John 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
On Wednesday, the 6th of January, we will celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany. Epiphany is a Greek word meaning “manifestation,” so the church celebration we call Epiphany is about the manifestation of God through Jesus. The most common reading used for today is that of the visit of the three Wise Men or Magi — a manifestation to other nations.
But the story of the Magi is not the only scripture reading assigned to this day – the one I’ve quoted from above, the prologue to John’s gospel, is also a common reading for Epiphany, because it, too, is about God’s manifestation through Jesus. While the other three gospels get a rotation through the lectionary readings John’s gospel is used only at special occasions so we don’t hear much from John, which is too bad because it has some of the most beautiful language in all the gospels, and the Jesus it describes is awe inspiring.
We’ve talked before about the fact that John’s gospel is different from the other three gospels – and nowhere is it more different than in it’s image of who and what Jesus is. In the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus is indeed the Son of God, but above all else, Jesus is a man – a human person just like us. He is so much an ordinary human that it takes quite awhile in those gospels before anyone begins to see him as anything any different from any other man — special, maybe, but still a man.
The Jesus we meet in John’s gospel is, right from the very start, right from the opening words, Divine. One who chooses – for a while – to take on human flesh. For the author of John’s gospel, there is no hesitation. John’s gospel is the story of the Christ — God the Son. And it is the story of God revealing – manifesting – God’s self through the Christ, the Messiah, the Chosen One, God made flesh. This Jesus is the Light – the true Light that is in the world – and he is an enlightening light for all who will let it be such.
This is the meaning of John’s gospel and it’s revelation of Christ – It records a struggle between those who will acknowledge Jesus as the revealer of God, and those who will not. This struggle goes on until the end of time. Where do you stand in this struggle? Are we content with the darkness, because it is at least a darkness we are familiar with? Or are we willing to stand in the Light, to walk in the Light, to act in the Light – and bring the Light to the world around us?
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness will not overcome it.
Thanks be to God.
But the story of the Magi is not the only scripture reading assigned to this day – the one I’ve quoted from above, the prologue to John’s gospel, is also a common reading for Epiphany, because it, too, is about God’s manifestation through Jesus. While the other three gospels get a rotation through the lectionary readings John’s gospel is used only at special occasions so we don’t hear much from John, which is too bad because it has some of the most beautiful language in all the gospels, and the Jesus it describes is awe inspiring.
We’ve talked before about the fact that John’s gospel is different from the other three gospels – and nowhere is it more different than in it’s image of who and what Jesus is. In the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus is indeed the Son of God, but above all else, Jesus is a man – a human person just like us. He is so much an ordinary human that it takes quite awhile in those gospels before anyone begins to see him as anything any different from any other man — special, maybe, but still a man.
The Jesus we meet in John’s gospel is, right from the very start, right from the opening words, Divine. One who chooses – for a while – to take on human flesh. For the author of John’s gospel, there is no hesitation. John’s gospel is the story of the Christ — God the Son. And it is the story of God revealing – manifesting – God’s self through the Christ, the Messiah, the Chosen One, God made flesh. This Jesus is the Light – the true Light that is in the world – and he is an enlightening light for all who will let it be such.
This is the meaning of John’s gospel and it’s revelation of Christ – It records a struggle between those who will acknowledge Jesus as the revealer of God, and those who will not. This struggle goes on until the end of time. Where do you stand in this struggle? Are we content with the darkness, because it is at least a darkness we are familiar with? Or are we willing to stand in the Light, to walk in the Light, to act in the Light – and bring the Light to the world around us?
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness will not overcome it.
Thanks be to God.
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