THE WORD BEFORE ALL WORDS

Who was the smartest man in the Bible? Abraham—he knew a Lot!

Todays sermon comes from the book of John which is called the Gospel or “good news” according to John. We will start in the very beginning of John and focus on one particular verse, John 1:1.

I want to share some of John’s background with you before we get into scripture.

John, son of Zebedee , was a Jewish fisherman from Galilee.

Brother of James; together they were called the “Sons of Thunder” a nickname given to them by Jesus because of their temper and fiery personalities. (Mark 3:17)

One of the Twelve Apostles

The disciple “whom Jesus loved”

The author of: The Gospel of John, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John and Revelation

John belonged to Jesus’ inner circle of three: Peter, James, and John

A witness to the crucifixion, where Jesus entrusted His mother Mary to John’s care (John 19:26–27).

So John just isn’t a somebody, he was one of Jesus’ closest friends. He was the guy that Jesus trusted to take care of His own mother after He was gone. And when John starts to record his writings in the gospel, he starts out with a bang...........

John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Who is the Word in this verse? God

But how could the Word be God if the Word was with God? Trinity or Triune God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit, 3 in 1

But Jesus doesn’t come on the scene until the New Testament you say. Wrong and that's what we are going to talk about this morning.

As we ramp up toward Christmas, I want to take a look at Jesus Himself. Define who He was, who He is and why He still is.

INTRODUCTION

Now, if you opened your Bibles to the first page of Genesis and the first page of John, you would notice something amazing: they both begin before anything else exists.

Genesis starts with, “In the beginning, God created…” John starts with, “In the beginning was the Word.”

Genesis tells us what God did. John tells us who God is.

Genesis shows us the creation of the world. John shows us the Creator entering the world.

Today we look at one main verse—only seventeen words in English—but those seventeen words open a window into eternity. Today we stand on holy ground, because John 1:1 takes us as far back as words can go, and then tells us that even there, Jesus already was.

Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, We come and worship You today because we love You. Because we want to be obedient to You. You are the Creator of all things. Space and time are because of You and we thank you for all you have created. We are thankful for Your grace and calling on our lives. For we know without that calling, we would be lost. Father you have told us in 1 Corinthians that You are faithful and You have called us or invited us to share fellowship with Your Son. Jesus, we are thankful for Your sacrifice on the cross and that You shed Your blood for our sins. Holy Spirit, we thank You for the direction, understanding and knowledge of God’s word. Spirit I ask that You be with us now, You open our hearts and allow us to understand Your words presented today. I ask Spirit that You calm my nerves and help me deliver this sermon just as You see fit. As always, Father, we love You and give You all the honor and glory for everything in our lives. In Jesus’ holy and precious name we pray.......Amen

John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The first part of that verse “IN THE BEGINNING…” – What does that mean??

That’s simple, look at scripture. Colossians 1:17 tells us “And He is before all things....”

Before atoms, before planets, before angels, before matter, before light—Jesus already existed.

John intentionally echoes the opening of Scripture: “In the beginning.” But John goes even deeper.

 While Genesis means “In the beginning of time,” John means “Before time began.”

John does not say “in the beginning became the Word,” or “in the beginning began the Word,” but “in the beginning was the Word.”

The verb “was” expresses continuous, ongoing existence. Meaning outside of what we know as time and space.

Jesus is not a created being.

Jesus is not a prophet who later became divine.

Jesus is not a good teacher elevated by followers.

Jesus is not a wise philosopher or moral influencer.

Jesus is eternal God.

In Revelation 22:13 Jesus is speaking and says ““I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.””

In John 17:5 Jesus again tells us ““Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”

And of course, John 8:58 tells us “Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.””

You see Jesus did not come into being…..Jesus already was.

Let me give you a modern day Illustration:

Imagine a guy sitting in a coffee shop getting ready to enjoy his “so called” perfectly brewed, cup of coffee.

He takes a sip and says, “Ugh… this coffee is so old, it’s probably been here since before the shop opened!”

Now as funny as that is and sounds, it’s just not possible.

No matter how bad that coffee tastes, it cannot be older than the place that made it.”

Because nothing that was made by the coffee shop can be older than the coffee shop.

It’s the same with creation. Nothing that comes from the universe — can be older than the universe itself. Not stars, not atoms, not angels, not time, not space —

Creation can’t predate its Creator anymore than a coffee can predate the shop that brewed it.

But God is different. God is not part of creation. He existed long before it, outside it, and without it.

He’s the One who spoke the universe into existence— Likewise, nothing in creation can be older than creation itself… except God.

And John says: “In the beginning was the Word.” Which means Jesus is older than everything that has ever been made.

He is not surprised by your past.

He is not intimidated by your present.

He is not uncertain about your future.

Hebrews 13:8 tells us “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” —This is the clearest statement of Jesus spanning past, present, and future.

Psalm 90:2 Is a prayer from Moses - “Before the mountains were born Or You brought forth the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”

And Revelation 1:4 John is talking to the seven churches in Asia, letting them know that this message is from the “One who is and who was and who is to come”

So, before your struggles began, He already existed. Before your sin, before your pain, before your questions—Jesus was.

Let’s talk about the second part of that verse “AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD…” 

a. Meaning Jesus has always existed with God.

The phrase “with God” means:

Face-to-face with God

In relationship with God

Distinct or separate from God the Father

John is showing us that God isn’t alone or distant. God has relationships and has always been a God of love and connection.

Before creation existed… Before humans could relate… Before anyone could love or be loved… God Himself was in a loving relationship.

This is why Scripture says, “God is love.” God didn’t become loving when He created us. God didn’t start loving when He made angels. God has always been love because love existed within the Godhead eternally.

Let me give you another example:

In many households, the kitchen table, used to be, where relationships happened—birthday cakes, late-night conversations, tears, laughter, meals - the start and end of every day would be at the kitchen table. But imagine a table with no one sitting around it—an empty table is just furniture. It’s the people gathered around it that make it a place of love.

Before the universe existed, before anything was created, there was already a “table”—the eternal fellowship of Father, Son, and Spirit. Love existed before creation. Because Jesus was already “with God”:

He knows the heart of the Father.

He reveals the Father perfectly.

He brings us into that same fellowship.

When you pray, you’re not speaking into the void; you’re joining a relationship that existed long before the world began.

Ephesians 1:4-6 tells us that “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world… in love He predestined us to adoption.” Prayer is participation in a love planned before time.

When you worship, you’re not trying to earn God’s attention; you’re entering a love that has always existed.

1st John 4:19 says “We love Him, because He first loved us.” KJV Your worship is a response to a love that came long before you.

When you feel alone, I want you to remember that you were made by a relational God who calls you into His eternal love.

Romans 8:38-39 tells us “Nothing… shall be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.” His love is constant even in loneliness. Which brings us to the last part of this verse.

“AND THE WORD WAS GOD.”

John ends the verse with the strongest statement: “The Word was God.”

Not “a god.” Not “like God.” Not “almost God.” Not “an expression of God.”

The Word was God.

Jesus is:

Fully divine

Fully eternal

Fully equal with the Father

Fully God in essence, nature, and being

This is the Christian confession from the beginning: that Jesus is God.

This means Jesus is:

The Creator, not the created

The Author of life

The Sovereign over history

The Lord of all

The I AM who spoke to Moses

The Alpha and Omega, beginning and end

The Judge of all

The Savior of the world

Jesus is not merely a baby in a manger, a teacher on a hillside, or a man on a cross— He is the eternal God who stepped into flesh.

Let me put it to you this way:

If you saw the sun’s reflection shimmering off of the water in a puddle and someone told you that the reflection was the sun, you would laugh. That little patch of light is not the sun itself—it only points to it.

John is saying Jesus is not a reflection of God. Not an echo of God. Not an image of God. He is God Himself entering His creation.

If Jesus is fully God:

You can trust His words because, they carry divine authority.

You can rely on His promises because, divine promises never fail.

You can surrender your fears because, the One who holds eternity holds you.

You can bow before Him because, He is worthy of worship.

The One who came for you is not weak. He is not limited. He is not temporary.

He is God.

WHAT DOES THIS MEANS FOR US TODAY?

Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God

If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus. If you want to hear God, listen to Jesus. If you want to see God’s heart, watch Jesus.

He doesn’t point the way—He is the way. He doesn’t show truth—He is truth. He doesn’t offer life—He is life.

Jesus is the foundation of our identity

Your worth is not in:

what you do

what you own

what others think

what you achieve

or what you fear

Your worth is found in the eternal God who came for you.

As we said before: Jesus gives meaning to your past, present, and future

He was there before your beginning. He is here in your struggles. He will be there after your final breath.

Lets finish up by talking about THE WORD OR JESUS ENTERING OUR WORLD

John 1:1 is not the whole story. The eternal Word who existed before time… the Word who was with God… the Word who was God…

entered His own creation.

Verse 14 says: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

The eternal stepped into time. God became human. Why?

Because humanity was lost. Because sin had separated us. Because darkness covered the world. Because we could not climb up to God, so God came down to us.

Listen, if a doctor sees someone dying on the street, he doesn’t shout instructions from afar. He kneels down, gets dirty, and uses everything he has to save the person in need.

Jesus did not shout from heaven. He came down and got dirty. He touched our pain. He carried our sin. He bore our cross. He entered our death. And He rose in victory.

The manger makes sense only because of John 1:1. The cross makes sense only because of John 1:1. The Resurrection makes sense only because of John 1:1.

IN CONCLUSION

John 1:1 is more than theology—it is an invitation.

If the eternal Jesus is God, then:

He deserves your trust.

He deserves your obedience.

He deserves your worship.

He deserves your life.

The question is not simply “Do you believe John 1:1?” The question is: Has the Word who was in the beginning become the Lord of your life?

Today, you can know the eternal God. You can walk with the divine Savior. You can be held by the One who was, and is, and is to come.

Church Family, as we prepare to celebrate Christmas in a few weeks, we’re not just getting ready for a holiday—we’re preparing our hearts to remember the moment when God stepped into our world through Jesus.

Christmas is a reminder that:

1. Jesus came to bring light into darkness

John 1:9 — “The true Light, which gives light to every man, was coming into the world.” Let’s ask God to shine His light in our hearts this season.

2. Jesus came because God keeps His promises

Isaiah 9:6 — “For unto us a child is born… and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God…” Christmas fulfills God’s long-promised hope.

3. Jesus came to save, not just to be celebrated

Luke 2:11 — “For unto you is born this day… a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Our joy comes from knowing why He came—to bring salvation.

4. Christmas is an invitation to prepare our hearts, not just our homes

We decorate our houses—now let’s prepare room for Christ.

We buy gifts—let’s offer our worship.

We make plans—let’s remember God’s plan through Jesus.

5. Jesus’ birth points us forward to His life, death, and resurrection

The manger leads us to the cross, and the cross leads us to eternal life.

As we approach Christmas, let’s slow down and remember why we celebrate. God loved us so much that He sent His Son into the world. Let’s prepare our hearts with expectation, gratitude, and worship—because Christmas isn’t just about Jesus being born; it’s about the Savior coming near to us and inviting us to draw near to Him.”

Closing Prayer

“Lord Jesus, You are the eternal Word. You were in the beginning, You are with the Father, and You are God. Speak Your Word into our hearts today. Draw us into Your eternal love. Help us trust You, worship You, and follow You with our whole lives. Father I pray if there is someone here that doesn’t know You, that doesn’t have a relationship with You, that has never accepted Your free gift of salvation, Father, I pray that today be the day. I pray Lord that you give that someone the courage to walk forward today, to raise their hand today Lord, to come talk to either myself or Lacy after service Lord so we can take just a few minutes and show them what You say about being saved. About making that eternal decision for Christ. Father, I continue to pray for this church. I pray that they find a good Godly Pastor to lead this church. I pray for the growth of this church and I pray for the outreach of this church. As always Father, we love You and give You all the honor and glory for everything in our lives. In Jesus’ holy and precious name I pray, amen.”