Understanding the “Word”

I wonder how many people still have one or two of these old mixed tapes laying around? I can still remember taking hours of time to make some great compilations of my favorite songs on this now forgotten media. There was something to be said about having access to all your favorite songs in on place. Generally speaking, mixed tapes recorded a specific style or genre of music, one might have had a mix tape for different times and places.

The book of John contains a compilation or collection of verses that follow a specific theme. In the second to last chapter of John we read this statement: “But these (the events and evidence of Jesus’ power and authority) are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (20:31) John begins his book by writing about who Jesus is in relationship to his Father, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” (1:1) The expression “Word” John uses here refers to Jesus Christ. This sets the stage for what John writes in verse 1:19, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us”. (1:14) Coupled together, these verses give us a clear picture of the meaning of Jesus’ incarnation. Christ’s divine-human nature reveals the love God has for us. Taking on our human nature meant a certain death, a death that was necessary to save the lives of many.

Recorded over and over throughout scripture is the call to believe in Jesus, to have faith and trust in God. Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection are the cornerstones to our faith. Jesus no longer walks among us in the flesh, it is by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit in our lives that we can live and learn to see Him as active and alive. We may not have walked with Jesus like his disciples did, and at times we may feel far removed from the experience of the signs and wonders they witnessed, but I know that God is alive and active here and now. Like the mixed tape, the book of John and other books in the Bible record only a portion of What Jesus did (see verse 20:30). The God-inspired written word (the Bible) is our guide to knowing and loving Him. We need to take the time to listen and allow the words of God to settle into our hearts and minds today.