The Gospel of John commences in a very particular way. In
the beginning was the Word.. The WORD – LOGOS was familiar to both Greek and
Jew. The former – Logos meant the ultimate impersonal entity which was at the
heart of all coherence in the Cosmos. For Jews; Logos referred to the Word of
the Living, personal Lord by which He had created the Cosmos and continues to
sustain it. Word with God… Word was God…. Word became flesh. This announcement
would/could stop conversation .. even before any discussion about Resurrection.
The Word is identified with a man – Jesus – whose story John is going to tell
us. Note John did not write “and the
Word was written down” Here at the conclusion of the Gospel Thomas acknowledges
Word to be God. In other words the Gospel of John is not some disparate
collection of sayings about some figure from the past. This is a narrative that
commences and is brought to a conclusion. Note also the reference in the first
chapter that ‘we beheld his glory … Not what we understand by glory. Washing peoples’ feet, healing the sick,
* I want proof …
certitude. Fair request … fair demand. Both in the reading from Acts and here in
John Witness is fundamental. AND it is beyond witness to a set of propositions
it is witness to a Relationship. Which in the end is far more binding as it
certain as it encompasses the whole person. Propositions can so often simply be
an academic exercise. I noted that John writes “The Word became Flesh” NOT “The
Word was written down” In Islam and in Mormonism Word came in one direction –
and Muhammed / John Smith wrote it down. No argument, no relationship, no
answer back. From the start the Bible is a call to relationship. In Genesis –
“Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness;
and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the
air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over
every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’
So God created humankind in
his image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and
female he created them.”
* Continuing with
demand for proof…. Thomas is invited to put his finger in the nail holes
etc. Jesus was no figment of imagination
and despite noise to the contrary the resurrection of Jesus was not what the
disciples were expecting and wanted desperately to have Jesus back with them.
He was crucified by the Romans – people
who were efficient in executing people. Resurrection was understood by
Jews and it meant a return of the body. Not a mirage or ethereal spirit.
* Resurrection
NOT a metaphor for going to heaven. It is as the New Testament teaches the
introduction to the New Creation. So that whether we live or die we belong to
the NEW. As Christ was raised from the dead … the first fruits of His victory
those who belong to Him will also be raised. BUT in the meantime we are to live
by the Spirit within and demonstrating what this New Creation is. Hence in a
very serious way is the Sermon on the Mount and The Beautitudes. These words
are NOT aspirational they are Description of this New Creation.
Death is no longer the last enemy … the final control that a tyrant has.
If Jesus is Lord then Caesar is NOT Lord. Nor is Democracy, nor Communism nor
any other ism.
