Day 3, Read John 1:1-3; Col. 1:15-18; Prov. 8:22-30

“In the beginning was the Word.”

“The Word” is the One who became flesh (Jn. 1:14), Jesus Christ.  He bears this title because He is the expression of the invisible God (Jn. 1:18), even as a word expresses the otherwise unknowable thoughts of the mind and heart.  “The beginning” relates to creation (v2-3).  The phrase we are considering today says that the Word was in existence when everything that was “made” came into existence.  In other words, the Word is eternal!

We are also told that the Word made everything, without exception.  How was the Word related to creation?

·        At creation Jesus was the creative Word (Gen. 1:3,6,9,11,14,20,24,26).  In the account of the creation of the heavens and the earth in Genesis 1 we are told that all things came into being when God spoke them into being.  Sometimes God spoke and things simply came into existence; other times God spoke and then made the thing He had said.  But in every case, God spoke.  Jesus was God’s Word and thus brought all things into existence.

·        At creation Jesus was the Word of wisdom (Prov. 8:22-36).  Wisdom is a person, not only in the amazing description in Proverbs but in our understanding of Jesus Himself.  He became to us wisdom (1 Cor. 1:30).  In Him are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:3).  Wisdom is said to have been with God in the beginning (Pr. 8:22,30).  Wisdom is an eternal person (Pr. 8:22-29) even is the Word as an eternal Person in John 1.  What we call “laws of nature” are in fact principles of creation, the work of Wisdom, the Master Craftsman (Prov. 8:30, NKJV).

·        Since creation Jesus is the sustaining Word (Heb. 1:1-4; Col. 1:17).  Because He is the wisdom that underlies creation He is said to uphold all things by the word of His power (Heb. 1:3).  Again, in Him all things consist or are held together (Col. 1:17). 

·        Because of creation Jesus is the preeminent Word (Col. 1:15-18).  To call Jesus “the image of the invisible God” is another way to call Him “the Word”.  The title “Firstborn of all creation” is often seriously misunderstood to mean Jesus was created.  But firstborn is a title of authority, referring to the oldest son who is the heir who will oversee the family business when the father passes on.  There is one cult that translates “all things” (Col. 1:16-17) as “all (other) things”.  That is a damning addition to Scripture that denies to Jesus the preeminence He is to have (1:18). 

What does this say to us about the birth of Jesus?  That infant is the Word that became flesh, the Word of creation, the Creator of heaven and earth!  Acknowledge Him as such.  Trust His sustaining wisdom.  Give Him the preeminence in your life to which He alone is due.