Jesus Before Time Began: The Meaning of ‘In the Beginning Was the Word’

John 1:1–2 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. (NIV)

In our passage this week, we will dig into the mysteries of the Trinity and the person of Jesus Christ. He is the central figure of our faith, but who is He?

As we begin the Gospel of John, we encounter this statement of the Word being God and being with God. Later, John expands on this Word who has existed since the beginning—both God and with God at the same time. John says the following:

John 1:14 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (NIV)

The Word is Christ.

He was in the beginning. There is only a beginning within the realm of time. As time began, Jesus already was. He is infinite. He did not begin with time but has always existed outside of time. He is the eternal Word, without beginning or end. Our feeble minds cannot understand all that exists within time, much less the Word who initiated time by His own hands. Yet He continually reveals Himself to us. He is beyond the capacity of our minds, yet by the Holy Spirit, He gives us His mind so that, with greater revelation, we can grasp more of who He is.

The Bible is clear that even what we are enabled to comprehend in this life is veiled. God’s promise is that one day, in Heaven, we will see the fullness of His glory. Perhaps then we will also fully understand Him, our Glorious Mystery. But for now, even His eternal nature—as much as we can understand it—reveals His heart to give us comfort.

Like a pea held between the thumb and forefinger of a giant is Creation in the hands of our God. Even this is a poor description. No human language can capture His glory through feeble analogies. He is above what our minds can conceive, and therefore we also cannot conceive words to describe Him. He is God.

The trials and tribulations, fears, pain, and hardships exist within time. These were introduced to humanity in the Garden of Eden. They were introduced by Lucifer, a fallen angel, but even angels are part of Creation. They did not exist at the beginning. And there is no sin outside of Creation. There is no pain, no suffering, no sorrow. God’s plan from the beginning was to bring us—His focal point of all Creation—to Himself in the realm beyond Creation. He desires that all be saved and spend eternity with Him in a place where sin simply does not exist. His eternal nature guarantees the existence of this place beyond. Heaven is a reality. And He will bring us who believe to Himself so that one day all pain, suffering, nightmares, sadness, and death will be wiped from our memories.

Prayer:

 Lord, help me to keep my hope in You, that I might see past the problems of today in perfect confidence that one day they will all be gone because of Your love for me. Amen.