Daily Devotionals

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1).

The above Scripture quotes Genesis 1:1 and intentionally takes us back to the very beginning of the world, as Yochanan's (John's) readers clearly understood.When we return to the beginning, we find the Word himself there "face to face with God" (as the Greek indicates). This is a phrase that indicates the intimacy between the Word and God.

Yochanan uses the term "Word," the Greek translation of an Aramaic concept (Memra), found in the Targums (Aramaic paraphrases of Scripture) and familiar to his readers. The Targums consistently use Memra (Word) when speaking of God. So, in Genesis, it is the Memra who creates all things! In fact, when Yochanan says, "All things came to be through him" (John 1:3), he not only reinforces Yeshua's role as Creator, he also reaffirms that he is God.

The amazing truth here is that the Creator chose to become part of his creation, invading planet earth and entering human history as a baby. So Yochanan reminds us, using other Targumic terms to describe God, "The Word became a human being and lived with us, and we saw his Sh'khinah [Glory]" (John 1:14). Earlier,Yochanan described Yeshua as "the true light" who "gives light to everyone entering the world" (John 1:9), a process that began at his birth (Luke 1:79; 2:32).

As Yeshua sheds light on us, let us reflect his light to others (Matthew 5:14-16).

...enjoy Yeshua's light and gratefully share his light with others

JF