Daily Devotional & Prayer Guide

John 1:1 – The Eternal Word

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

Divine Eternal Word

Theological Themes

Divinity of Christ, Pre-existence, God’s Revelation

Centring Prayer

Eternal Word, You are God.

Short Prayer

Eternal Word, who was with God and was God from the beginning, we marvel at Your divine nature. Thank You for revealing Yourself to us, for becoming flesh and dwelling among us. Help us to grasp the immensity of Your pre-existence and Your perfect unity with the Father. May this truth anchor our faith, inspire our worship, and guide our daily lives in Your holy presence. Amen.

Concise Commentary

This foundational verse declares that Jesus, the Word, existed before all creation, was intimately with God, and is God Himself. It’s a powerful statement of Christ’s eternal nature and divine identity, setting the stage for His role in creation and redemption. Understanding this truth assures us that our faith is grounded in an eternal, divine being who knows us intimately and has the power to bring us into His eternal fellowship. It calls us to recognise Jesus not just as a historical figure or a prophet, but as the very expression of God, through whom all things came into being and by whom we are reconciled to the Father.

Reflection

John 1:1 speaks of the Word’s eternal existence and divine nature. It’s astonishing to consider that Jesus, the Word made flesh, was present before creation, intimately connected with God, and indeed, God Himself. This profound truth challenges our limited human understanding but offers immense assurance. If Jesus is truly God, then His authority is absolute, His love is eternal, and His promises are unbreakable. It invites us to move beyond mere intellectual assent to a deep, personal recognition of His divine identity and to live lives that honour His supreme nature.

Affirmation

The eternal Word, Jesus Christ, is God Himself, the very foundation of all creation and our eternal hope.

Action Step

Today, take five minutes to meditate on the divine nature of Jesus Christ as declared in John 1:1, perhaps by reading a commentary on this verse or a devotional focused on His divinity.

Journaling Prompt

How does the truth that Jesus is fully God, as stated in John 1:1, impact your understanding of His authority and your reliance on Him in your daily life?

Daily Office of Prayer

Morning Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come before You this morning, humbled by the profound truth of John 1:1. We confess that ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.’ We lift our voices in praise to You, Father, for revealing Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, as the eternal Word. Thank You that before time began, before the universe was formed, Jesus existed in perfect communion with You, sharing in Your divine essence.

We thank You that this eternal Word became flesh and dwelt among us, making the invisible God visible and accessible. Help us to truly grasp the significance of this divine identity as we begin our day. May it ground our faith, assure us of Your love, and empower us to live for You. Instil in us a deep reverence for Jesus, the Creator and Sustainer of all things, and enable us to walk in Your presence with awe and confidence, knowing that we are united with the very God who spoke all creation into being. Amen.

Midday Prayer

Lord Jesus, divine Word of God, as we pause in the midst of our day, we return our hearts to You. You are the One who was with God and was God from the very beginning. We acknowledge Your supreme authority over all things, for by Your word, all things were made. In the busyness of this day, help us to remember that You are not a distant deity, but the personal, divine Word dwelling amongst us.

We pray for Your guiding presence, that our thoughts, words, and actions might reflect Your divine nature. Strengthen us to face any challenges with the assurance that comes from knowing You are God, our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. May Your truth, spoken through You, bring clarity to our minds and peace to our hearts. Help us to live as children of God, united with You, the eternal Word, in all that we do. Amen.

Evening Prayer

Almighty God, maker of all things, we thank You for the truth revealed in John 1:1: that the Word, Jesus Christ, was with You and was You. As we close this day, we reflect on the wonder of Your divine Son’s eternal existence and His incarnation. We praise You for the immeasurable gift of Jesus, who bridges the infinite distance between God and humanity.

Thank You for the assurance that our faith is anchored in You, the unchanging, eternal God. We are grateful for the revelation of Your love and grace made manifest in Jesus, the Word made flesh. As we rest tonight, may the knowledge of Your divine presence bring us deep peace. We commit ourselves anew to following this eternal Word, praying that our lives will bring glory to You. We ask for Your protection through the night and for a renewed spirit in the morning, ever more devoted to You, O God. Amen.

Deep Dive Study

Expanded Commentary

John 1:1 stands as one of the most profound theological statements in all of Scripture, laying the groundwork for the entire Gospel of John. The phrase ‘In the beginning’ immediately echoes Genesis 1:1, drawing a direct parallel between the creation of the cosmos and the eternal existence of the Word. This is not merely a temporal starting point but an allusion to the timeless, pre-existent reality of the Word before anything else existed. The Greek word used here is "logos,” a term rich with philosophical and theological meaning, signifying not just a spoken word, but reason, principle, and the ultimate expression of thought and reality. John declares unequivocally that this ‘Word’ was not merely with God, but ‘was God.’ This assertion is a direct and forceful declaration of the divinity of Jesus Christ. It establishes Him as co-eternal and co-equal with God the Father.

The historical context of John’s Gospel reveals that he was writing to a community grappling with the identity of Jesus. Various philosophical and religious ideas were circulating, and some may have misrepresented Jesus or diluted His unique significance. John’s opening statement is a robust defence against any such dilution. He asserts that the Word, who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14), was present and fully divine from the very inception of existence. This is critical because it grounds our Christian faith in the ultimate reality of God Himself. Our salvation, our hope, and our entire worldview are based not on human invention or a mere historical event, but on the eternal, divine Logos who is God.

The significance of the Word being ‘with God’ (‘pros ton theon’) suggests an intimate relationship, a distinct personhood within the Godhead, yet in perfect unity. This verse is a cornerstone of Trinitarian theology, pointing to the distinct yet unified nature of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Word (the Son) is distinct from the Father (‘with God’) but shares the same divine essence (‘was God’). This concept is challenging for human minds, accustomed to binary thinking, but it is essential to understanding the Christian revelation of God. John’s careful choice of language aims to convey a truth that transcends human categories.

The implication for our faith is immense. If the Word, Jesus Christ, is God, then His claims are the claims of God. His teachings are divine mandates. His sacrifice is the sacrifice of God Himself, offering the ultimate atonement for sin. His resurrection is the ultimate victory over death, demonstrating His divine power. This understanding moves us beyond seeing Jesus as a mere teacher or example. He is the Creator, the Sustainer, and the Redeemer. When we believe in Him, we are believing in God. When we obey Him, we are obeying God. This should inspire awe, reverence, and deep trust in Him. It means that in Jesus, we see God fully revealed and accessible.

The application of John 1:1 to our daily lives is profound. Firstly, it provides an unshakeable foundation for our faith. In a world of shifting ideologies and uncertain truths, the eternal, unchanging nature of Jesus Christ, the divine Word, offers stability and assurance. We can trust His promises, rely on His strength, and find our identity in His eternal love. Secondly, recognizing Jesus as God should transform our worship. Our prayers are directed not just to an abstract deity, but to the personal God revealed in Jesus. Our worship should be marked by awe and adoration for the One who is both ‘with God’ and ‘was God.’

Furthermore, this verse calls us to live lives that reflect the divine nature we have been called into through Christ. As God’s Word is spoken, it brings order and life; so too, our words and actions, empowered by the Holy Spirit, should bring life and truth to the world. It challenges us to consider how we communicate, how we represent God in our interactions, and whether our lives bear witness to the divine reality we profess. In essence, John 1:1 is not just a theological statement; it is an invitation to enter into relationship with the eternal, divine Word, who is the source of all life and truth, and to live transformed lives in His presence.

Related Verses

• John 1:14: _"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
• Colossians 1:15-17: _"The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."
• Philippians 2:5-6: _"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;"
• Hebrews 1:1-3: _"In the past God spoke to our ancestors in various and different ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word…"
• 1 John 5:20: _"We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life."