The WORD

Saturday – December 7

Advent Reading: John 1:9-18

I remember how long it took just to go through the first 18 verses of John’s Gospel under Professor Magill at Roberts Wesleyan College. There is so much theology about Jesus Christ found here, but the key word is translated as “Word”. That word in the Greek is Logos (an English transliteration of the Greek letters), which means “Word” for us. What depth of meaning we find here! We can go back to verse 1 and following of this chapter and discover that this “Word” was not only there in the beginning but was actually God. And He was with God in the beginning of all of creation, and even before that, since He was also God. Suddenly the narrative focuses on John the Baptist for a few verses then jumps back into speaking of “The Word” in verses 9 through 14 and even more.

John clearly equates Jesus Christ with “The Word” and as being the Creator of the world and even all of creation. Even a cursory reading would give you that information. This “face” of Jesus is one that “spoke creation into existence. He spoke and it literally came into being.

Perhaps the even more amazing thing is that the Word (God) actually became flesh through the immaculate conception of Mary by the Holy Spirit. Christ was not the “seed of man” but the “Seed of the holy God” as no man was involved in the conception. This is the only time an event like it has ever happened. Can you put a “face” to this “Word”? What would it be like to look upon the face and form of God Himself in human flesh? Can you imagine how difficult it was for the early disciples of Jesus to truly see Him as the actual Son of God in a human form? Artists show Him as having a glowing halo around His head. Do you think that was an actual thing or just the artist’s way of indicating His divinity?  How was it that Peter put it in Matthew 16:16? “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” By this time they had all walked with Him for over 3 years and saw Him in many different situations and interacting with the world around Him in many different and unique ways. This Jesus was different and not of the same mold as any of them – and yet, and yet, they knew He was who He said He was. The saw Him heal by the words of His mouth and the touch of His hands and through obedience to His command. The Apostle John came to see Him as the Word of God incarnate in a human body. He was totally convinced that He really was the Son of God. The exigencies of human frailty often got in the way but in essence each of the apostles, especially after the Resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit, came to thoroughly accept He was who He said He was; and that, even unto death.

Can you see the “face” of Jesus as the Word incarnate as you read the Scriptures? Can you truly trust Him even unto death? All of the Apostles died in rather horrible ways and yet none of them ever wavered in their faith. They had seen and experienced too much with Jesus to doubt His Word. Believers through the centuries have faced these situations also with the same calm assurance. Can you? Can you see His ”face” in the Word of God and even in His own words?

 

Today . . . A Savior . . .

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

⁶ There was a man sent from God whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. ⁸ He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

⁹ The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

“The Word” of John is the “Savior” recorded in Luke’s gospel.  I remember the very great privilege I had three times to let various family members and friends know of the births of our children.  Our firstborn took his time coming into this world so by the end of the day most of our congregation was present in the waiting room.  Those phone calls to family members after each birth were very special and very much full of joy.  What joy must have been God’s at this beginning of the fulfillment of His plan of salvation for mankind!

Just think of the Apostle John pondering over how to present the incarnation of the Son of God to a world which had difficulty understanding it.  The angels basically made the rather stark announcement of the birth to the shepherds but made it in such a glorious way that the shepherds knew something special had happened.  John very carefully, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, proclaimed the same kind of message in a very spiritually sensitive way.  His way proclaimed the nature of this God-Man as being One who was from before the beginning and was, in point of fact, God Himself (see verse 1).  My very favorite portion of scripture is the prologue of John’s gospel (John 1:1 – 18).  So much about Jesus and His reason for coming is found in those 18 verses.  Christmas is the incarnation of the Son of God in human flesh.  God’s whole purpose for mankind is found in this act on our behalf.

Today as you think on this scripture focus on your reaction to what God has done for you and all in this world.  Have you ever properly thanked God for becoming flesh on your behalf?  Think also on John 1:12 where the apostle writes, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”  The last part of verse 13 tells us that we are, “…born of God.”  What joy to be a child of God! Take a moment and express that joy to God now.

 

Jesus Is the Word

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

John 1:1-5

There are 800,000 in the English language, 300,000 of which are technical terms. The average person knows about 10,000 words and uses 5,000 in everyday speech.  An average journalist knows approximately 15,000 words and uses around 10,000 on a regular basis.

Sticks and stones can break your bones but words can never hurt you.  We all recited that mantra as children to insulate ourselves from the powerful and negative effect words can sometimes have on us.  Now older, most of us realize that words really are powerful.  They can be a force for good or a force for evil.  You can probably envision a passionate Martin Luther King, Jr. dreaming about the day when everyone would be “free at last.”  You can probably also envision a staunch and determined Adolph Hitler proclaiming the coming of the Third Reich.  Words can surely heal as well as hurt you.

In our passage today we have an important proclamation about Jesus: He is the Word.  In Genesis we first see the Word in action as God Speaks the universe into existence.  That’s a powerful Word right there.  Just imagine, though, what God would say to you if He were speaking right now.  He would say, “Jesus!”  Jesus is the outpouring of God’s love to you.  “Jesus” is how God says, “I love you.”  It is exactly what God has always wanted to say to us.

If you were to have an intimate moment with God a few minutes from now, what words would you like to hear from Him?  What is it that God could say that would most impact your soul right now?  Christmas is an intimate connection between God and Man.  It was on that cold night, in that cold stable that God said “I love you” to all Mankind.  He sent His only Son, the Word of God, to earth that day.

Spend as many minutes as you can alone with God after you read these words.  Imagine God is sitting in a comfy chair just across from you and let Him speak.  Stay silent and let your thoughts dwell completely on God.

Christmas Quote:

“Oh! lovely voices of the sky – Which hymned the Saviour’s birth, Are ye not singing still on high,  Ye that sang, ‘Peace on earth’?”   ~Felicia Hemans