Saturday 27 December 2008

Background

Today is the feast day of Saint John the Evangelist so it isfitting that today's passage is taken from the first 14 verses ofthe Gospel of John. These verses are part of the prologue of John'sGospel which is believed by many to be the most concise yet precisestatement of orthodox Christian theology that has ever beenwritten. They are not intended, however, to be a simpleintroduction to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. What isbeing offered is an opportunity to share in what the author hasseen - which is nothing less than the glory of God.

These verses use three descriptions of Jesus - 'Word', 'light' and'life'. Together they encapsulate the most important claims thatthis Gospel wants to make about Jesus so that Jesus can berecognised for who he really is.

The use of 'Word' or 'logos' is used in a way which deliberatelyechoes Genesischapter 1. Logos is a Greek word which is derived from the verb'to speak'. It means 'that which is said or spoken' and can referto either the content or the subject matter. It is used here tostress two important facts:

1. That there was never a time when the Word was not withGod.

2. That as God creates, and acts in the world by speaking, nothingcould have been created or done by God without God's Word.

The next description of Jesus follows on from this revelation -"The Word is life". The life that is spoken of here is radicallydifferent from normal life here on earth. John wants his readers toknow that the life that Jesus gives through belief in him, iseternal life from God.

So the third and final description he uses is of Jesus as the"light of the world" (John 8:12), because this light cannot beextinguished or overcome by darkness, not even the darkness ofdeath.

When all three are held together, Jesus as Word, life and light,can be recognised as the Son of God. This is the revelation thatJohn seeks to share with his readers - that when people see Jesus,they see the glory of God, for the Word became flesh and dweltamong us, full of grace and truth.

To Ponder

If you are a Christian, what images ordescriptions would you use to describe Jesus as God so that otherscould experience something of your sense of mystery and wonder aswell as your conviction?

How would you communicate the importance of thespoken Word in this digital age?