Thursday, May 2, 2013

John 1:2


Did you get that?  The One called the Word is with God before time begins.  John 1:2 EFP

Just in case you didn’t get it the first time, John repeats himself.  “The Word was in the beginning with God” is the succinct statement of the apostle.  In typical Jewish literary technique, he repeats for emphasis.  If you want anything emphasized—Repeat it!

Why does the apostle feel it is necessary to repeat this simple statement?  The Word was present with God from the beginning; before anything else existed; before creation; before any light existed other than that which emanated from divinity itself.  Yet, repeat it is what John does.  I know I have to repeat things to make sure I am being heard. 

Perhaps it is because the apostle was inspired to make crystal-clear what would one day be questioned and attacked.  This foundational statement of faith would be in danger of being minimized and relegated to the heap of irrelevance.  But the aging disciple of Jesus knew this could never be, since there was something significant beyond the words that impacts the entire picture he was beginning to paint.  For the salvific masterpiece to be revealed in all its glory, the total divinity of the Word needed to be established beyond a shadow of a doubt.  He has only hinted as to the identity of the Word; that revelation will come later.  Whoever the Word is, he inhabits eternity.

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