He knows what is to be done about it, and He has done it. Because He was there. 