Series: Christmas 2023
Sermon: Jesus the Word
Bible Passage: Genesis 1:1-3
1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
1:2 Now, the earth was without shape and empty, and darkness was over the surface of the watery deep, but the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the water.
1:3 God said, “Let there be light.” And there was light …
I. Introductory remarks:
1. God Elohim in verse 1 & 3 is a plural noun, but their corresponding verbs “to create” and “to say” are singular!
2. There is plurality in Elohim, the Godhead, but to the original readers the plurality was not revealed clearly
3. The plurality in Godhead becomes clear in the New Testament—at the baptism of Jesus and on the Day of Pentecost of Acts 2
4. In verses 1-3, we have references to Elohim, the Spirit of God, and the Word—the divine Trinity
5. There appears to be a huge “gap” between verse 1 and verse 2
6. According to verse 2, the earth that God created appears to have had a catastrophic destruction that the text does not reveal the reason for such a destruction:
a. The earth was/became without “shape” and “form”
b. “Darkness” was upon the face of the water Let us look at verse 3 in light of verse 2
7. Verse 3 appears to be a new beginning
8. Elohim said, “Let there be light” at the earth that was without form and void, and was covered by darkness
a. Elohim’s Word brought a change to the formless, void, darkness-filled earth
b. What Elohim spoke is the creative Word by which “light came to be”
i. This light is not from the sun!
ii. But it comes from the powerful Word of Elohim
c. The Word that God Elohim spoke is the creative power (Gen 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26) that brought forth light, order, and life
i. God spoke “and it was so” God’s Word is the power and source to create anything
d. The people of Israel believed that “the Word” or “the Word of God” is not just a sound, but is “Itself/Himself” divinee
e. In the Old Testament, the spoken word of God is called dabar, it has a theology of the Word
i. Psalm 33:9 For he spoke, and it came into existence, he issued the decree, and it stood firm
ii. Psalm 33:6 By the LORD’s decree the heavens were made; by a mere word from his mouth all the stars in the sky were created
iii. Psalm 107:20 He sent them an assuring word and healed them
iv. Isa 55:11 my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it
v. The Word was the basis for the covenant with Abraham (e.g., Gen 15:1)
vi. The Word was the foundation for the establishment of Israel’s laws (e.g., Exod 24:3–4) and the giving of the Ten Commandments (e.g., Deut 5:5)
vii. The Word was a clue to the closeness of the relationship of Israel with God (e.g., 1 Sam 3:1)
viii. The Word was the stated source for the proclamations of the prophets (e.g., 1 Kings 13:20; 18:1; Isa 1:10; Hos 1:1; Joel 1:1)
ix. The Word was the key or way to enlightenment (e.g., Ps 119:105)
II. Jesus the Word
1. The writer of the Fourth Gospel calls Jesus “the Word” ”—the English term “word” is an insufficient translation for Greek logos and Hebrew dabar!
2. In other words, Jesus is called the dabar of God that was the co-creator with Elohim, sustainer of the created world, founder of the Law and nation Israel, and the One who was speaking to the people through the prophets
Now, let’s look at John 1:1-4
1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God.
1:2 The Word was with God in the beginning.
1:3 All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.
1:4 In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind.
1:5 And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it
3. In the New Testament, the Greek word for dabar is logos “the Word
4. The writer of the Fourth Gospel explains the Being of Jesus before the Incarnation in verses 1-4
a. Existed beyond time (v. 1)
b. Is/was in close reciprocal communion with God (v. 1)
c. In His nature, Jesus and God share the same essence (vv.1-2)
d. Was the instrument and agent in creation (v. 2)
e. Is the source of life (vv. 2-3)
5. Is the one who dispels darkness in human being (v. 3)
6. The gift of Christmas is that Jesus the Word has come to this world
7. We need to look at the Word coming to this world in light of the formless, void, darkness-filled world of Gen 1:2 to the creative power, sustainer of the world of Gen 1:3-30
Take Away:
Let the Word bring transformation in your life from darkness, emptiness, and void