Receive The Word

Who is the Word? Do we receive the Word? Does the Word live with us? Let’s look at Jesus’ pre-existence as God and how we receive Him in John 1:1-18.

Jesus is God

John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Before the Gospel of John was available in all churches, some thought that Jesus was a created being and not God. This Arian heresy is still believed today by some groups, notably the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Athanasius bishop of Alexandria in Egypt used our text today to counter this wrong idea.

Not having a complete New Testament meant parts of the puzzle were omitted. It’s simple enough to see in the very first verse of John that the word (Logos in Greek) was God, that through the Word (Jesus) all things were made. He was not created, but created all things.

Receive Him

John 1:6-13 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

We receive the word by listening. Faith comes from hearing the word (Romans 10:14-17). An ancient practice was to read the Bible aloud, because then it is also heard. Public reading of the Bible, making it clear and giving the meaning is also an ancient practice (Nehemiah 8:7-9).

When preachers avoid the Bible, especially the words of Jesus, the sheep cannot receive “the Word.” Why would we want to go to a church where the Word may be quoted in the Gospel text for the day every Sunday, then ignore him in our politics, business practices and marriages?

The Word Became Flesh

John 1:14-18 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ” 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

The word “dwelt” is “tabernacled.” Christmas, remembers the incarnation whereby the Word began to “tabernacle” in an earthly tent among us as He did in the first Tabernacle in the wilderness and looks forward to that time when the New Jerusalem descends to earth and God permanently dwells with us.

Jesus is the Word? If we skip too much church how can we hear and receive the Word? The Word wants to tabernacle with us. Someday heaven will descend to earth and He will live with us for all eternity.

New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Readings

Jeremiah 31:7-9

7 For thus says the Lord: “Sing with gladness for Jacob, And shout among the chief of the nations; Proclaim, give praise, and say, ‘O Lord, save Your people, The remnant of Israel!’ 8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country, And gather them from the ends of the earth, Among them the blind and the lame, The woman with child And the one who labors with child, together; A great throng shall return there. 9 They shall come with weeping, And with supplications I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, In a straight way in which they shall not stumble; For I am a Father to Israel, And Ephraim is My firstborn.