Jesus is the Word – 4/23/2017

WARNING PREACHY…

John 1:1-2

¹In 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.

John’s Gospel starts with the beginning of all things; “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God.”  This sequence of language seems odd to us modern day readers, but it was deep philosophical language to the readers of the Apostle John’s day.  The Greek word logos (translated Word) was an ancient philosophical and theological term used to try to explain the divine reason for everything, it was used to explain how the universe was ordered as it attempted to explain the form and meaning of existence.  John’s Gospel immediately shows that it is to be the most philosophical of the four gospels and sets itself apart as it delves into the meaning of life.

In these first two verses, the Apostle John writes that Jesus was at the creation of the universe.  In fact, the language is more complex than that, the English word with is translated from a Greek word that in a philosophical discussion very likely suggests more than just a side-by-side accompaniment of two people but rather an intertwining of beings.  The word with doesn’t make this point all by itself but John’s description that the “Word was with God and was God” certainly does.

The Jewish reader of John’s Gospel would immediately recognize the link John is making between his writing and the first book of the Jewish Scripture.

Genesis 1:1

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Because of this link, I am sure the Jewish mind went into alert mode.  John was seemingly cross contaminating the idea of the singular God with something else which he calls the Word.  I am not sure if John knew what he was doing but he essentially introduced the concept of the Trinity of the God-head.  This was blasphemy according to the Jews which was one of the charges against Jesus when they tried and executed Him.

Philippians 2:5-8

⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

⁶ Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷ rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

As Christians, our faith is in the life, death, and resurrection (new life) of this Jesus who is the essence of our creator God who dwelled among us.