“In the Beginning…”


BIBLE READING: John 1
DISCUSSION                                                                         
                Finish this statement from a Biblical perspective, “In the Beginning ….”.  Most people would immediately go to Genesis 1.1 and say, “In the Beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Of course that would be a correct statement, but so would “In the Beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” (John 1.1).  Both Genesis and the Gospel of John begin with the same introduction of, “In the Beginning…”.  However, the similarities end there, because the two books go in complete opposite directions.  The book of Genesis begins with the beginning of time as we know it, explaining to us what happened during the story of creation and moves forward.  Yet, the Gospel of John gives us some insight to what existed before time as we know it, before the creation of the world!  John seeks to help us understand that before time, as we measure it, existed, there was God and the Word.  This Word was with God, and at the same time the Word was God.  Did you get that?  I said that this Word was with God and at the same time was God!  How can something/someone be with someone/something while at the same time BE the same someone/something.  This passage is so unique that if you place any other words in place of “Word” only add to its confusion.  For instance, “In the beginning was Matt and Matt was with Leah, and Matt was Leah.” What about this one “In the beginning was Alabama and Alabama was with Auburn, and Alabama was Auburn.”  (Preacher, you speak sacrilege!)  The only way that this passage can truly be understood is by reading John 1.14 as it describes to us that the “Word became flesh and dwelt among us”.  The “Word” is Jesus!  Therefore, the passage now can be understood to read “In the Beginning was Jesus, and Jesus was with God, and Jesus was God.”  Although our feeble minds may never be able to truly understand how Jesus can be with God and be God at the same time, it does simply just affirm what the remainder of the Gospel further illustrates; Jesus came to this earth as a human being and yet was God and even though I don’t fully understand it, I don’t have to! Because faith is the believing in something, that we might simply not be able to fully understand.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tuesday - October 4, 2016

Woodlawn Family Bible Study TUESDAY BIBLE READING:    Genesis 32:22-32 Do you want to be blessed? That sounds like a rhetorical question, doesn’t it? Who doesn’t want to be blessed? I guess it really depends on your definition of “blessed.” Many people desire blessings that will make them wealthy or, perhaps, material goods. However, being blessed is not limited to those physical things. In fact, sometimes we can be blessed in the most unusual ways. For instance, in Genesis 32:26, we find Jacob wrestling with what we often call an angel. Within the story, Jacob is overtaking the angel and holding him down; refusing to let go until the angel gives him a blessing. The angel obliges Jacob, but not in the way he might have imagined. The angel changed his name from “Jacob” to “Israel,” but he also did something else. He put Jacob’s hip joint out of socket, causing him much pain and difficulty walking. In part, his blessing had to do with him walking with a limp. How is tha...
Read more

“Examples”

BIBLE READING: Mark 13- Luke 1 DISCUSSION                                                                                   This past week we have read of some great examples in the bible.   We read in Mark 13 about us being ready and being prepared for when Jesus returns.   We need to all stay awake!   In Mark 14 we read of one action having such an impact.   How this woman gave her very best to Jesus because of her love for Him.   In Mark 15 we read of Pontius Pilate and his desire to keep his power.   He loved his power and did not want to give it up even if that meant sending an inno...
Read more

Monday

BIBLE READING : Job 3. 1-26 “I wish I had never been born,” Job said to his friends. “I wish that my birthday was just wiped off of the calendar as though it never happened.” Who could blame him? The loss that he had endured in mere moments had been catastrophic. Job had experienced a wonderful life until that day, when all he had known changed. I know that many people have endured tragic losses, but Job’s defeat seems unfathomable. Isn’t it ironic that, although Job’s comments brought him so much pain, they can bring us so much joy? My mother always taught me that, no matter how bad I may think things are, someone else always is suffering more than I am. Not only does that help us to feel that we are not alone in our depression, but it gives us that hope for what is to come. Job’s story helps us to learn to appreciate the blessings that we have today! Job was not in control of his circumstances, but he was in control of his reaction to those circumstances. When Job was hurtin...
Read more