Why Starting Over Helps Us See the Big Picture About God and Jesus
Why Going Back to the Start Matters
Sometimes in life, when things don’t make sense or when we want to truly understand something, we need to go back to the start. For Christians, those first words in the Bible—“In the beginning was God”—are more than just the start of a story. They’re the foundation of what we believe. Both Genesis and John use this phrase to help us see who God is, and why Jesus matters. Looking at these beginnings can shed light on our faith in ways that make everything clearer.
Genesis 1:1 – God Is There Before Anything Else
Genesis opens with, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” This means God didn’t come from anywhere—He was always there. Before stars, planets, or people, God simply existed. Everything came from Him, and He made it all just by speaking. Remembering that God is the source of everything can help us feel more grounded when we’re searching for meaning or feeling unsure.
John 1:1-3 – Jesus as God’s Word and the Maker of All Things
John’s Gospel starts with, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Here, “the Word” means Jesus. John wants us to know that Jesus wasn’t just present at creation—He was part of it, sharing God’s power and nature. Jesus was there before anything existed, and everything was made through Him. This connects Jesus to God’s creative voice in Genesis, showing that He’s not just a messenger, but truly God.
· John uses the same words as Genesis to link Jesus directly to the story of creation.
· Genesis talks about God making everything by speaking, and John says that Jesus is that spoken Word, actively involved in creating all things.
· This gives us a foundation for Christian belief: Jesus is eternal, divine, and the Creator—not something created.
Why Jesus Is Called “the Word”
Think about how we use words to share what we’re thinking—they make our ideas clear to others. In the same way, Jesus is called “the Word” because He reveals God’s heart and mind to the world. John’s writing shows that Jesus has always existed, right alongside God, and that everything—from mighty angels to tiny worms—was made by Him. This reveals just how perfectly suited He is to bring us back to God, to redeem and save us.
Jesus is described as the true Light—He shines into our lives, but sometimes we miss it or don’t understand it. So, as we reflect on these beginnings, let’s ask for our eyes to be opened so we can see and walk in this Light. Trusting Jesus leads us to real wisdom and lasting salvation.
Minister A Francine Green
December 2025
afrancinegreen.com 