Advent Day 1: Word

Advent Words Day 1: Word

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."  John 1:1

At the heart of Christmas is the reality that God, in the person of Jesus, came to us in human form. This is the incarnation. This is at the heart of the prologue of John's gospel in John 1:1-18. John's Christmas account will focus our attention, not on His birth, but on His deity, His eternal nature, and His coming to dwell with us in the flesh. Over the next twenty four days of the Advent season we will explore the words in John 1:1-18 that will fill out this theme and connect Christmas and the Incarnation with our life in Christ.

John opens his gospel with the words "In the beginning was the Word...". A dramatic opening that echos Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth". John begins with the revelation of the Word ~ logos in Greek. John uses a familiar term here that would immediately bring understanding to his first audience. To the Greeks hearing John's words, logos was used to refer to the divine reason that gave order, form and meaning to the cosmos - the source of life. To the Jews hearing John's words, logos was the Hebrew word, memrah, which was used to refer to the self-expression of God to His people - the very expression, thoughts and mind of God.

In the Old Testament the Word of God creates. Eight times in Genesis we are told that "And God said, let there be..." (Genesis 1:3,6,9,11,14,20,24,26). He spoke and all that was created came into existence.

"By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible." Hebrews 11:3 ESV

"By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth...For he spoke, and it came to be.." Psalm 33:6,9

"...long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water." 2 Peter 3:5

It will be revealed in the coming verses that the Word is eternal. The Word is Creator. The Word is the source of life. The Word is light. The Word is the Incarnation. The Word is the glory of God. The Word is grace and truth. The Word reveals God. The Word is God. The Word is Jesus.

The Word is Jesus.

Join me in responding creatively to the Advent Words in John's prologue. You can share your creative response on Instagram using #adventwords2019 or join the Words Challenge Facebook Group and share your creative response there.