In the Beginning

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 was not anything made that was made.
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not.
He came to his own home, and his own people received him not.
But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.


- The Gospel according to John, chapter 1

The first chapter of the Gospel of John is one of the most beautiful pieces of poetic prose in the Bible. It speaks of the Word of Life, of the Messiah, but in so doing it reminds me of the power of the written word. Words have power; that was the belief of the ancient Israelites...a prophet did not merely speak what was going to happen, but his very words were caused to happen through the act of his speaking them.

Words have a mysticism and a power all their own. The pen is mightier than the sword, it is sometimes said, and in truth, the sword could be considered an extension of the pen. Words kill, yet words also bring life. Words disparage and words encourage. Words are, and words are not.

And when the Word was made flesh, the world changed forever.