In the beginning … Jesus was there
Between graduate school and the arrival of my first baby, I worked as a receptionist in an office of engineers who did work I couldn't even begin to understand. Bill and I had moved to Beverly Farms, MA that summer so that he could attend Gordon-Conwell.
At the desk next to mine was a woman named Anne Marie. Anne Marie was absolutely precious She was from a New England fishing community, Gloucester, which had lost six of its fisherman in a perfect storm just the year before. Although our backgrounds and life experiences were so different, we loved each other.
As we got to know each other, she became curious about my faith. And that January, we began to study the book of John together.
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things were made through him,
and without him was not any thing made that was made.
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
John 1:1-4
Although she had read these words before, although she had heard the Creation story countless times, she had never understood that Jesus was there. Not only was Jesus there, but he was the agent of creation. In Jesus was life … from the beginning.
In the beginning,
God created the heavens and the earth.
The earth was without form and void,
and darkness was over the face of the deep.
And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together … in the beginning.
And God said, "Let there be!"
And … "Let there be!"
And … "Let there be!"
And … "Let there be!"
And … "Let there be!"
And … "Let there be!"
And it was good.
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our own likeness.
And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea
and over the birds of the heavens
and over the livestock
and over all the earth
and over every creeping thing that creeps over the earth."
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:1-27
Men and women created in the image of God, by the triune God.
Men and women created to partner together as caretakers and fruitbearers.
Masterpieces created in the image of God.
To shine forth his glory, his love, his delight into the world.
And it was good … so very good.
Today, treasure the truth that Jesus, the Word made flesh, was there, right there at Creation. The one who is the life, breathed life. The one we gaze at as the image of the invisible God … In him all things were created. All things were created through him, and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:15-17)
Today, treasure Jesus. Worship him as Creator, fully God. He was there … and he had a plan. In the beginning … Jesus was there.
Is this a new thought for you, as it was for Anne Marie? What does it mean to you, personally, that Jesus was there? Does it even matter?
Welcome to Promise! Between now and Christmas we are preparing our hearts to welcome Christ. Each day we're tracing the presence of Christ, the promise of Christ, and the preparing of the way for Christ. We're moving from Creation to the Cradle. I'm so glad you're here! If you like what you're reading, would you consider sharing Promise with a friend?