How the Gospels Begin—John - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2026

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 received being through Him, and without Him not one thing received being which has received being. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light appears in darkness, and the darkness apprehended it not.
John 1:1-5

How the Gospels Begin—John
The Gospel of John was the last Gospel to be written. Its first verse takes us farther back than any other passage in the Bible, farther than the beginning of creation in Genesis 1, and even before the time when we were chosen in Christ before the world's foundation. Farther back than the "billions of years" of speculations of astronomers, the Word in His intrinsic being was a distinct Person with God, a distinct Person who ever was and is God. All creation was brought into being by Him. He is the origin and giver of life and the light of men.

This glorious One who is the True Light came into the world He had made, exposing its true condition of alienation from Him and enmity against Him. His forerunner, a man sent by God, took no credit for being anything himself, but spoke of Him. He referred to himself simply as a voice, not seen but heard.

This Gospel tells us in simple but profound language that the Word, whom we have seen to be God Himself, the Creator of all things, became flesh and lived among us. The Gospel of John presents our Lord Jesus as the Son of God come to earth in grace and truth. But already in chapter 1 He is the One who came to His own and they did not receive Him. He came to make God known. Again, His forerunner proclaims Him to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He receives and calls disciples to Himself and is recognized by one of these as Son of God and King of Israel. Yet He humbly refers to Himself as Son of Man.

Eugene P. Vedder, Jr.