Daily Bread 12/28/2023

by

Daily Bread – December 28, 2023 (The Fifth Day – Genesis 1:20-23) 1 John 1:1 – 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 – the Word of Life. The Word Of Life Made Flesh The opening statement of the First Epistle of John is similar to the Gospel of John, and reaches back to the words of Genesis 1:1. Jesus was the One that was there at the ‘arche’ (“the beginning”). “That which was from the beginning” does not refer to God’s beginning, but to the beginning of Creation and its redemption. The beginning more specifically refers to the time before the creation of the world. The first occurrence of ‘arche’ in the Septuagint is in Genesis 1:1 – its Hebrew counterpart is ‘resheet,’ which is the first word of the Bible in Genesis 1:1. John refers to Jesus as the Eternal Word Who was there at the beginning when the Heavens and the Earth were created. Yet, more importantly, He is the Eternal One Who has no beginning. John avoids using the Name of Jesus, which is the Name given to the Word of Life at His incarnation – thus further emphasizing He is the Eternal One Who has no beginning. He is the Life from which all life was derived. The Word of Life is the pre-incarnate Christ Who is from everlasting to everlasting, the Word made flesh and called YWHW’s Salvation, or ‘Yehoshua’ (Jesus). Still, He will continue to be called the Word again throughout the ages (Revelation 19:13). God, the Word, was the One by Whom God created all things (John 1:3, 10; Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:2-3). He became flesh and was called the only begotten Son, so that as a man He might redeem mankind (John 1:14, 18, 3:16, 18; Acts 13:33; 2 Corinthians 8:9; and 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:5, 5:5; 1 John 4:9). The Word became flesh so all flesh might become one with the Word. He Who knew no sin became the sin offering, so He might restore man to His life of holiness and purity (2 Corinthians 5:21). The Word of Life became Christ Jesus to speak the words of life so His life could be imparted into us.  Blessings, Pastor Mark Spitsbergen