'Jesus is our Creator and Recreator'

of Genesis 1. He writes, ‘In the beginning’, echoing the first words in the Bible in order to help us think in a new way about who Jesus really is. John is telling us that the story of Jesus goes way further back than David, Abraham, Moses, and Noah. Jesus’ story begins before time. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”(John 1:1) It is interesting that John calls Jesus, ‘the Word.’ He wants us to understand that Jesus is the very being of God, His breath and creative power that spoke everything into existence. John continues to explicitly name Jesus as the Creator. “He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”(John 1:2-3) John continues “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” This declaration parallels ‘‘Darkness was over the surface of the deep.’(Gen 1:2) Yet, God’s creating Word was not daunted by the darkness. Rather, that darkness was just a canvas upon which to highlight God’s beautiful creation. 

So, what does all this high-mindedness have to do with us? Does Jesus have to be this complicated and difficult to understand? I think John’s message is actually quite simple. First, something new on the very scale of creation is about to happen. Second, Jesus is the one who has the power to make a new creation since He is actually the author of the first creation. Third, no matter your sin, the death of relationships, and darkness of a culture that doesn’t like Jesus, Jesus has the power to remake your life. Jesus wants to bring life and light to dispel the darkness in your life. Finally, Jesus created humanity and placed it in the garden. While sin wrecked the garden, Jesus is healing it. 

We stumble our ways through the darkness of sin and its effects. There is darkness in our souls, our families, our relationships, work, and our culture. The darkness is personal, pervasive, and seems permanent. Who can save us from this morass of sin and death? The answer is simple: Jesus wants to save your life. The Creator is in the business of recreation. Jesus puts it this way, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Jesus is far more than we could have thought or imagined. Let’s not confine Jesus to a simple story of a baby being born. Something much bigger is afoot. God is on the move, making all things new.

Growing Together in Christ,

Jonathan