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40. The Word Became Flesh


John 1:1-5 & 10-14
Key Verse: The word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.  We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 
John 1:14

Scripture begins with the words, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1)  Now, John introduces Jesus by saying, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning." (John 1:1-2) Why doesn't John just make it easier to understand by using the name Jesus, rather than the mysterious "Word," in his writing?

John is actually using a Greek word, "logos," that is poorly translated into "word," in our English language.  The Greek readers of John's day would have understood what he was saying, but that meaning is definitely lost in the translation, leaving us at a loss to understand. 

Logos is related to the word, logic.  It conveys the idea of bringing order out of chaos, which is exactly what God did in the beginning, putting everything in logical order.  “Logos” was used by the Greeks to identify the cosmic ordering principle employed by their idea of God to create everything.  Now, Jesus has come to restore order once again. 

By using the word, Logos, or "Word," John is helping us to understand that Jesus is much more than a man.  He was with God at the beginning and He is with God now.  God spoke the Word, and creation came into being.  Jesus was creating with God.  God is with Jesus now.  The Father and Jesus are one. 

Jesus was the creator of life and that life was the light of the world, but those who he had covenanted with from long ago did not recognize Him for who He was.  Many of His chosen people rejected Him and His message, but any who do believe become children of God.  Many would reject His teaching because they prefer the imagined power that the chaos of their sin creates.  Jesus would bring simple logic, order and truth that would penetrate their disorder.  That is in part, why He had to be rejected.  His "New way," was really the old way, God's way, which was so simple, even a child could understand.  There is no power for man in simplicity. We prefer duplicity! 

Another reason his own did not receive him is because he didn’t appear in the way they had expected.  Were the people expecting God's Word to become flesh?  God was supposed to be full of glory as Moses saw on Mount Sinai.  He was not supposed to be poor.  He was supposed to be a teacher and a general, a learned Rabbi, worthy of respect, not a carpenter.  Yet, those who believed saw Him for who and what He really was.  They saw His true glory; God become man, and they recognized His truth. 

Once again, we are faced with the truth that God does not always come in the ways that we anticipate.  However, if we remain open to the leading of His Holy Spirit, we will not miss Him when He is near. 

Hymn: "The Light Of The World Is Jesus" Lauren Daigle

 The Light of the World is Jesus, hymn

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