In the Beginning Was the Word: The Eternal Christ and the Essence of Creation
Day 1: December 14
Scriptural Foundation: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:1–5, NKJV)
Introduction: The Cosmic Christ and the Christmas Story
John’s prologue is a profound theological reflection that anchors the Christmas story in eternity. While the Gospels of Matthew and Luke describe the birth of Jesus through human lineage and narrative, John reveals the cosmic significance of Christ’s incarnation. Here, Christ is not merely the child born in Bethlehem but the eternal Word (Logos), the creative principle of God, and the light that animates all life.
From the perspective of Divine Essence in Motion, this passage invites us to see Christ as the divine pulsation (Spanda) that moves through all creation while also embodying the stillness of eternal being. In this dual dynamic, the Christmas story becomes not just a historical event but a timeless revelation of divine unity expressed through creation.
1. The Eternal Word: Stillness in the Essence of Creation
The opening verse—“In the beginning was the Word”—points to Christ as the eternal stillness from which all creation emerges. The Word is not static but carries the fullness of divine intention, embodying the infinite potential of creation within its unchanging essence.
In the philosophy of Divine Essence in Motion, this corresponds to the stillness that underlies all motion. The Word is the foundation of existence, unchanging yet infinitely creative. When we reflect on this stillness, we touch the heart of divine essence, where the boundary between Creator and creation dissolves.
Contemplative Practice:
Meditate on the phrase, “In the beginning was the Word.” Allow the words to draw you into stillness. Imagine the Word as a vast, silent ocean from which all life arises.
2. Creation through the Word: The Dynamic Expression of Divine Essence
John continues: “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (v. 3). This reveals Christ as the dynamic aspect of divine essence, the pulsation that brings forth creation. In Spanda philosophy, this is the interplay of stillness and motion, where the infinite expresses itself through finite forms.
The Christmas story embodies this dynamic expression. The birth of Jesus is the Word made flesh (John 1:14), the eternal stepping into time, stillness manifesting as motion. This pulsation of divine love finds its ultimate expression in the incarnation, where the Creator enters creation to restore its unity with the divine essence.
Embodied Practice:
Reflect on the natural world as an expression of the Word. Take a walk in nature, observing the interplay of stillness (e.g., the vast sky) and motion (e.g., the rustling leaves). Recognize Christ’s presence in both.
3. The Light of Men: The Life-Force of Divine Awareness
John declares, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (v. 4). This life is not merely biological but the divine awareness that animates all beings. The light of Christ is the universal spark of divinity within every person, calling us to awaken to our true nature as expressions of the divine.
In Divine Essence in Motion, this light represents the unifying principle that bridges the stillness of divine essence and the dynamic nature of existence. It is the radiance of divine love that illuminates even the darkest corners of creation.
Contemplative Practice:
Light a candle and meditate on its flame as a symbol of Christ’s light. Contemplate how this light shines within you and others, connecting all in the unity of divine essence.
4. The Light Shines in the Darkness: The Victory of Divine Presence
Finally, John proclaims, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (v. 5). This is the triumph of divine presence over separation and fear. Darkness symbolizes ignorance and the illusion of separation, while the light is the ever-present reality of divine oneness.
The Christmas story celebrates this light breaking into the world. As we reflect on this mystery, we are reminded that no darkness can extinguish the light of Christ within us. This realization invites us to live as bearers of that light, embodying the stillness and motion of divine essence in our lives.
Embodied Practice:
Identify areas of “darkness” in your life or the world—places of fear, ignorance, or disconnection. Visualize Christ’s light shining in those areas, transforming them with the radiance of divine love.
Conclusion: Living the Word in the Advent Season
John 1:1–5 calls us to recognize Christ not only as the child born in Bethlehem but as the eternal Word through whom all life flows. Within the framework of Divine Essence in Motion, this passage reveals the profound interplay of stillness and motion, inviting us to embody the light of Christ in our daily lives.
As we begin the Advent journey, let us embrace the cosmic Christ as the foundation of our being, allowing His light to illuminate our path and radiate through our actions. The Christmas story, then, becomes not just an event to remember but a reality to live—a dynamic celebration of divine essence in motion.
