In 1905 a scruffy young man holed up in his apartment in Bern, Switzerland, engaging in complex thought experiments regarding the nature of the universe. With frenzied focus, the physicist worked and reworked his calculations. Four mind-crunching months later, this man had rewritten much of what was known about how the world works. The man was Albert Einstein. He was twenty-six.
Yet despite possessing a great scientific mind, Einstein said, “The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know.”
The Bible frequently points to the majesty of God reflected in His creation: “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1), and Job also predated Einstein’s words: “Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens” (Job 11:7-8).
But God’s creation glory is even greater than the expanse of universes: “In the beginning was the Word. . . .The Word became flesh” (John 1:1, 14). There are no mathematical calculations that can explain God’s extraordinary act of entering humanity in the person of Jesus Christ. God is not just “out there” in a universe we cannot begin to know, but He’s here alongside us, the Word among us, the light of life (1:4) whom we can know personally and intimately.
What amazes you about the grandeur of the universe? How does the majesty of God’s creation make you feel about your relationship with Jesus Christ?
Dear God, thank You for the majesty of Your creation and for Your Son Jesus Christ, who has delivered me into a new life.
Learn more about creation.
John 1:1-18 has been called a “theological masterpiece.” The brilliance of these verses beckon readers to worshipful reflection and a desire to know more. While there’s a radiance that characterizes this section, verse 14 has a splendor of its own. The verses leading up to it are like an ascending staircase that takes us to this pinnacle. Using language found in Genesis 1:1, the apostle John shows the existence and experience of the pre-incarnate Word (John 1:1). What was true of Jesus before time found expression in His earthly existence. He imparted life and dispelled darkness—both in the physical and spiritual realms (vv. 4-5). We can know Christ—the light of life—personally when we place our trust in Him.
