February 15, 2015 – John 1:8-18
Download discussion questions: John 1_9-18 prologue B
The writer of the Gospel (he hasn’t said much about himself yet) continues developing his metaphorical themes of “the Word” and “the Light.” He has a lot to say about what this Word and this Light have done – coming into the world, enlightening people, giving, dwelling, providing truth and grace. He has a few things to say about humans as well – not knowing Him, not receiving Him (but some did). The two consistent themes provide clear pictures. One is of the continuously initiating, intentional, giving God. The other is the less than enthusiastic response (if any) of the very world He created.
The transition (mentioned in the group discussion last week) from Word to Light went even further in this passage: “And the Word became flesh.” Someone pointed out that this moves from the unimaginably abstract or philosophical “Word” to the very familiar, concrete, practical “flesh.” Every member of the group had an opportunity to examine flesh – looking at our own arms, seeing the veins and hair skin and freckles and scratches. And then to think about the Word, the eternal one who “was with God, and was God,” taking on this exact form. Mind boggling if we really allow ourselves to think about it.
John the Baptist receives some more attention, expanding on the summary of his message earlier in this chapter. His enthusiasm comes through a bit more, as he “testified” and “cried out” and uses enigmatic phrases like, “He existed before me” when speaking of his younger cousin. His message must have intrigued the original hearers, just as it intrigues us if we come to it with fresh eyes and ears.
Toward the end of the passage the benefits brought by this Word who became flesh begin to pile up, as if the writer could hardly contain himself. Words like “glory” and “truth” and “grace upon grace” make us want to hear more of what this writer has to say in coming chapters.
Unlike most of the letters in the New Testament, this gospel does not identify the writer in the first few lines. But this passage gives some important information even without naming names. The writer says that this Word that became flesh didn’t just dwell on the earth. Rather he says He “dwelt among us, and we saw His glory…of His fullness we have all received.” Did you catch the pronouns? “Us” and “we” are the writer’s personal testimony. We are not reading the account of a disinterested third party trying to record some historical events. The history the writer is recording is based on his own eyewitness testimony, and his close, personal involvement in those events and with the Person who is at the center of that history.
Studying a particular section of Scripture has practical limitations. There is always a starting point (in this case, verse 9) and a stopping point. The passage under study ends (verse 18) with an amazing statement that summarizes John’s point about the Word and Light and flesh and his personal experience: “No one has seen God at any time, the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.” Ending with that verse leaves us wanting more. What? How did He explain Him? What do all the other terms mean, like a “begotten God?” Once again, we can easily skim over verses like that without stopping to dig, to ponder, to wrestle from them every ounce of meaning. The encouraging news is that the writer has twenty more chapters to share from his intimate personal experience with that begotten God. We have a lot to look forward to.