Originally published in Tiqvah Magazine Vol. 1, Issue #1 (Jan-Mar 2023)
Author: Mr. Ajeeth Koshy, St. Mathew’s Mar Thoma Church, Canada
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 came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.
John 1:1-5
Thus the Bible declares that Jesus is the Word of God, that He is God, and that He lives from the beginning and for eternity. This Jesus who lives forever also has authority over all on earth and in heaven. There is nothing impossible before Him. He is the Light that leads humanity from darkness and that Light shall not fade. From the Bible we also learn that the Father and the Son are one in substance. Their likeness is similar and so there are no differences among them. When the Word is sent from God, He goes with the power and authority of the Father and so the Almighty Himself is the Word. The Prophet Isaiah relayed the Word of God, who said, “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
Jesus says that the Father is the source of life and goes on to say “I am” also the source of life (see John 6). By saying so, He equates Himself with God the Father. The Father is the all-powerful Person (Greek, Prosopon; Latin, persona) so is the Son to whom all authority has been given both on earth and in heaven. He is worshiped by the Seraphim and Cherubim, Thrones and Dominions, Virtues and Powers, Principalities and Archangels. Jesus also says that He does everything on the authority of the Father and the seal of the Father’s approval is always with Him. Jesus is the Light of Lights. When we read the story of Creation, God commands, “Let there be Light” and light appears (see Gen 1:3). Later in the New Testament, there have been descriptions of the angels of Light. Angels are illuminated creations of God created as with any other creation in the universe. That light however, originated from the eternal light that proceeds from the Light of Light, who is also the Lord of Lords or Jesus Christ Himself.
Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven
The psalmist wrote, “The Lord exists forever; your word is firmly fixed in heaven. (Ps 119:89)” Christ is the one who has been born of the Father without a mother in the infinite beginning but in the finite time, He was born of a mother without a father. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians, “for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Col 1:16-17)” This means that all the universe, all that we have seen, known, heard or could think about are from Christ; by Him and through Him, nothing has been formed without Him.
Holy is the Word of God, the Lord our God.
When the Apostle John saw the Lord Jesus in a vision, he fell at His feet, as though dead. But the Lord comforted him, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last and the Living One. I was dead, and see, I am alive forever and ever, and I have the keys of Death and of Hades.” (Rev 1:17-18) Anything related to the Lord is holy. The ground He stands on is holy; anything or anyone whom He touches or anything and anyone which touches Him are deemed holy. The sick, the lame, the blind, the deaf, and the demon possessed were healed and saved by His touch. The woman with the bleeding disorder was healed when she touched Him. The Eastern perspective on the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptiser, explains that our Messiah sanctified the waters of Jordan before entering in it. Thus He who purifies and sanctifies all, sanctified and purified both the waters of Jordan and Himself.
In the Old Testament we see the angel of the Lord speaking with Moses and Joshua and ask them to remove their sandals, as they are standing on holy ground. So every place that has the presence of the Lord God is holy. How blessed and holy would be St. Mary, who was privileged to be the mother of our Lord and God? How holy would be the people with whom He dwelt? From the Bible, we learn that whatever is asked for in the name of Jesus will be given unto them, on the basis of faith. It’s not just limited to healing the sick, change in financial conditions, prosperity and happiness or for any other worldly thing but it far transcends human thoughts and desires. As Jesus taught, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matt 6:33),” the riches of the world are merely a bonus to the gift of the Kingdom. Solomon asked for wisdom but was also given all the worldly riches far beyond his imagination. During the Upper Room Discourse between Jesus and the Apostles, Judas [not Iscariot] said to him: “Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words, and the word that you hear is not mine but is from the Father who sent me. (John 14:22-23)”So as the Father lives in the Son, his Word, the Son lives in the Father; we who live in Christ will have by nature Christ to live in us; and thereby the Father and the Holy Spirit who proceeds from Him in us. As the Father is the source of all life and power, so is the Son who is the Word of the Father, the unfailing.