In the New Beginning
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
This is intended to be a follow-up to my last post which I wrote about the coming together of the “old beginning” at creation, and the “new beginning” at the incarnation. If you like, you can read it here before you continue reading this post. This post may sound very familiar to some of you. For the most part it is a rewriting of John 1:1-18 in my own words. A paraphrase, if you will, and probably a fairly loose one at that.
The Word Became Flesh
In the beginning was the Word. The Word existed with God. In fact, the Word was God, the pre-incarnate Christ. There was life within him. Life to create life. Everything we see around us, the sun, moon, and stars, all the heavenly bodies were created by him. By the word of his mouth he created the earth we live on, and by his hand he created us. You, me, every person who ever lived or will live in his image. The image of God (imago Dei).
The life within him is the light of the human race. It is a light so bright, so penetrating, no amount of darkness can ever overpower it. This light shines through his people. The Lord God sent a man into the world to testify about the light. We know him as John the Baptizer. He testified about Jesus, the light, coming into the world so that others would believe and follow the light.
Just as John bore witness, each believer coming after the Baptizer is also commissioned to bear witness about the light. We ourselves are to be lights to those around us, bringing glory to God the Father.1
Christ Jesus, the Word, is the true light, who gives light to everyone. He came into the world which he himself made, yet the world doesn’t even recognize him. He is ignored, even by his own people at times. He is despised and rejected by the very ones he created.2
Still, those who do receive him, the ones who believe in his name, by his gift of grace have the right to become children of God. Not because of our bloodline, physical birth into the family, or because it was our choosing, but because God loves us so deeply that he has chosen us to be adopted into his family. The family of God.
The Word, Christ Jesus, became flesh and chose to live among us. Fully human. Fully God. He reveals his glory, glory as the only Son from the Father. He is full of grace and mercy and truth. From this fullness we have all received amazing grace. Grace to last a lifetime.
Begin Anew
The new beginning ushered in by Christ Jesus is available to everyone who chooses to put their faith in Jesus and follow him. There is no magic formula, no special prayer, no particular words. Simply and sincerely, confess your need to the Lord and your desire to follow him. He has already done the hard part.
Jesus, the Word, became flesh and came to earth to be with us. To live with us. That is his name, Immanuel — God with Us.3 He came to bring us the forgiveness of sins, God’s gift of salvation, freely by his grace. He was crucified, and on the third day following rose from death to give us life.
By accepting the gift of God’s grace and following Jesus we are born to new life; a new beginning.
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Matthew 5:14-16 — You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Isaiah 53:3 — He was despised and rejected by people,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23 — The Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (which means “God with Us.”)