Scripture: John 1:1-18 (NIV) – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  There was a man sent from God whose name was John.  He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.  He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.  The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.  He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.  The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John testified concerning him.  He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”)  Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.  For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.”

Message:  When I first chose this Scripture for Lent, the way it reflects the first chapter of Genesis, caused me to question, “Does it belong to Advent, or to Lent?”  I think it’s appropriate to either.

“Word” is used many times in the Bible.  I always thought it was to emphasize that God was speaking to us through the Holy Spirit.  But John’s use in his Prologue means something deeper to me.

In John’s Prologue, “Word” paints a picture of Jesus that is beyond our comprehension.  The original Greek meaning for “Word” is “Logos” referring to divine wisdom, principle, or reason.  To the ancient Greeks, everything had a “Logos”, even the universe.  Logos is something that underlies the spoken word.  If we recognize the Logos of something, then we can live in harmony with it.

So, for Jesus it wasn’t just about following the “Law”, but He made it deeply personal, as in: “Follow Me”; “Love Me”; “Be Like Me”.  These are the bases of how we should relate to, and interact with, God which require our whole being.  God desires us to have a loving relationship with Him in a meaningful way, like children do.  Jesus speaks about children frequently in the Bible, because He saw them as a representation of innocence, trust and faith; these qualities are essential for entering the Kingdom of God.  God valued their pure receptiveness to His Love, without the burdens of worldly concerns.  We are called to become like children.  

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me step beyond the study of Your Word, to truly feel Your presence in me through Your Spirit.  Help me to practice “Logos” in a loving relationship with You with childlike innocence.  Guide me to extend these feelings to my brothers and sisters in our community.  Let me be like this, not just through Lent, but for the years ahead, becoming a new creation in Your image.  Thank You Lord.  Amen.

Jim McElhose