This week I begin two new group studies, one that includes the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy and a second less formal one using the book of John. “Cherry picking” taught me more than I’d anticipated. It was hard to pick fruit based on a word search without forcing the issue. The Message passage from Matthew is still going to be my guide. Instead of a word, these four questions will be my jumpstarters to read and ponder for Wednesday posts from John and Sunday posts from those Old Testament books.
- What’s the general theme of the passage?
- What does it say about God [or Jesus or the Holy Spirit]?
- What does it say about people?
- Is there truth here for me?
Excerpts from John 1:1-18 RSV
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God; 3 all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 4 In him was life [Or was not anything made. That which has been made was life in him], and the life was the light of men…14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father…17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.
This is the beginning of the relationship between God, Jesus and us. “In the beginning was [God], and the Word [Jesus] was with God. God was first! God did not create Himself and Jesus was not a product of God’s creation. “And the Word [Jesus] was God.” God offered Himself as God-man so we might see “In him was life, and the life [of His own perfect image, Jesus] was the light of men” that darkness could not overcome.
John’s witness is to show us we are like those people he speaks of; often content to NOT know more, because we think we already know. That’s the darkness Jesus has come to shed His light on. The good news is “but to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God.”
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.” The truth is the “light” we beheld is now the light held within usa because Jesus has become part of our flesh.
“No one has ever seen God;
the only Son, who is in the bosom [heart] of the Father.”
“He has made him known” to us.
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