John 1:1-14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Goal: To celebrate the coming of God into our flesh Malady: We sometimes miss the big picture of where our lives fit within God’s big story. Means: See the breadth of God’s great story and our place in it.
“The Bible is more than prosaic rituals; it is a love letter, a story of adventure & victory, a multigenre conglomeration that God called “good,” full of mystery, romance, comedy, prophesy, even poetry.” - Alabaster Co. A Reflection on Poetry in Scripture
Poetry uses words to paint a picture we can’t quite see with our eyes. Descriptions of the word. Word
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. - John 1:1-4
The word speaks and it is so. Describe creation and the forming of man like a potter forms a vessel.
Imagery of dirt and mud.
Imagery of Breath of life
Word says it is good
But then something that is not good. Describe human fall We elevate our human words to the level of God’s Word.
Humans continue substituting their words - our words - for The Word. Imagery of massive human kingdoms Until human words are confused at the tower of babel Washed away by the flood of Noah
But The Word does not give up on humanity.
Word choses a people to be an example. A people to proclaim the words of God to the world.
The word guides this people out of slavery to freedom. Gives them an inheritance and an identity. A place to call their own.
Word shakes a mountain, smoke and lighting, and speaks to form this people. Gives them the ten commandments Comes to live with them in the tabernacle and temple
Word that sustained the great kings of israel.
King David himself writes of his encounter with this word.
Kind Solomon shares the wisdom that came for this word.
But as they wander judgment falls and this chosen people of israel go into exile. But the Word of God does not give up on them even then. The word goes with them even as they are driven into exile.
And the Word that came back with them and blessed the rebuilding of the temple.
Then after thousands of years of calling, promising, guiding, proclaiming to His people the word does something spectacular:
Word became flesh and dwelt among us
Then on the cross
The word speaks out of anguish instead of creative goodness.
The word that guided this people out of slavery now being torchered by them.
The word that guided kings being put to death by the kings of this world.
The Word that spoke strong words of command now speaking words of forgiveness.
The word on a different mountain. Not shaking it but bleeding on it.
The word that breathed life into man breathing his last breath.
The word became flesh brought to a crushing end.
But The word is not done speaking. The word rises from the dead and now speaks a new word of life and freedom. Not freedom from physical slavery but freedom from death itself.
Word with us today. Application Where he speaks to us today Sacraments Bible Community In the quiet messing with us
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. - John 1:14