Scripture Readings Leading to
Sunday December 17, 2006
John 1 The Meaning of Incarnation
Luke 22:39-46, 23:26-49 The Crucifixion
In the beginning; is how everything starts. The story of creation in Genesis starts this way as does the gospel of John. John was recalling the story of Genesis and wants us to consider Jesus Christ as a part of that creative process. In the beginning has a nice ring to it. It feels comfortable when I say it aloud. In the beginning.
But, What? In the beginning, what? This is our question. Our minds and hearts are open for this question which we struggle to place something into a category such as spiritual, physical, or even meta-physical. What was in the beginning and what was going on? Simply put, Christ was. Jesus Christ was in the beginning and Christ had it “going on.”
When questioned, I find most folks outside the church see Jesus as a nice guy, a good person, who did good things. They see little more. More disturbing to me, I find a growing number of folks inside the church, even some clergy types, who think of Christ as a good prophet or nice role model. When pushed they struggle to find a deeper more profound quality to the life of Christ. My guess is that this is not new, and certainly is the main reason John wrote these words to a young church in hostile world who did not know that Jesus was more than just another nice holy guy.
John is clear. Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah. Simply put, this nice guy Jesus is God. Yes fully human, but also fully God at the same time. And no place other than in the idea of who created, who kicked off this biggest of all universal bangs, does the idea of Jesus as God become more clear in our understanding. He was in the beginning. Jesus is the co-creator of the universe along with the Father and the Spirit. Wow. All of sudden everything comes into view and I find I am just a little closer to home.
Blessings, Dave Weesner
Sunday Worship
Scripture: John 1:1-18
Sermon Title: “The One”
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