Daily Bread 2011 - John 1
Daily Bread 2011 – John 1
The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
What Does This Mean?
So begins John’s 4th gospel, often called the “evangelical” gospel. Much of John’s gospel is unique to him, unlike the three synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) which have much in common. Part of the distinctiveness of John’s gospel, is his describing Jesus as the “Word”, who was with God and was God. Importantly this Word was with God at the beginning. Meaning God the Son was present with God the Father at the Creation of the world.
Importantly as verse 1 says, “the Word was God”. In verse 14, we see the connection to Jesus the incarnate Word when it says, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us full of grace truth.” John’s Gospel was written later than the other gospels. The first three gospels are commonly assumed to be written around 70 A.D., whereas John’s gospel was written either before or after the turn of the century (100 A.D.). Remember A.D. stands for “Year of our Lord”.
The importance here is that right away John is claiming that Jesus is God. One of the heresies around the turn of the 1st century was that Jesus only appeared to be God, but was not really God. Or the Gnostic heresy, that the Spirit of God would never inhabit a body, because the body is bad/corrupt. The fact that Jesus the Word became flesh/human and lived on the earth is essential to our Christology (the study/doctrine of Christ).
What Does This Mean For Us?
The fact that Jesus the incarnate Word was with God and in fact was God in the beginning, is essential because if Jesus was not God, He would have had to die for His own sins. If Jesus was not human, He could not have identified with us and gone to the cross for our sins. The essential nature (called ontology) of Jesus and the fact that he is 100% God and 100% man, is one of the foundational doctrines upon which the whole of Christianity is based. It is mystery to be sure, but that does not take away from its intrinsic truth, which inspired the apostle to write this 1st chapter of John.
How does knowing that Jesus was both God and man help you in your own faith journey? How does it affect how you approach what He taught?
Heavenly Father we thank you for the mystery that Jesus is both 100% God and 100% like us. As we follow Your Son in the power of the Holy Spirit, help us to know we are following your absolute perfect will for us. Amen.
The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
What Does This Mean?
So begins John’s 4th gospel, often called the “evangelical” gospel. Much of John’s gospel is unique to him, unlike the three synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) which have much in common. Part of the distinctiveness of John’s gospel, is his describing Jesus as the “Word”, who was with God and was God. Importantly this Word was with God at the beginning. Meaning God the Son was present with God the Father at the Creation of the world.
Importantly as verse 1 says, “the Word was God”. In verse 14, we see the connection to Jesus the incarnate Word when it says, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us full of grace truth.” John’s Gospel was written later than the other gospels. The first three gospels are commonly assumed to be written around 70 A.D., whereas John’s gospel was written either before or after the turn of the century (100 A.D.). Remember A.D. stands for “Year of our Lord”.
The importance here is that right away John is claiming that Jesus is God. One of the heresies around the turn of the 1st century was that Jesus only appeared to be God, but was not really God. Or the Gnostic heresy, that the Spirit of God would never inhabit a body, because the body is bad/corrupt. The fact that Jesus the Word became flesh/human and lived on the earth is essential to our Christology (the study/doctrine of Christ).
What Does This Mean For Us?
The fact that Jesus the incarnate Word was with God and in fact was God in the beginning, is essential because if Jesus was not God, He would have had to die for His own sins. If Jesus was not human, He could not have identified with us and gone to the cross for our sins. The essential nature (called ontology) of Jesus and the fact that he is 100% God and 100% man, is one of the foundational doctrines upon which the whole of Christianity is based. It is mystery to be sure, but that does not take away from its intrinsic truth, which inspired the apostle to write this 1st chapter of John.
How does knowing that Jesus was both God and man help you in your own faith journey? How does it affect how you approach what He taught?
Heavenly Father we thank you for the mystery that Jesus is both 100% God and 100% like us. As we follow Your Son in the power of the Holy Spirit, help us to know we are following your absolute perfect will for us. Amen.
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