Where's Jesus? The Creation Story (Genesis 1-2)

How many battles have been fought over the opening chapters of Genesis.  Creation, evolution, intelligent design, the nature of "days"- each of these and countless others have been battled over in culture and in the church.  I do not want to downplay these arguments, for there are many things at stake on both sides of the debates, but I would like to refocus our eyes today, by asking the same question, which I am so fond of, "Where is Jesus in the Creation narrative?"

It is my firm belief that answering such a question will clarify many of the above questions as either "important" or "irrelevant." The Scriptures begin with these words,

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1).

These simple words lay the foundation for the entire worldview contained in the Bible.  In fact, the very first word in Hebrew, translated as "In the beginning" is a royal term used to indicate the assent of a king to the throne.  This word is used over and over in the Books of the Kings, Chronicles and Samuel to refer to the start of the reign of each new monarch.  So it is here, God's reign begins in the physical world when he creates all that is seen and unseen.  God is ruling.  God is ruling over the light and the darkness, the waters and the land, the plants and the animals, the stars, moon and sun, the seasons, the fish and birds, even human beings.  God rules them all - he establishes their boundaries and the rules by which they should live.  He brings life and can take it away.  He determines what is holy and what is profane.  He sees our needs and fulfills them (Genesis 2:18, 21-22).  He rules.  It is that simple.

So where is Jesus in this story.  By turning to John 1, the apostle fashions his gospel with the same words used in Genesis - "In the beginning."  John used the Greek translation of the first Hebrew word of Genesis in order to show that there is continuity in the old story and the new one.  In fact, the Word that John proclaims is the one through whom

all things were made; without hi nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, and that life was the light of men (John 1:3-4).

Furthermore, this same Word

became flesh and made his dwelling among us (John 1:14).

Jesus is the Word according to the gospel writers and so he is the one from Genesis who created everything and who reigns and rules. He is the one who saw our need for redemption and came into the creation in order to save us and fulfill our needs.  He is the one who brings life and who judges the living and the dead.  he is the one who gives the law - the law to love God and love our neighbor.  He is the one in charge of it all.  He is ruling (Ephesians 1:20, Acts 2:33), it is that simple.

So the next time you are caught up in a discussion over the creation narratives, remember that they point to Christ.  Share that truth and let the weight of Christ sink in on all who are involved.  Maybe, just maybe that will reframe the questions which claim so much heated debate.

May Christ reign in all the earth, just as he reigns in the heavens. Amen.