Read: John 1:1-5 & 9-14
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.”
John 1:1-2
The long awaited arrival of the Messiah is the point at which the Son of God took on a human nature and dwelled among His chosen people. This, however, is not when God the Son came into existence. He has always existed. There was never a point in which He did not exist. Jesus is the eternally begotten Son of God. Unlike human progenitors, God the Father did not beget Jesus at some point in creation history. God the Father eternally (that means always has and always will) begets the Son of God. This doesn’t mean that Jesus is somehow lesser than the Father. It just shows the relationship between the two.
Now, why do Christians claim Jesus is eternal. John 1:1-2 is a clear affirmation that the Word is God–and has always been with God. Who is the Word? In John 1:14, John writes, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” A clear, unambiguous designation of Jesus as “the Word.” Thus, a clear declaration of Jesus as God.
This is one of the beautiful realities of the incarnation. Jesus is not just some heavenly being that dwelt among us. Jesus is not a lesser God than the Father. Jesus is not subordinate to the Father at all. He and the Father are One (John 10:30). Therefore, God the Father did not send someone lesser to fulfill the redemptive plan: He sent One equal to Him in majesty and worth.
When John declares in John 1:4, “In Him was life…” He is referencing the fact that Jesus not only is the One that brings about renewal of one’s spiritual life, but Jesus is the author of all life. It is well within His power and ability to offer mankind life because He is the One that created life in the beginning. In a similar way, Jesus is called the “true light” (verse 9). Since He is the light of the world, He can offer spiritual enlightenment to all who come to Him. As God, Jesus is capable of offering this spiritual enlightenment because He knows everything that can be known. As God, Jesus is capable of holding back or removing spiritual darkness that may blind us from seeing the True Light because He can do anything He wants to do. In other words, our salvation is sure because our salvation rests in He who is able to bring it about.
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Prayer: True Light and Life-giver, Jesus Christ, Son of God, One with the Father and Eternally Begotten, enlighten my mind and heart that I may know you more. Do not let the surrounding spiritual darkness overwhelm me, but give my soul rest through your power and grace.