You might have noticed that John begins his gospel story a little differently than his homies, Matthew, Mark and Luke. It’s kind of fun to read them back to back and notice the differences (Did someone say, “Chronological Bible!?!”). So what makes John so weird? Maybe it was because John wrote his account of Jesus’ life much later, around 90-95 AD. Extra time might be what made his gospel more reflective, and the Holy spirit what made it more interpretive. John is telling you not onlywhat Jesus did but also the profound significance of who Jesus was.
The most striking difference in John’s gospel is that he doesn’t begin with the once-upon-a-time of Jesus’ birth. Instead, he takes us all the way back to the very beginning of time itself. Remember the story of the universe begins with this phrase, “In the beginning God…” (Genesis 1.1) Watch out! John is about to make a serious statement. “In the beginning was the Word.” (John 1.1) BAM! That opening statement is heavy with meaning, for real. It’s obvious that John is talking about Jesus when he says “The Word.” The Greek word for Word is logos. Three points of significance. First, the logos is major power. It was God’s word that spoke creation into existence. If you flip back to Genesis you can read the creation story. It goes basically like this, “God said let there be… light, animals, people, etc… and there was.” How did God create the world? Yep, he told it to exist, and it did. Second, logos had special significance for the Jews. They had a very reverent view of God, so much that they wouldn’t even speak God’s proper name. Often instead of saying Yahweh, a Jew would say “the word of God” or “the logos of God.” What I’m saying is that for a Jewish person logos was another way to say “God.” Hearing John’s opening line is basically blowing their mind. Third, logos for the Greeks was a symbolic term forreason and the philosophical principles that they believed held everythingtogether. The Logos was like the force that controlled the universe (Star Wars parallel intended). Maybe John was trying to say to the Greeks, “Listen guys, logos isn’t some abstract idea. Logos is a person, and I’d like to introduce you to him.” Holy Cow. If you thought Jesus was just some guy, think again! In casehaven’t figured this out by now (and I realize I can be subtle), John is rather poetically and boldly saying JESUS IS GOD. Not only is Jesus God, from the beginning, but he is at work still. He is shouting out the darkness and this time bringing a new creation within us. “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.” Tomorrow we will wrap up John 1 by talking about grace upon grace before we move on to the joy of God’s discipline on Thursday. John 1.1-18 [NIV] 1 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. 15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
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AuthorThe Pastors of Cornerstone Wesleyan Church Archives
July 2017
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