Gospel of John: Prologue

The Prologue

Text: John 1:1-18

Structure:

A. 1:1-3, Word with God.

  B. 1:4-5, Light vs. darkness.

    C. 1:6-8, witness of John.

      D. 1:9-10, He was IN the word.

        E. 1:11-13, He came to His own.

      D'. 1:14, Word dwelt AMONG us.

    C'. 1:15, witness of John

  B'. 1:16-17, Grace (upon grace) vs. Law

A'. 1:18, Son made know the Father

Comments: Dr. Weinrich in his commentary (Weinrich, John 1:1 – 7:1, CPH, 2015) dedicates 8 pages to a single phrase: in the beginning... By no means we can say that his brilliant commentary is the final word on this precious words of John. But it gives a reader a sense of depth of John's Gospel – 2000 years later a brilliant theologian dedicates these many pages to four Greek words. We don't have a luxury of a multi-volume format. Therefore, we will simply highlight the main directions for understanding the words of John given to us to believe (John 20:30-31).

The Word and the Son. There are countless papers written on the parallels between Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1. To point out just one – from the very beginning God works out the created world via Word (cp. Genesis 1:3). God speaks the world into being. Here we have the Word – the divine Logos – as the One who was, and is with, and is God himself. Should we understand it terms of time, or relationship? And the answer is YES. Later St. John will record the Revelation, where Jesus identifies Himself in terms of time (Revelation 1:8). We also shall see the revelation of the Father through Son [only] – John 1:18 and following the question of Phillip (John 14:8-9).

Light vs. darkness. In Genesis account of creation the darkness (Genesis 1:3-5) did not have the dark side (pun intended). The narrative of the first day simply tells us of duality of created world. God planned a period of the day for productive actions, and another period for us to have a rest. Any attempts to read the mutiny of angels into the first day should be answered by God's own assessment of the created world at the end of the sixth day – everything was done VERY good.

But John writes in the context of the fallen world. Therefore, for him the term darkness (or darkness related words) will bear a significant spiritual load (cp. John 13:30). At the same time, we need to be careful not to identify the Law of Moses with the darkness of the present age. The Law is turned into darkness by the people who didn't want to see the ultimate source behind the actions and the words of Moses (remember, Deuteronomy – the fifth book – of the Bible in Hebrew means the Words). Jesus will point it out very clearly (cp. John 6:32-34). Yet, if they insist on the supremacy of Moses, this turns a great gift of God into an idol – the LAW as a pattern of salvation, while we know that the ONLY way of salvation is grace of Jesus (John 1:17 and John 14:6).

The identity and witness of John. At the first glance a reader might be under impression that John talks about himself. It would make a perfect sense, but it would go against the pattern of the usage of the name John in the Gospel. Whenever it is used – it refers to John the Baptizer, while John identifies himself as “the disciple that Jesus loved” or “the other disciple” (cp. John 13:25; 20:3). This becomes really clear, reading John 1:15 – the testimony of John is the One who came after/later is ranked above because he was before (means forever, cp. John 1:1-3).

Presence in the world and dwelling among us. John comes back to the theme of light, which forces us to re-read Genesis 1:3 – the light of the first day was not created, it was spoken into the world, presenting the idea un-created light sustaining the world for three first days of the world. It is definitely not the light of the sun or any other star or celestial object for it gives LIFE to everything that exists in the world. Sun is essential to the life of the world, but it also can have devastating effect on the creatures – burns, cancer, fires... Therefore, the light of John 1 is Jesus – what John will illuminate even more in John 8 to 10.

Similarly, the mystical presence of the Word dwells among us – the word dwell here meaning the presence of God among His people only. No one, nothing can dwell in the world in the same way. Therefore, saying that the Word became flesh and dwelt creates a beautiful theological paradox for an Ancient mind, as well as a mind of a modern skeptic. How come transcendent God can be limited to the flesh of a human man? Paradox, it can only be resolved in Jesus Christ who is both God and man (cp. Creed).

Reception of the He. The whole purpose of John's Gospel is to show that Jesus is the Son of God, and believing in Him people can have eternal life. It should be received (John 1:12). But when one receives – that means that there is a Giver on the other end. We do not search for God (even when psychological picture looks like this), He is who reaches out for and to us. Jesus came to save the world (for us, John 3:16), and He comes in the Word and the Sacraments that everyone of us can have life [eternal] (to us, John 10:10). 

PSALM 27

Psalm 27

 

This psalm is written by David [most likely] during the time of persecution. The First king of Israel Saul was chasing after young David. It is also possible that the psalm came to light during the rebellion of his son Absalom (we talked about it when studying Psalm 3). 

 

David presents the LORD as (1) the light and (2) salvation

(1) Light has two main functions:

   a. gives light for the surrounding area – like a chandelier or a floor lamp

We can walk around safely – v.5-6

LORD hid David in the day of trouble – in His shelter, in His presence

   b. points to direction – like flashlight

v. 11 – teach me YOUR way, o LORD

and lead me to the level path (path that is not going up or down – very comfortable for travel)

(2) Salvation

Real troubles – enemies vv. 2-3,

Abandonment [by parents], v.10

Sins, v. 7-9 – He ends with salvation!

Conclusion:

The light and salvation of the LORD comes out of the goodness of His character – v. 13

Therefore, we should exercise patience and the inner strength of faith, v. 14  

LENT: EXODUS 10

 Lenten devotions: Exodus 10 

(please read the chapter before reading this devotion).

This chapter tells us about two “last” plagues. We are so used to thinking in terms of 10 plagues, but it can be “structured a little bit differently: 9+1. Nine ones that go from the lowest point – the water, to the highest point – sun. Step by step, plague by plague YHWH destroys all the divinity images Egyptians created so far. The last one, as we’ll discuss in our next devotion, is more into the ultimate power of the Living God or God of live.

So, the last out of nine is the three-day darkness. Before we as New Testament Christians jump on “three-day” wagon, we need to talk about the darkness. And, before we compare the Exodus darkness over the darkness of Calvary, let’s spend some time with the darkness we see over Egypt (pun intended).

At first, we hear the command of the LORD telling Moses to stretch his hands toward heaven, then the darkness will fall (Exodus 10:21). The very next verse though adds an adjective to describe the scenery – pitch darkness. Sages have commented on this as the darkness so thick that it could be cut with a knife. So thick…

SHINING NEW BEGINNING!

Shining New Beginning

Dear brothers and sisters!

2025 is here. January begins with the feast of Epiphany [technically, it begins with the Circumcision of Jesus on January 1st, but I’ll make my point]. Thinking about Epiphany, we celebrate the arrival of the wisemen to worship Jesus. They saw the star while they were East of Judea, they came to Jerusalem, for it is the city of the King, and to their surprise no one was expecting them. No one had even heard of the birth of the new King, Messianic ruler of the World. Herod was consumed with his own sense of power: he is known for murdering his own offspring for alleged conspiracy. He did not want any competition.  When we see him attempting to find out the time of Jesus birth, it obviously was not driven by pious reasons. We know how the story ends with him–special forces were commanded to go to Bethlehem and kill all babies under 2 years of age.

LET THERE BE LIGHT

LET THERE BE LIGHT

Everyone of us knows this verse from the very beginning of Creation account (Gen. 1:3). God provided illuminated His world. He spoke the light into the world - connecting forever the light and the word. No wonder psalmist exclaims: Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to path (Ps. 119:105). 

We are created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26). Therefore, the light has vital importance for us. Light in the house, lights on the road, industrial lights, or the huge light over a stadium where your favorite team plays and wins. 

Yet, there is a special place on earth where the forgiveness of God shines forth, where the Word is read, and Christ Himself comes to us illuminating our way - the local church chancel. We just got our lights fixed! Now, let it shine! Let it shine!! Let it shine!!!