A Story of Love
“In the beginning" and “Once upon a time” are wonderful phrases. They are full of promise and mystery. Each offers an invitation of sorts. They are saying, “Come, let me show you something.” All great stories are based on these solid storylines. For example, you may have heard the following: “Once upon a time there was a good King and Queen who were very sad because they had no children,” “Once upon a time there was a beautiful maiden who lived with her wicked stepsisters,” or “A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.” All of the really good stories start this way.
Great stories rouse our longing for the ancient things. Such stories engage our insatiable curiosity to look into ages past. I believe this is because God has set eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Therefore, many stories, especially the great epics, hearken back to legend, myth, and things seemingly long forgotten. As we peer back into antiquity, we are beckoned by three powerful words from the Bible. These words are “In the Beginning.” These three words form a phrase that is used twice in the Scriptures. The first time is in the opening words of Genesis: “In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth” (Genesis 1:1). While these words ring with power and promise, they seem to hint at something big going on behind the scenes. When we read about the creation of this universe, we hunger to know if there was something before this creation. While we relish the story of what God made in the beginning, we crave to know if there was a special purpose. Did anything precede God’s creation masterpiece? The answer to that is yes. I do not believe it was an accident that God inspired Scripture writers to use the phrase, “In the beginning,” twice.
The second time the phrase "In the beginning" is used is in the opening words of John’s Gospel. As the Gospel of John introduces Jesus, these three words are used. These three words transport us back before the words of Genesis 1, before the creation of this world. John 1:1-5 says, ”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (NIV) John 1 reaches back prior to the Genesis 1 creation activities. Perhaps this requires a “once upon eternity,” if you will. The Gospel of John introduces us to Jesus, the second person of the Divine Trinity.
As the story of Jesus begins, we are peering back into the mystery of God’s existence. Understand that God has always been. God is timeless. Actually, God invented time, and He, therefore, is unaffected by time. God is giving us a peek at what we should understand about eternity past. God discloses that there has always been a fellowship in what we call the Godhead. Scripture reveals here and in other passages that within the Divine Godhead, there is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. This truth is important in the story of Jesus. There were false teachers and heretics who wanted to discount and minimize Jesus, and the Gospel of John is a defense of the deity of Jesus.
As we read about Jesus (the Word) preexisting this world, we also read about relationship. God has never been alone. Jesus, the Word, has always been with God the Father (as well as God the Holy Spirit). This is a truth and a condition that people understand. We are relational creatures. God made us to have fellowship with Him and with one another. John 1 speaks of a relational God creating relational beings (you and I). John 1 also speaks of the Word (Jesus) being the help we need. A central truth of Scripture is that mankind has sinned and needs help. John 1 points to Jesus as that help. John speaks of that help by using the metaphor of light shining in the darkness. Jesus (the light) came to help lost humanity (who are trapped in darkness). People long to belong and to be part of things. We want to be invited in. We crave to have fellowship. These are all God-given needs and desires. The Gospel of John reveals a story of love. This epic story involves Jesus coming and meeting our greatest needs. Keep looking up!