Genesis is one of several books in the Bible with a creation account. The most obvious clue to this creation’s redemptive nature is in Genesis 1:3, “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”[1] This verse is perhaps the most succinct statement of salvation in the entire Bible. The Incarnation is how the true Light of heaven destroyed the darkness on earth, but I am getting ahead of myself.

Colossians 1:12-17
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

The Son of God created all subregents known to heaven or earth. Thrones, dominions, principalities, powers—the entire universe, for that matter—owe their existence to the creative endeavors of the Son. His position as supreme potentate is unequivocally spelled out in Revelation 19:16, “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” This is not a title He earned so much as it is one He reassumed.

John 17:3-5
3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. NKJV

The Son’s glory was the same as the Father’s before they made the universe, before the Light came down to earth. His prayer as He stepped closer to the cross was to return to the status He had prior to His descent in order that He might share it with His beloved.

John 17:22-24
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

The Son did not earn the Father’s love through His sacrifice on the cross. Love is intrinsic to the Godhead. It is their eternal signature. The Son has always been loved. We need to understand that all the decisions and covenants the Godhead made within themselves, they did so in love before the foundation of the world.

1 Peter 1:18-21
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. [Emphasis added.]

The Son knew He was the Lamb of God before this cosmos was created. This does not mean that Adam was fated to fall in sin. It means the Godhead had decided to create a free-will moral creature as their subregent over the earth. This earthly king could rule with them or decide to rebel just as other angelic regents had already done. But this one would be different. The Godhead would design man to be redeemable. Since the need for redemption might arise, a redeemer had to be identified prior to initializing the entire creative process. In love, the Godhead determined that the Son would fulfill that role. Thus, He was the Lamb of God before the first ewe was made or ever gave birth.

John 1:1-5
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

In John’s creation account, we see the Son as the creative Word of God. According to the Genesis record, God’s Beginning Word was “Let there be Light.” John lets us know that the light was life springing from the Word that was God Himself. Before the Light pierced the darkness, before the waters were parted with Heaven, before they were gathered to expose dry land, before grass grew and fruit trees bloomed, before stars were scattered across the night sky and the sun rose to light the moon, before the fish swam or the birds flew over the creepers and cattle of the earth, before He wet the clay and breathed His very life’s spirit into the Potter’s finest vessel, the Son was committed to salvage man should his moral free-will turn him to the darkness.

Philippians 2:5-8
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ESV

Form follows function. For the King of kings to be the servant of all, He had to be formed like one. God is omnipresent, man is localized. God is omniscient, man has limited perspective. God is omnipotent, man grows tired and weak. The Son condescended to the form of His creation and subjected Himself to the very elements He had created. Humbleness has had no greater expression.

John 1:14
And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth. AMP

The servant king was born like every child before Him: naked, small, and helpless. He died much the same way. And because He condescended to wash all our filthy flesh with His own precious blood, the day will come when all true worshipers and wicked wanderers will bow the knee to the King of kings.

Philippians 2:9-11
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

[1] Less obvious is actually the first clue, which is in verse 2, “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”