“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).

As I understand it, John 1:1 could read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was face to face with God, and what God was the Word was.” I love the thought of God and the Word being face to face. The Greek word commonly translated “with” is pros, and “toward” is among its possible meanings. One source I read said pros could have the sense of facing and even moving toward an object. So I imagine God and His Word face to face and ever moving closer. Spatially, this is impossible; spiritually and relationally it perfectly captures the Father/Son dynamic.

The next part, “what God was the Word was” illustrates the perfect mirroring that happens between Jesus and His Father. Hebrews 1:3 expresses something similar: “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of His nature….” What God is the Word is and expresses faithfully.

Second Corinthians 3:18 says, “We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory.” The phrase “looking as in a mirror” evokes similar ideas to John 1:1. Here, we are face to face with Christ, the glory of the Lord (2 Cor. 4:6). When we look at Jesus by the Spirit, we understand the same Jesus is within. What He is, we are–mirror images.

Of course, sin distorts our expression of Jesus. But as we see Him by the Spirit and realize He is within, mirroring has its effect: we are transformed. Jesus is more clearly expressed. Like Jesus and the Father, Jesus and His bride are ever moving closer.

Comparing John 1:1 and 2 Corinthians 3:18 shows that we participate in the same divine dynamic as the Father and Son:

May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us (John 17:21).

[W]hat we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may have fellowship along with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (1 John 1:3).

What great love the Father has shown us, that we might be what He is and move ever closer! (1 John 3:1).