ADVENT BLOG Named by God - WORD

“In the beginning was the Word, and then Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

(John 1:1)

What do you see when you look at the picture above - a duck or a rabbit?  Some might see one image, others quite a different one.  What do you see when you look at Jesus - a man or God?  In these reflections we have thought about Jesus in quite different ways bringing together a paradox of faith which is that he is both fully human and fully God - a carpenter from Nazareth and the Messiah hailed by many who welcomed him to their towns and villages, homes and hearts.  This verse brings it to life for us.

John starts his Gospel in quite a different way and doesn’t even mention the name of Jesus until the seventeenth verse but, it becomes clear in the context of the Gospel narrative that he is talking about him.  Right at the very start he makes clear the nature of the relationship between Jesus and God.  There is no mention of the birth here because he wants to confront people with the reality that although Jesus was born as a baby in Bethlehem, the same Jesus has been there from the very beginning of time.  He is emphasising the deity of Jesus so that the readers are in no way mistaken about who he is.  He wants us to welcome Jesus as that friend and also stand in awe of him who brings to life the reality of God which in itself makes even more powerful what God has done in sending his son into the life of the world and each of our lives.

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”

(John 1:14)

Everything of God was squeezed into that baby born in an out of the way place that our lives might be filled with the good things that God has in store for those who put their trust in him.

What do you see when you look at Jesus in light of these two verses?  What does it mean to you know that the one who created the universe, the world and our lives has pitched his tent in your midst?

Who would think that what was needed to transform and save the earth
Might not be a plan or army, proud in purpose, proved in worth?
Who would think, despite derision, that a child should lead the way?
God surprises earth with heaven, coming here on Christmas Day.

AMEN.