Finding Christ in the Old Testament - Genesis 1:1

Genesis 1:1 – "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."

The opening words of Scripture declare the absolute sovereignty of God over all creation. The Hebrew phrase בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים (Bereshit bara Elohim) emphasizes that God alone is the Creator, bringing all things into existence from nothing (ex nihilo). This foundational truth finds its fulfillment in Christ, for John’s Gospel begins with an unmistakable parallel: “In the beginning was the Word… all things were made through Him” (John 1:1-3). Christ, the eternal Logos, is the agent of creation, the One through whom and for whom all things exist (Colossians 1:16). While Genesis 1 establishes God’s creative power, it also points toward redemption—just as God spoke light into the darkness of the formless void, so too does Christ, the Light of the World, shine into the darkness of sin and death (John 8:12). In the first creation, God brought order out of chaos; in Christ, He brings new creation, reconciling all things to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:17). Thus, Genesis 1:1 not only proclaims the beginning of time but also prefigures the fulfillment of God’s redemptive work in Christ, who makes all things new.

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Devotional

The same God who spoke the universe into being is the God who speaks life into our souls. He is not distant or indifferent but intimately involved in His creation. When life feels chaotic and formless, we remember that the God who established the heavens and the earth is also the One who brings order to our hearts through His Son. The work of creation is not just past—it continues in us as He renews and restores us in Christ. In Him, we are a new creation, and His light overcomes every darkness.

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Collect

Almighty Creator, who in the beginning made the heavens and the earth by Your Word, grant that we may ever trust in Your sustaining power and rejoice in the new creation You have brought forth in Christ. May Your light shine in our hearts, dispelling the darkness of sin, that we may walk in the life You have given; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.