John 1 - Selected Verses
"And the Word became flesh and lived among
us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full
of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, 'This was he
of whom I said, "He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he
was before me."') From his fullness we have all received, grace upon
grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through
Jesus Christ." (1:14-17)
1:14a The Word became flesh and lived among
us. Glorious
mystery again: That God should become human! Imagine if a shoemaker would
become a shoe! The Greek word translated "lived" more literally
says "pitched his tent" or "tabernacled," which invites
us to ponder all the biblical passages about God's glory descending upon
the Israelites' tabernacle in the wilderness to signify his presence among
them. Compare Rev. 21:3, which extends the hope that someday we will know
God again as intimately, face to face, as the disciples did being with Jesus.
How can we learn to live that hope more deeply now?
1:14b-17 his glory ... full of grace and
truth. Three
of the cords from John's webbing (see Introduction) here converge. Though
the word grace occurs only in 1:14 and 16-17, this theme underlies
the entire Gospel. "Glory" and "truth" both occur in
many contexts; each time the words invite us to notice connections, to expand
our understanding
of how God's glory is revealed and of how his truth undergirds all of life,
and to learn skills for recognizing untruthful glories in order to become
more devoted to the only glorious truth. Reflect on how the truth of God's
Word enables us to sort and judge all the other truths the world offers.
How does seeing more of the fullness of God's glory form us for deeper discipleship?
"No one has ever seen God. It is God the
only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known." (1:18)
1:18 No one has ever seen God. The theme that the Son makes the Father known
is fleshed out throughout John. As we constantly ponder each Gospel segment,
what do we learn about God from what Jesus does and says, from how he treats
people, from his humanity and divinity together? What difference will each
insight make in how we respond to our own life situations?
"This is the testimony given by John when
the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, 'Who are you?'" (1:19)
1:19 This is the testimony. John 1-2 presents a series
of short, positive interchanges with various members of Jesus' new "crew." Notice
that these first disciples are on a voyage of discovery, as indicated by
the escalation in experiences and by the names with which they speak of or
to Jesus. John hints at this growing awareness of who Jesus is by his notation
of seven days (see 1:19, 29, 35, 43, and 2:1), culminating in the first "sign" and
the disciples' full belief. How has our own understanding of Jesus grown
since we first met him? The awareness that people are at various stages
of comprehension frees us to be agents drawing them ever towards new visions
and names that lead to belief.
"He confessed and did not deny it, but
confessed, 'I am not the Messiah.' And they asked him, 'What then? Are
you Elijah?' He said, 'I am not.' 'Are
you the prophet?' He answered, 'No.'" (1:20-21)
1:20-21 I am not the Messiah. Perhaps we all sometimes fall into the
trap of thinking that we're the Messiah. What can foster the sort of
humility we need to let God work through us instead?
"Then they said to him, 'Who are you? Let
us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?'" (1:22)
1:22 (19, 24) Who are you? These verses give the first hint of opposition
to those who testify to Jesus. How does John demonstrate the power
of humility and truth-telling to free us from our fear of enemies?
"They asked him, 'Why then are you baptizing
if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?' John answered
them, 'I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming
after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.'" (1:25-27)
1:25-27 I am not worthy. Still today people wonder what right Christians
have to do what we do or say what we say if we're not big shots.
What opportunities does God give us simply to point to Jesus? (See
also 1:29-34.)
 
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E-newsletter Archive
March/April 2005
