In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Same was in the beginning with God.  John 1:1-2 KJV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. John 1:1-2 NASB

A Title

To the reader of John 1, the statement of verse 2 may, at first, seem like a repetition of verse 1.  Yet, this verse contains many gems of truth which are sources of rich consideration. He is the “Same,” is a title belonging to deity. It is used of the Lord Jesus in Hebrews 1:11, “Thou art the Same and Thy years shall not fail.” And it is employed again in the familiar quote in chapter 13, “Jesus Christ, the Same yesterday, today, and forever” (v 8). It is a quote from Psalm 102, emphasizing the changeless nature of the Lord Jesus amidst all that will change around Him.

He was “the Same” when He was being abused in the palace of the high priest; when He was being mocked by Herod and his men of war. He was “the Same” when impaled to a tree. Men sought to make an ultimate “change” in Him by cutting Him off from the earth; but He is “the Same,” and conquered death.

A Time

But John 1 is saying that all that He is, He was from the very beginning. Think of the moment (if we can speak of it as a moment), just before God created the heavens and the earth. If we could step back to that moment, we would be at a “time” prior to the creation of time, space, and matter. Yet all that Christ is, He was then. Creation did not lessen Him or add to Him. He is “the Same.“ He did not become something He was not. He is timeless, hence eternal and deity. He is Creator, hence deity. He is in Himself, the fiat of creation, hence He is the Word.

In His incarnation, He added humanity to His person, but it neither enhanced nor detracted from His deity. It added a fresh glory and wonder, but it did not add to this One Who is “the Same.”

A Truth

The wonderful and comforting truth which flows to us through this divine title is that He is One Who can never, and will never, change. We change. Each day we learn new facts (and forget old ones). He can never learn anything new or forget anything. There is nothing He will ever discover about me which will lessen His love or care. There is no discovery which could be made which will cause a change in His opinion about you. He is changeless. He cannot gain new information or forget what He has known. He will eternally be “the Same.”

Eternally, His love will be the same; His grace will be the same; He will be “the Same.”

Consider

Look at all the names and titles of the Lord Jesus in John 1. You should easily be able to find at least seven.

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