Park Street Church

What would it be like for God to move into our neighborhoods and workplaces? Is our world too far gone, too full of darkness? John says the God of Creation became one of us and lived among us, declaring emphatically that He had not given up on the world He had created and cared for. In this poem or early church hymn, John affirms God had not given up on his created world and its people, but rather was speaking to them in a new and different way from anything the Jews or Greeks had experienced so far.

John was introducing his contemporaries into a new way of thinking. The Word of God (‘dabar’ in Hebrew and ‘logos’ in Greek) had been experienced in several different ways until now. The Hebrews knew the Word was connected with God’s powerful activity at creation (Gen 1:3ff), with revelation to Moses and the various prophets, and deliverance against impossible odds. The Hebrews knew God’s word to be purposeful, powerful, and personal, as He sustained what He created. The Word or Logos for the Greeks was the universal principle by which all existed. God was a spirit to them, but not a person. John says Jesus was God’s divine self-expression and will go on to show what this looked like in daily life as He lived, worked, and interacted with a variety of people. This was not just giving God’s word to a man like Moses or even to John the Baptizer, but this was the Creator God Himself moving into the neighborhood, fleshing out His Word.

Light and darkness were common themes in both Greek and Hebrew writings of the day. John said the contemporary darkness of the world politically, socially, or religiously had not caused the Creator-God to give up on His world or its people. The light could not be put out (John 1:5) because Jesus Himself was the Light. No person is outside His loving pursuit because He put a soul with a capacity for light in every human being.

As you are asking God to make the light of His will clear to you in any area of your life, it is a good idea to start by reading and reflecting on His written word as you seek His living words of light and life. He is eager to be our teacher and our Light. This Advent season, may he speak to you in a new and different way from anything you’ve experienced so far.

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by Ginny Viola. Ginny is an elder at Park Street Church and participates in PSC Connect. {email Ginny}

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