"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God."
In the beginning....
John takes Him back to eternity, in the ages before time began. Mark, presenting Him as the perfect servant begins with His anointing for service; Luke, presenting Him as the perfect man begins with His birth; Matthew, presenting Him as king of Israel, takes Him back to David and Abraham; John, portraying the highest and noblest view in the final document to be written in holy scripture, presents Him as God, very God of very God. He begins with His pre-existence, and establishes from the outset that the babe of Bethlehem was God; the boy of Nazareth was God; the anointed man at His baptism was God; the miracle worker was God; the teacher of sublime truth was God; the peasant preacher was God; the innocent man so treacherously betrayed was God; the man who was crucified on the cross of shame was God. This staggering truth should grip every soul of man as we ponder the astonishing entry into this world, the perfect sojourn in this vale of tears, and the unlawful death in the midst of His years, of the One who pre-existed us all, and who came in mercy to save us all! Who is He? they asked-John 8v25. Well might they ask, and well might we. He is none other than Deity, in all His attributes, in all His glory and majesty. In the language of the hymn, in answer to the question "Who is He in yonder stall, at whose feet the shepherds fall? Tis the Lord the king of Glory; tis the Lord oh wondrous story; At His feet we humbly fall; crown Him Saviour Lord of all!"
Ponder, consider, enjoy, the revelation of scripture concerning this one:
"But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah; yet out of thee shall He come forth to me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from everlasting" Micah 5v2
"Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He was come from God, and went to God." John 13v3
"Father I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me, for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." John 17v24
"Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you." 1st Peter 1v20
He pre-existed all things, dwelt in unbreakable union with His fellows, then stepped into time as a real man to save us.
Next The Word...what does it mean?
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