Christmas b (Light – effect the world)
December 25, 2011 John 1:1-14
John 1:1 What do you think of? What does “WORD” mean?
First Sunday of Advent: Hope & importance of waiting
Second Sunday of Advent: Love, and the need to prepare
Third Sunday of Advent: Joy, and our call to bear witness
Fourth Sunday of Advent: Peace, in the face of change
Today is Christmas! LIGHT, darkness cannot overcome!
In the Beginning
John’s Gospel draws our attention beyond the other gospel writers: who take us through the genealogy or the descriptive narrative. John takes us all the way to Creation.
· Genesis begins with an illustration of dark & light
· God saw that it was Good! (Gen 1:4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.)
· John draws us back to that and says:
o Jesus has always been
o Jesus is GOOD
o Jesus overcomes darkness
Word (In the beginning was the word… the Word became flesh)
“The Word” is taken from the Greek word Logos.
Ø Logos is an important term in philosophy, psychology, rhetoric and religion.
1. Originally a word meaning "a ground", "a plea", "an opinion", "an expectation", "word," "speech," "account," "reason”,
2. It became a technical term in philosophy, beginning with Heraclitus (ca. 535–475 BC), who used the term for a principle of order and knowledge.
v Ancient philosophers used the term in different ways:
· The sophists used the term to mean discourse,
· Aristotle applied the term to refer to "reasoned discourse" or "the argument" in the field of rhetoric.
· The Stoic philosophers identified the term with the divine animating principle pervading the Universe.
v After Judaism came under Helenistic influence, Philo (ca. 20 BC-AD 50) adopted the term into Jewish philosophy.
v The Gospel of John identifies the Logos, through which all things are made, as divine and further identifies Jesus as the incarnation of the Logos. (Wikipedia – Logos)
When I read John 1:1…
I immediately think of the written “word” or (Scripture)
The bible is beautiful, transformational, and foundational – but is static…!
o Do we short circuit the foundational truth of our God Incarnate – when we limit ourselves to the written word?
Read John 1:1-14 from “The Voice”
Engage the Word – transform your understanding to incorporate the living, incarnate relationship found in John 1:14
So the Word became (flesh)human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. We have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
The Word is not stagnant. It is active – participatory, inviting!
The Word, The Voice, is God Incarnate; Relational!!!
Light
In our modern understanding of Light vs Darkness:
§ How does darkness affect us?
§ Is darkness a tool of oppression?
· People of the Bible time (and still millions of ours):
- Literally understood darkness + lived in it daily.
- The United Nations estimates that 1.5 billion people across the globe still live without electricity, including 85 percent of Kenyans.(Sustainable Energy for All)
- Non-Profit – putting solar lights in the African villages
o Litteracy and education increase!
o Rape & STD’s decrease.
§ LIGHT overpowers darkness!
John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 1:14 The Voice… chose to become human and live surrounded by his creations… Undeniable splendor enveloped Him-the one true Son of God-evidenced in the perfect balance of grace and truth.
BE.Hopeful BE.Loving BE.Joyful BE.Peacful
BE.the LIGHT of the Christ!
As you go, BE the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden—shine the light of Christ. Go and Love!