Last time we saw that John begins his book at the beginning. In the first. THE very beginning. It’s a very good place to start. And he repeats that phrase twice, in the beginning, for emphasis, because John wants us to focus here, to grasp this mind-blowing truth, that in the beginning was, always was this One-Who-Was. And He is the Anchor for our souls. Our True North. Because if there is no beginning, then we are literally lost, and we are accidents. There is no meaning or sense to our lives beyond the here and now. BUT God says, you and I are not a meaningless accident. [Ps. 139:13-14, 16 For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well… Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.]. So that every one of our days is filled with potential and purpose. Time and the universe and each one of us had a beginning, and there was/is a reason for this beginning. In the beginning. In the first. This is of first importance.
And here at the beginning of his book, John is introducing us to Someone. This One Who was there, Who WAS - in the beginning. In the first. Someone inconceivable. A timeless, unbounded, eternal Being, One Who always was (and always will be). In the beginning WAS. The Origin. The First Cause, the One Who was not only there in the beginning, but also made IT happen. Made it ALL happen, everything. The Origin-ator. This is Who John is going to show us through the rest of his book, and that’s Who we begin to look at today. In the beginning was… was Who?
In the beginning was…[not a baby]. Now, with Advent coming up, it would be perfect if to start us off, John showed us a baby. But nope - John doesn’t take us to the manger. He’s not showing us a baby. And not, a boy. Not, a rabbi. Not even something human, per se. Nope. To start us off he zooms right on past the miraculous birth and early life of Jesus and takes us all the way back to The Beginning, and when we get there, we don’t see an infant. [In the beginning was The Word]. The [Logos]. Why does John go here, first thing? Why does he call Him “The Word”? The Logos. [a logo --> identifies an organization or some other entity]
In the Greek, a logos is actually that which is spoken. A logos, a word is a thought brought to life. There’s something in my mind, and the act of speaking gives it substance, gives life to this idea - [like the life that springs to mind if someone says, “Thanksgiving dinner”, or better, I love you]. So we see that words give substance, they... create. The Word, The Logos then is the ultimate creative force. Let's not underestimate the power of the force of The Word. Think about it. Words are the means of creation (How does Genesis read? God SAID, “Let there be light.” And what happened?). Words are also the fruit of creation (ideas brought to life)[what was the first job of man - Gen. 2:19 Out of the ground the LORD God (had) formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. - man participates in the creative process as he uses words/logos to give fuller expression to the identities to the living creatures!]. The means of creation, the fruit of creation - and words actually are the goal of creation (someday every tongue will do what…?). They’re the end of creation, if you will. And in the beginning was The Word - HE is the beginning AND the end of creation. [Ps 33:6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host.]
Oh how we humans take words for granted… A word, by its very definition, contains meaning. It’s not simply a grunt, or a growl or a chirp or a squeak. Or a bark or a meow. Not even something we “parrot” or mimic. A true word is intelligence manifested in tangible understandable "bodily" form. In the beginning was The Word. And as it turns out, true words are employed only by The Origin-ator Himself, and by those who bear His image. It’s another thing that sets people apart from all the rest of God’s creatures. No other creature grows up from its infancy and begins to use true meaningful words. In the beginning was The Word. [2Pet. 3:5 …by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed…]
And John says this is not just A word, not just any logos - this is THE Logos. In the beginning was THE Logos. The Logos is THE Meaning, THE embodiment of intelligence, THE Speaking Creative Force behind the entire universe. All of existence. [Heb. 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.] Everything out of nothing, by The Word. There’s no mistaking what John is saying here about this One Who was. In the beginning was the Word.
And this Word Who was in the beginning is responsible not only for the origin of everything in the universe, but also its ongoing existence. [Heb. 1:1-3a God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the EXACT REPRESENTAtion of His nature, and upholds all things by THE WORD of His power.]. Not just A logo. The Logos. In the beginning was The Word.
[Rev. 19:11-16 Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.]. In the beginning was THE Word.
So at this point in his book, John has written just five words in the Greek (six in English), but he’s already made it crystal clear Who this One is he is showing to us. This One named Jesus, Who walked among John and his friends for 3+ years? He’s the One Who made the entire universe. Spoke everything into existence out of nothing. He made each one of us - and John got a front row seat to see The Logos show up on planet earth and do His thing for three years. True intelligence, eternal wisdom manifested. The Word Who was, showing up, doing His thing. Wondrous words of truth and love and incredible deeds to back them up. Miracles. Signs and wonders.
This is no ordinary being. And this is the One Who loves. He loved John, He made John. He made you, and He loves you. And He wants you to believe in Him. The amazing truth is that if we want to know this same One Who was, His glory is seen on display everywhere if we will open our eyes. He is found in the pages of this Book. And He can be found right outside the door of our heart, if we will simply open the door and invite Him in. Will you receive Him? Will your heart prepare Him room?
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