“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life.” (1 John 1:1)

Beginning with “that which is from the beginning,” What a powerful statement he makes, what does John have in mind? Some have said that John was directly referring to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, and though there is some validity, it is not the whole picture. John was referring back not only to the time when Jesus came and began His earthly ministry, but also to the first chapter of the gospel of John. John was referring to the beginning before Jesus came in human form to dwell among men. He is pushing back to the first chapter of Genesis.

Two other books begin this way, and are tied together with this one. This one that was from the beginning, then must be God, “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) God made all things and formed all things, the principal architect of creation. Fast forward to “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) The Word was in the beginning. The Word was with God. The Word was God. This is a simple, uncomplicated, unadulterated truth: The Word is God, and God is the Word. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) The Word was made flesh and dwelt among men.

If it is true that the Word is God and God is the Word, then logically, this Word has power and authority; it reveals the truth that men are called to live out. Why? For by this Word John tells us, “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:3)

In Colossians 1:15-16, there is a creator. This creator is the image of God, the firstborn, or the principal source of all creation. He is the preeminent one, the one who existed before time began. “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:14) In this one who is the image of the invisible God, in this one through whom all things were made, through whose blood was redemption purchased, and forgiveness granted. “All things were created by him, and for him.” Everything was handcrafted by Jesus and for Jesus. “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:17) Jesus predates all things and is still physically holding all things together. He is preeminent, the reason all things exist. “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Hebrews 1:3) Jesus upholds all things and sustains all things by the word of His power.

Jesus is God in human form, the creator wrapped up in human flesh. He lived the life that men could not live, died the death men should have died so that men could live the life they could not live through this one who was from the beginning who is Emmanuel. “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” (Hebrews 1:3) Jesus is the brightness of God’s glory, the express image of God’s person. Jesus is all that God is become flesh. He is true God and true man “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell.” (Colossians 1:19) It pleases God the Father to let all His fullness, all His Godness, dwell in Him, in Jesus. “For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2:9) God’s deity dwells in Jesus bodily.