John 1:1-14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
As you study biblical history you’ll find one of the greatest challenges for the early Christians was attempting to explain how God is both Creator, Indwelling Spirit and the man Jesus. There wasn’t simply an understanding problem, but a lack of words to express the concept at all. The problem was the limitation of language. There weren’t any words or phrases that could adequately convey the concept we now call trinity. And even today that has linguistic limitations. From a conceptual standpoint, nothing totally captures the enormous scope of the person, power and preeminence of the Almighty God. He is beyond human comprehension or expression. But I’d like to share a recently comment I heard that helped bring a bit more clarity to me. This lecturer declared, “Jesus is what God has to say”. Brilliant!!!
As we look at the Gospel according to John, he opens his essay with the most outlandish comments. He not only equates the man Jesus with the person of God, but refers to Him as the creative Word of God. As a result, everything created by the mind of God was made evident by the Word of God. Subsequently, Jesus is responsible for everything physical, material, spiritual or emotional. He is in essence what God is. He is the expressed image of God. He is what God has to say concerning everything.
Even as a baseline concept, this is too much for my feeble brain to contend with. But one thing stands out to me that is imperative for us to embrace this morning. The Word that was with God, is the same Word that became flesh and dwelt among us for the singular purpose of causing us to become the children of God, just like he is. And the fact that we haven’t all yet attained that glorious distinction means the Word is still at work on the earth. Right?
The creative works of the Word are over. God gave to the Word the assignment to speak and with it all things in the heavens and earth appeared. God gave him the invitation to jointly, “let us make man” and man became a living soul. In him is life, and that life is the light of humanity. By the Word we live, breathe and have our being. Jesus is the complete desire of God. Jesus is what God has to say concerning everything past, present and future. But as the Word (logos), Jesus was also given voice (rhema). And while Jesus is what God has to say, you and I are what Jesus has to say.
In every circumstance and in every situation, Christ, has through himself as the Living Word, empowered you and I to address the challenges set before us as victors and conquerors. In matter of fact he has called us, more than conquerors through Christ Jesus. We have been informed that greater is within us. We have been advised we have received transformative power through the Holy Ghost. With every word he speaks he affirms his influence and establishes his preeminence and sovereignty. Consequently, we have no excuse. When he speaks he speaks for God, as God. His actions are the expressed desire and design of God. So when we receive directives from the Spirit, we have no choice, opinion nor option. Because we are what Jesus has to say to the world today.
God Bless
