The Word Became Flesh: An Advent Season Devotional

 

Day 2: The Divine Word
Scripture: John 1:1
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
Additional Reading: John 8:58, John 10:30-33, Colossians 2:9

Reflection
John makes a staggering claim in just one verse. He echoes Genesis 1:1—"In the beginning God"—but then says "In the beginning was the Word." Think about how breathtaking this is. John is so bold as to put the Word in the place of God in his echo of the creation account. He places the Word on the throne of heaven as the God who presided over the dawn of history.
But notice what comes next: "the Word was with God." The Greek literally says the Word was "face to face with God, in intimate, peer-to-peer fellowship and communion". This Word is somehow distinct from God the Father. He is not God the Father; He is the Word, a distinct person.
And yet, as soon as John says that, he rushes on to make sure we don't think there are two gods: "and the Word was God." There is both distinction—the Word is not God the Father—and there is identity—the Word is nevertheless the same God as the Father.
This is the One who said, "Before Abraham was, I AM."(John 8:58). Jesus claimed the sacred name of Yahweh for Himself. The baby in the manger is no less than God. He is fully, completely, absolutely God. He is Emmanuel—God with us. He is our God.
When you pray to Jesus, you're not praying to a lesser deity or a created being. You're praying to the eternal God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things. When you worship Jesus, you're worshiping the one true God. This is why we can trust Him completely, follow Him wholeheartedly, and stake our eternal destiny on His promises.

Personal Application
1. How does knowing that Jesus is fully God change the way you approach Him in prayer?
2. Are there ways you've been treating Jesus as less than God—perhaps as just a good example or helpful guide rather than as Lord?
3. What does it mean practically to worship Jesus as God in your daily life?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are God—not almost God, not partly God, but fully and completely God. Forgive me for the times I've treated You as anything less. You are worthy of my complete trust, my wholehearted worship, my absolute surrender. Help me live today in light of who You truly are—the great I AM, God Himself, come down to save me. Amen.

Dr. Dimas Castillo