Daily Lectionary | Genesis 1 & John 1:1-28
Genesis 1
Summary
Genesis is a book of beginnings, and at the beginning of all things God created everything--heaven and earth-- out of nothing. God creates through speaking the world into existence through his Spirit, whom we read was “hovering over the waters.” His words bring about a new creation by the Spirit. But the Lord also makes new things through an act of dividing--light from dark, waters above from below, waters from the land. This act of dividing prepares the creation for filling. The earth was formless, void, and dark, so God forms, fills, and lightens his creation. The first three days may be seen as forming and dividing and the second three days as filling and glorifying.
Day 1: Light/Dark
Day 4: Sun, moon, stars
Day 2: Waters above/below
Day 5: Birds and fish
Day 3: Waters/land
Day 6: Land animals and man
Day 7: Sabbath
During these 6 days of creation, the Lord is building a 3-story house--the heavens, the earth, and the seas below. Each story is formed then filled. The pinnacle of his creation, humanity, is created in the image of God and commissioned to rule of the creation.
Reflection Questions
1. Read Psalm 104 and reflect on how this Psalm connects with Genesis 1.
2. Why is it important that creation is called good repetitively? What is the very good?
3. Each day begins with evening (darkness) and ends with daytime (light). How might this symbolize the movement of Scripture as a whole?
John 1:1-28
Summary
The fourth gospel begins with an echo of the first book of the Bible: “In the beginning.” John will tell us a story of creation: a new creation which will be brought about by the Word. Just has the Lord said “Let there be light” in the first creation, so now in this new creation “the light shines in the darkness” through the one in whom “was the light of life.” The word who was at the beginning of creation and through whom the world was created comes to creation: “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” John the Baptist’s role is highlighted as one who bore witness about the coming light.
Reflection Questions
- Consider the connections between Genesis 1 and John 1.
- In v. 14, the “Word became flesh” and literally “tabernacled” among us. Why is this connection to the Old Covenant Tabernacle and Temple significant?