Jesus: The Eternal Existence

Scripture reading:

(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.

Observations:

Who and what is this passage about?

It’s about the nature and character of our savior, Jesus Christ.

This passage talks about ‘the word.’ Later in John chapter 1, ‘the word’ becomes flesh, and it becomes clear that the ‘word’ John refers to is Jesus.

I don’t know why John does not refer to Jesus by name here, but I don’t feel that point is terribly important. What is important is what the passage says about the character of Jesus Christ, our savior.

The passage makes two clear statements:

(1) Jesus has always existed. He literally had no beginning. (v1)

Hang on! Wasn't Jesus only born about two thousand years ago? How then can John say he existed in the beginning? Isn't this ridiculous?

The scripture does describe how Jesus was born in the flesh to the virgin Mary, about 2,000 years ago, and so the above line of thought may sound logical. Our own existence commenced the day we are born in the flesh. Therefore, it is natural for us to assume that commencement of existence always happens on the day of birth and that the existence of Jesus started the day he came out of Mary.

But that assumption is wrong. The existence of Jesus commenced before he entered the world in human form. Two thousand years ago, Jesus took on the physical form of a man. But his existence did not commence at that point. From a spiritual viewpoint, he had no beginning. He existed at the beginning of time.

It is difficult for us as humans to comprehend this. Everything we know in the world, including our own lives, had a beginning. We are naturally uncomfortable with the notion of any form of existence without a beginning.

However, the passage states clearly that Jesus already existed at the beginning of time. He had no beginning and will have no end. He is literally eternal. He will always exist.

(2) Jesus has an intimate relationship with god, and indeed, is god.

As I was writing this, I started to write about some observations we could make from this passage about the character of god the father.

When I think about the creator of the world, I usually think about one big creator and father in heaven called god. The image I picture is that of an all powerful, great big loving old man.

But this passage does not talk primarily about god the father. It talks about Jesus.

It is interesting to note, however, just how close the description of Jesus in this passage is to the description of god the father in Genesis 1:1, the first book in the bible. The first part of Genesis describes how god the father existed at the beginning. The first part of this passage describes how Jesus existed at the beginning.

The descriptions are remarkably similar. That’s because Jesus and god exist not separately, but together. They are part of the one unit. They are inseparable from one another.

The passage describes the 'word' (Jesus) as being with god and as being god. Being with god implies an extremely strong relationship or bond. This bond is unbreakable – because Jesus actually is god. The two are one.

This brings us to an important point in understanding in both the character of god and the character of Jesus. I naturally tend to think of god the father as a singular being. I also tend to think of Jesus as a singular being, related to but separate from god.

But this notion does not match the description of either in the bible.

They may have separate functions, but they exist together (along with the holy spirit) as part of one unit.

I don’t fully understand exactly how this relationship works. But the scripture tells us that it does work, so that’s good enough for me.

Prayer:

Dear heavenly father,

Lord, there are so many things that we will never know about your character.

We just cannot imagine how great you are. Your infinite existence is beyond our imagination. Our small minds can only try to imagine. You were there from the beginning of time. You will never cease to exist. You are just that great and that almighty.

Help me lord, to meditate daily. Let my heart understand more and more just how great you are. Let me never lose sight of your great power, your perfect justice and your great mercy and perfect love.

In the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit.

Amen.