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

Not only was the Word in the beginning, but more precisely, the Word was “with God.” There was never a time when Christ, who is the Word, was not with God. Here is the first use of the Greek word “Theos” in John’s gospel account. One of the last times John uses this word is in recording Thomas’ acknowledging Jesus as “[m]y Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). John himself explains why he wrote his account the way he did, “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31).

To be “with God” implies both proximity and purpose. When we say, “I’m with you on that,” we mean, “I agree fully.” Christ was and is in perfect alignment with God. He said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). Christ was not just a bystander from eternity past while God was doing His thing. He was involved; He was unified with God in all those activities.

This unity involves more than just activities; there is complete harmony of purpose and intention. Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work” (John 4:34). Further, “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 5:30).

But this unity goes back all the way to the beginning. It wasn’t just God’s plan that He then delegated to Christ. As long as there has been time, Christ was in league with God, fully participating in the inner counsels and recesses of the Godhead. In no way was or is He inferior to God in His essence. Certainly, we may see role differentiation in what we have come to call the Trinity, but in the essential nature of God, Christ is indistinguishable. He was “with God.” While we may be tempted to see in this an implication of separation, the thrust of these simple words has more to do with concord and harmony. Any doubt about this is removed in the next phrase (which we will address shortly).

The picture at this point is that the Word, namely Jesus Christ, is eternally existent, and His existence relates closely to God in His eternality and purposes. Even at this point, we find it incredulous that anyone could deny the implications that Jesus Christ, the Word, is in fact, fully divine, fully God—that is, not only was the Word with God, but “the Word was God.” Next we shall examine this final statement in John 1:1.

Lord, I want to be unified with Your purposes, just like You are unified with God’s purposes.