Monday 23 June 2014

Background

Someone once compared John's Gospel to a pool of water which issafe enough for a child to paddle in yet deep enough for anelephant to take a swim. Each time we read John's Gospel we areaware that we can go deeper and deeper into the meaning of hiswords. It is important that we are not overwhelmed by it but thereare great benefits to be had from jumping in and bathing in thesoothing waters of the beautiful language and engagingtheology.

This passage is often referred to as the "Prologue", orintroduction, to the Gospel. These verses contain the meaning ofeverything Jesus was, is and did. The gospel is the story of God'srelationship with the world and that story begins with creation andreaches its climax in the story of Jesus, when "the Word becameflesh and lived among us" (v. 14).

There is so much in this passage it is important to read itslowly and attentively. The Gospel begins with a mystery, who isthe Word? John's Gospel is careful to paint a clear image:

• The Word was and is God. (verse 1)
• The Word was with God from the beginning. (verses 1-2)
• The Word is the creator of life and this life is light. (verses3-4)
• The Word became flesh and lived among us. (verse 14)

The Word sheds light on who God is. If we want to know what Godis like all we need to do is look at Jesus. This is quite simple,but people did not recognise the Word; even God's chosen people,the Israelites, did not see God in Jesus. This theme of notrecognising the Word dominates the gospel story. Jesus comes to hisown people but they do not see him for who he is (verses10-11).

We are part of this story too, we can choose to see the light,to recognise the Word and "become children of God" (v. 12). Thechoice is there throughout the Gospel, we are free to choose thedarkness or the light.

To Ponder

• Reading this passage today what are you noticing that you havenot noticed before?

• What can prevent you from seeing "the light" and what can make"the darkness" so much more attractive?