John 1:1

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

Who are the major participants?

• "the Word" = Jesus
  --was with God/is God: reflects the Trinity as Jesus was both one with God but also had a separate identity from God.
• God
  --Genesis 1:1a says "In the beginning, God..."

What are they doing/saying?

• Existing: "from the beginning" (there is no end date!)
• Communing: "the Word was with God"
• Being identified: "the Word was God"

Where are they going?

• The only place to go from the beginning is forward.

What is happening/When is this occurring?

• In the beginning:
  --(v. 2-3) Jesus (the Word) was there.
  --All things were made through him.
  --(Genesis 1:1) God (the Word is God) created the heavens and the earth.
  --(more on this subject tomorrow)

Spiritual Principles:

• The Word (Jesus) has always been with God and a part of God.
• Jesus has a major investment in the creation! He wasn't just there when it was created (as though that wasn't enough)--through him it was created!
• We were made in the image of God (aka Jesus)
• SO: When Jesus came to earth, he was walking on paths He had walked in the beginning. The rock he knealt at in the Garden of Gethsemane, he had formed.
• When he looked at all the women & men around him--did he think back to Adam & Eve? Did he see himself (his image) in each person he touched, healed, taught--in those that crucified him? How did he feel at seeing how each person dealt with their image in Christ?

Application Questions:

• Do I care about the earth, all living things, all people--as Christ did? I was made in the image of the creator of all things: shouldn't I care?
• Do I appreciate the sacrifice Jesus made? He wasn't a stranger to this earth, he had seen it grow as time had progressed from the beginning of creation. He had an investment in each of us and he made a sacrifice to see that investment fulfill its purpose.