THE THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS – CHRISTMAS III

LESSON: JOHN 1:1-14

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

“The Word was with God.” Where else could the Word be? Outside of God there was nothing. Moses also says this when he writes, “And God said, ‘Let there be light.’” Genesis 1:3. In order to speak, He had to have the Word with Him.

There is a clear distinction made here in the persons of the Godhead: the Word is a different person from the God with whom He was. This statement of John does not allow us to suppose that God was alone, because he states that something was with God, namely, His word.

If there has been only a single person there, why would he say, “The Word was with God”? To have something “with” Him is not being alone or by Himself. We should note particularly that the evangelist places special stress on the “with.” He repeats it (v.2) in order to give clear expression to the personal distinction in the Godhead and to counter the arguments of natural reason and future heretics.

Since natural reason more easily comprehends the fact that there is only one God and this doctrine is supported by many passages of Scripture and this doctrine is also true, natural reason still finds it very difficult to accept the fact that this same God is more than one person. The Son is a different person from the Father, but He is not a different God.

SL.XI.161,21
AE 75,277

PRAYER: Great indeed, O God, is the mystery of our religion. Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, the Word who was with you at the beginning and who is truly God, was manifested in the flesh to be our Savior and Redeemer. Thanks be to you, O God, for your inexpressible love! Amen.