Big ideas

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light.”  –Genesis 1:2-3a (NIV)

“Beginning” is a big idea. The Hebrew word recorded in Genesis and the Greek word John uses (with a wink and a backward nod) convey more than a “Once upon a time…” point of chronological reference. Both words carry connotations of “first”, “origin”, “source”. The stories being introduced are one and the same, the story of our reality being birthed. One telling is from the perspective of an engineer, the other from the perspective of an artist.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  –John 1:1-4 (NIV)

“Logos” is a big idea. Word spoken brought the universe into existence. Word living was present and active in the process. In word, in deed, and in person, intimate Divine involvement with the creation has been our driving force since we were a gleam in our Maker’s eye.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  –John 1:5, 9-10 (NIV)

“Light” is a big idea. It enables life, vision, clarity. Literally and metaphorically, light reveals and makes known. How wonderful to discover that the One who loves us best wants to be fully known by us!

He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God….  –John 1:11-12 (NIV)

“Son” is a big idea. Within the person of the triune God, there is both unity and uniqueness. Father, Son, and Spirit share equally the title of “GOD”, even as they fulfill distinct roles. And while He leaves open the possibility that we may reject Him, union with the Son makes us sons of God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  –John 1:14 (NIV)

“Advent” is a big idea. Bigger than a baby in a feeding trough, as true and compelling as that part of the story is. This arrival is transcendent in that it begins the culmination of God’s rescue mission, a literal fight for our lives where He would pay the ultimate price to redeem His creation.

My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.  –Luke 1:46b-48a (NIV)