At the time of John's writing, political power belonged to Rome but cultural and philosophical power still rested with the Greeks. Much oversimplified ... Greek philosophy held to 2 major tenets: 1) Logos - meaning 'word' or 'reason'. Where does the order in the world come from? The Logos ... the mind of God. Or ... look at man and see his ability to think and reason. Where does that ability come from? The Logos ... the mind of God. 2) Secondly, there was the concept of 2 worlds: the one we see and live in which is all shadows and copies and unreality ... and the unseen world - which is the real world, the world of patterns and perfections. Everything in the seen world is but a shadow or copy of the perfect pattern that exists in the real world, the unseen world. So, much of the challenge facing Greek philosophers was how to manage to make contact with the real world.
John begins his Gospel addressing that very problem ... identifying with the philosophical challenges of his particular day ... and we hear him say, "In the beginning was the Logos, and the Logos was with God, and the Logos was God. (v 1) Through Him all things were made (v 3) The Logos became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (v 14)" It is as if John is saying to his readers: The mind of God has come down into this copy world. The real mind of God has entered our seen world and He put on flesh. You can see Him. We could touch Him. He was not an imperfect copy of the perfect pattern. He was perfect ... giver of light and life."
John is not telling a new message. He is telling the old message ... but he is telling it in a language form that communicates with his readers. My friends, we must ever be aware of the need to tell "the old, old story" in fresh language, using metaphor and thought patterns that fit with the world in which we find ourselves. The year 2011 is different from the year 1850 ... or 1900 ... or 1952 ... or any other year you select. We must be aware of current thought patterns ... aware of the way they have changed. We must communicate in ways that communicate! John is a beautiful example of that. Struggle with it. It will be incredibly important as you communicate with your older children, your adult children. Also, support your church leaders as they struggle with that need ... as they work to communicate the truths of the "old story" to the generations that live and think right now.
On a separate piece of paper, or in your study journal, write down every name or descriptor of Jesus that you find in these verses. I think it would be a good exercise to keep that list going throughout our study of John. If one of our goals is to "see Jesus" then to record the names He uses for Himself, the ways that He is described, will help us see Him.
In these few verses ... here are a few that I found ...
Word
God
Creator
Life
Light of men
One and Only
Full of grace and truth
At the Father's side
Did you find others? Which is most meaningful to you? Why? I have a hard time settling on just one! I love the "light of men" because I love to be able to see. Jesus makes real 'seeing' possible.
Let's close today by hearing the words of verse 18 from a couple of different translations. I think it helps our understanding ... and it lifts our hearts to soar! Remember our goal? To see God?
New Revised Standard:
The Message:
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow ...
"No one has ever seen God, not so much as a glimpse. This one-of-a-kind God-Expression, who exists at the very heart of the Father, has made Him plain as day."
"No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made Him known."
Reading John 1 I can't help thinking of Plato's Allegory of the Cave. All we see are shadows, and the real world (which we can't see) is "out there" somewhere.
ReplyDeleteThe name for Jesus that stands out to me this time is in verse 14 - the "One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." If we want to know what God looks like we only need to look at Jesus, nobody else. I need that reminder!
That seems to be exactly what the current philosophical thought was at the time of John's writing.
ReplyDeleteI love the "one and only" descriptor as well - especially since there is really nothing totally unique in the world ... but Christ is totally unique. There really is only one ...
Oh -- I love Plato's cave! I thought of Paul's "armor of God" analogy, and remember how he said our real enemy is not flesh and blood... and that the real battle is taking place in the heavenly realms.
ReplyDeleteMaybe this isn't a "name" for Jesus, per se, but the one that stood out to me was when John says (in verse 26) "...among you stands one whom you do not know." I have had a couple of vivid reminders recently that God's ways are not my ways, and vice versa. How easy it is to think we "know" Him... and then realize we've just been distracted/deceived by what our environment, our culture calls "the real world." I want to be sure that the One I "know"... is God -- no substitutes!
Gail,
ReplyDeleteWould you please explain the your comment "verses 6-8 and verse 15 are parenthetical"? I think I know what you mean but want to be sure.
Thanks,
Beth Haden