The Word, Creation, Life, and Light

John deliberately begins with Genesis language: “In the beginning.” Before anything created existed, the Word already was, was with God, and was God. All creation comes into being through him; life and light are therefore not merely gifts he later acquires but realities bound to who he is. The light/darkness language grows from Genesis 1 while also anticipating Isaiah’s promises of saving light. This opening establishes the Gospel’s controlling claim: Jesus belongs on the Creator side of the Creator–creation distinction, and the story that follows is a new-creation story centered on him.

Who Jesus is — John places the Word on the Creator side of the Creator–creation distinction: the Word was with God, was God, and all things came into being through him. Bethlehem is therefore the beginning of the incarnation, not the beginning of the Word’s existence.