Good Wednesday morning! Something new today for you. We are going to start on John. The first verse is one that sounds a lot like the start of another book: Genesis.
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)
However, John actually goes back before the start of Genesis. When God created the heavens and the earth, the Word was already there. The Word was with God when the earth and heavens were formed too. Then John tells us who this "Word" is: the Word was God. Later we will find out the Word is also someone very dear to us, but for now: The Word is God. Why the Word?
If you had a close friend, the first choice of a name for him or her would probably not be "the Word". In the dictionary, word has a wealth of meanings, but a couple of somewhat uncommon usages come to mind this morning, "the word is given" and "you have my word." We hear the first one used now and then in reference to a command. 'The word is given' means to execute the command or to go forth. The sound of it is somewhat archaic and a bit formal and majestic in our ears. We expect to hear this in an old novel or perhaps in a Shakespearean play. We like to think that the Word was given to us in the way of a gift, but we forget that the Word has been given to us as a command.
The other phrase, you have my word, is spoken as a promise between people. We don't use it as much as we should, but at one time to give your word was to commit yourself to an act as a promise. Politicians still use it from time to time, but so often do they fail of their word that no one believes them. We tend to shy away from giving our word because of this. God on the other hand is not human that He should fail of His word. We have been given both a command and a promise in the Word.
John begins his gospel by establishing the identity of the Word. In case we should have any doubts, the Word was God.
More on this tomorrow as we go to John 1:2!
Bucky
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