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

Although there are many names for Jesus, one of my favourites is the Word. I like words.  I enjoy writing and creating with words.  Pictures in the mind's eye, emotions of the heart can be evoked just by the use of words. So what do these few words in the first verse of John's Gospel say to us?

First, Jesus is called the Word, the very expression of God.  This may seem a stretch as it is not spelled out in just that way.  But in Hebrews 1:1 & 2a, we see this confirmed by another New Testament author.  "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son..."  God has chosen to use various messengers in order to communicate with humanity.  Angels and prophets are clearly God's mouthpieces throughout history as recorded in the Bible.  But it is declared that in these last days, which includes our time right now, that God has spoken to us by His Son.  The Son = Jesus Christ.  

The Word was in the beginning.  That means Jesus Christ existed in the beginning.  He was not created as other humans were.  He existed before creation and was present and involved in creation.  Colossians 1:15 & 16 "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him."  

The confusion comes in when we try with our limited understanding to understand Jesus as God.  He is one of the Trinity, Father, SON and Holy Spirit.  He existed with the Father before time.  And yet Christmas is the celebration of His birth through a human mother.  How do we make sense of the divine and the human in one Person?

We don't.

By faith, we believe God could do what He said to Mary:  "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy - the Son of  God."  Luke 1:35  

What an amazing plan, that God would speak to us through His Son! The Word He chose was Himself in human form, someone who could speak on God's behalf but be able to relate to us because He became one of us!  

The question is:  are we listening to the Word?