Scripture: John 1:1-18
Admittedly, John’s Gospel is one of my favorite gospels. Probably because it is littered with imagery and symbolism. While other gospels, like Matthew and Luke, may open with genealogies and the nativity story, or Mark opens right up with Jesus’ baptism – John’s Gospel is more cosmic and sweeping. It takes us back to those first words of Genesis – in the beginning – and reminds us that what God is doing involves the whole of creation. That this is the God who speaks life in the midst of darkness.
That the God we are about to hear about is the same God whose Word brought everything into existence.
If you remember back to Genesis – God’s creative acts were always prefaced by, “And God said…” and God has continued to speak ever since. He has continued to speak into our world. He has continued to speak into our lives.
From the very beginning, God’s relationship with humanity has been centered around communication.
So the question of course that Genesis raises is: what happens when that life-giving communication between the creation and the divine breaks down?
If you think about it – the vast majority of all relationship problems are about communication. There are misunderstandings, unintended meanings… we just don’t communicate well with each other much of the time because we have many selfish things that drive what we are hearing and what we are saying.
Our relationship with God isn’t much different. It’s just as broken. It’s just as misunderstood.
But communication is also the way in which we build relationship. It’s the way in which we are able to mend relationships as much as it breaks them.
Which means – God had to find a way to communicate with humanity and his creation in a way that would begin to rebuild that broken relationship. For a while – God tried communicating directly with humanity – but the people didn’t want that. In fact, the Israelites told Moses, “You speak to God for us, and we’ll listen to what you have to say. But he scares the living daylights out of us when he talks to us directly.”
So God spoke through prophets from that time forward in order to try and communicate with his people. But… they didn’t listen. The communication barrier seemed to only widen. The brokenness only became worse.
By the time one finishes reading the Old Testament – it’s pretty clear – however this relationship and communication with God is going to be restored… it’s not going to be this way. We humans – we’re too rebellious. We’re too sinful. We want things done our own way. We hear what we want to hear, and we shut out what we don’t.
So what is God going to do with a broken creation? With a broken… us?
Well, he’s going to do something radical and something unexpected. God is going to come to terms with humanity and its rebellion and its sinfulness… by becoming human. By entering into the human experience fully and completely. The Word becomes flesh – God’s word comes to us in human terms. Because we can’t understand God on God’s own terms. Like the Israelites of old, I have to admit that God’s terms are not terms that I am capable of comprehending.
As we go back to this opening passage of John we are told that the Word – that word God spoke all things into existence by and through – is now taking on human form. In Hebrew – that Word was known as the Torah. God’s instruction. In Greek, they called that Word the “Logos.” If you never learn any other Greek word in your life, logos is probably the one that you should. The Logos in Greek philosophy was that “thing” or “force” in the universe that held and bound the entire universe together. It is what gave the universe life and sustained it.
This Word, this Torah and Instruction, this Logos that gives life to the universe – has become flesh and dwelt among us. This Logos – the divine word, the divine communication – is God’s way of encountering and addressing our sinfulness in such a way that it is suited to my own human condition. God’s Word is not just a spoken abstract anymore – but has become a specific form of communication that can be seen, touched and heard. God communicates, no longer through prophets and mountaintops, but through the actions he performs among us.
If people want to know what God is about – look and see what Jesus does. Heals the blind and the lame. He doesn’t just talk about the Kingdom of God, he brings with Him the Kingdom of God and communicates to us his desire and will for humanity. His love for humanity.
We don’t say the Nicene Creed much in church anymore. It’s kind of long and convoluted, and utilizes language that is archaic and outdated. But the Nicene Creed makes a statement about the incarnation that is of paramount importance.
“Who, for us, for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man.”
God’s great act of salvation and reconciliation with this world was to come down here and talk to us at our level. Communicate with us in a way we could understand. To BE like us.
To allow himself to be rejected and killed by the very people he came to save.
So the question of whether or not you have a relationship with God’s Word, the Logos – also known to us as Jesus Christ – is not the right question. Of course every living thing has a relationship with God’s Word. Every person has a relationship with Christ.
The question is what KIND of relationship is it? Is it one of trust? Or one of alienation? Is it a good relationship, or an utterly broken relationship? Is it a relationship that sends us off rejoicing, or a relationship that nails him to a cross?
Either way, the resurrection is a resounding response to humanity’s fears and stubbornness. It says nail me to a cross – kill me, kick me out, curse me, fight me – none of that changes one simple fact: God loves the world and will redeem it. One way or another.
He is the light that shines in the darkness of the deepest corners of our lives – and the darkness does not overcome it. He speaks into the darkness, and creates life and light. And he speaks to us in terms of this crying little child – terms we can grasp and understand.
That through this child, our relationship with God will be forever changed. For in him – is life.
Admittedly, John’s Gospel is one of my favorite gospels. Probably because it is littered with imagery and symbolism. While other gospels, like Matthew and Luke, may open with genealogies and the nativity story, or Mark opens right up with Jesus’ baptism – John’s Gospel is more cosmic and sweeping. It takes us back to those first words of Genesis – in the beginning – and reminds us that what God is doing involves the whole of creation. That this is the God who speaks life in the midst of darkness.That the God we are about to hear about is the same God whose Word brought everything into existence.
If you remember back to Genesis – God’s creative acts were always prefaced by, “And God said…” and God has continued to speak ever since. He has continued to speak into our world. He has continued to speak into our lives.
From the very beginning, God’s relationship with humanity has been centered around communication.
So the question of course that Genesis raises is: what happens when that life-giving communication between the creation and the divine breaks down?
If you think about it – the vast majority of all relationship problems are about communication. There are misunderstandings, unintended meanings… we just don’t communicate well with each other much of the time because we have many selfish things that drive what we are hearing and what we are saying.
Our relationship with God isn’t much different. It’s just as broken. It’s just as misunderstood.
But communication is also the way in which we build relationship. It’s the way in which we are able to mend relationships as much as it breaks them.
Which means – God had to find a way to communicate with humanity and his creation in a way that would begin to rebuild that broken relationship. For a while – God tried communicating directly with humanity – but the people didn’t want that. In fact, the Israelites told Moses, “You speak to God for us, and we’ll listen to what you have to say. But he scares the living daylights out of us when he talks to us directly.”
So God spoke through prophets from that time forward in order to try and communicate with his people. But… they didn’t listen. The communication barrier seemed to only widen. The brokenness only became worse.
By the time one finishes reading the Old Testament – it’s pretty clear – however this relationship and communication with God is going to be restored… it’s not going to be this way. We humans – we’re too rebellious. We’re too sinful. We want things done our own way. We hear what we want to hear, and we shut out what we don’t.
So what is God going to do with a broken creation? With a broken… us?
Well, he’s going to do something radical and something unexpected. God is going to come to terms with humanity and its rebellion and its sinfulness… by becoming human. By entering into the human experience fully and completely. The Word becomes flesh – God’s word comes to us in human terms. Because we can’t understand God on God’s own terms. Like the Israelites of old, I have to admit that God’s terms are not terms that I am capable of comprehending.
As we go back to this opening passage of John we are told that the Word – that word God spoke all things into existence by and through – is now taking on human form. In Hebrew – that Word was known as the Torah. God’s instruction. In Greek, they called that Word the “Logos.” If you never learn any other Greek word in your life, logos is probably the one that you should. The Logos in Greek philosophy was that “thing” or “force” in the universe that held and bound the entire universe together. It is what gave the universe life and sustained it.
This Word, this Torah and Instruction, this Logos that gives life to the universe – has become flesh and dwelt among us. This Logos – the divine word, the divine communication – is God’s way of encountering and addressing our sinfulness in such a way that it is suited to my own human condition. God’s Word is not just a spoken abstract anymore – but has become a specific form of communication that can be seen, touched and heard. God communicates, no longer through prophets and mountaintops, but through the actions he performs among us.
If people want to know what God is about – look and see what Jesus does. Heals the blind and the lame. He doesn’t just talk about the Kingdom of God, he brings with Him the Kingdom of God and communicates to us his desire and will for humanity. His love for humanity.
We don’t say the Nicene Creed much in church anymore. It’s kind of long and convoluted, and utilizes language that is archaic and outdated. But the Nicene Creed makes a statement about the incarnation that is of paramount importance.
“Who, for us, for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man.”
God’s great act of salvation and reconciliation with this world was to come down here and talk to us at our level. Communicate with us in a way we could understand. To BE like us.
To allow himself to be rejected and killed by the very people he came to save.
So the question of whether or not you have a relationship with God’s Word, the Logos – also known to us as Jesus Christ – is not the right question. Of course every living thing has a relationship with God’s Word. Every person has a relationship with Christ.
The question is what KIND of relationship is it? Is it one of trust? Or one of alienation? Is it a good relationship, or an utterly broken relationship? Is it a relationship that sends us off rejoicing, or a relationship that nails him to a cross?
Either way, the resurrection is a resounding response to humanity’s fears and stubbornness. It says nail me to a cross – kill me, kick me out, curse me, fight me – none of that changes one simple fact: God loves the world and will redeem it. One way or another.
He is the light that shines in the darkness of the deepest corners of our lives – and the darkness does not overcome it. He speaks into the darkness, and creates life and light. And he speaks to us in terms of this crying little child – terms we can grasp and understand.
That through this child, our relationship with God will be forever changed. For in him – is life.
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