Day 2
You text your 18-year-old son: Can you pick up some coffee creamer on your way home?
He instantly replies: Bet
You hope that means “Yes, I’m happy to pick up some coffee creamer” but worry that he won’t buy the brand you prefer so you text: Please get Chobani’s Oatmilk Salted Caramel Creamer. It is like manna from heaven.
He instantly replies: Word
What in the world? Is he confused about one of the words in my text? Is he agreeing that Chobani’s Salted Caramel Creamer is the best creamer on the market today? Or is he simply acknowledging that he has received my request and will get it done? And why doesn’t he use punctuation? That would at least give me a clue as to what “word” means!
According to the Urban Dictionary, “Word” is a versatile slang term, originating from 1970s/80s hip-hop culture, used primarily to signify agreement, acknowledgement, or approval. Similar to “true,” “exactly,” or “I hear you,” “word” acts as a quick, often casual response to confirm understanding, show disbelief when followed by a question mark, or express that a statement is “cool.”
In our first reading from John’s gospel today, we are introduced to “The Word.” We’ll need to look at context clues to figure out what or who “The Word” is.
Read John 1:1-18
“Word.” What do I mean when I say that following hearing or reading a passage like John 1:1-18? And honestly, that’s not how I usually respond to the hearing of God’s Word. I might say, “Speak it!” or “Preach!” but the meaning is the same. I’m affirming, agreeing with what I’ve heard. I’ve received and engaged with it and want more. You may be familiar with the phrases “The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.” This liturgical call and response has been a part of many denominations’ practice following the reading of scripture in the Sunday gathering. The response “Thanks be to God” in Latin: Deo gratias is rooted in 1 Corinthians 15:57 “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” and serves as an affirmation that the congregation has heard, received, and believes the scripture read.
The lyrics of verse one from our Lenten hymn, “What a Wonderful Name,” poetically proclaim:
You were the Word at the beginning
One with God the Lord Most High
Your hidden glory in creation
Now revealed in You our Christ
John’s gospel opens by presenting Jesus as God’s Word, echoing Genesis where God creates the world through speech. Genesis 1:1 proclaims, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” How did the Triune God create? He spoke it into existence! He said, “Let there be light, let there be an expanse between the waters, let the waters swarm with living living creatures and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.” (Gen 1:3, 6,and 20) After creation fell into chaos through human disobedience, the world needed renewal. So God spoke again—but this time, his Word took human form as Jesus.
John’s prologue mirrors Genesis 1, as he connects the Word that spoke everything into existence, beginning with light to pierce through the darkness and followed by speaking life into all of creation. That same Word, who was with God and was God “became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (v 14) The same Word who is the Creator came to earth, condescended and took on our humanity, displaying the fullness of God’s glory, His presence, in human form. His cousin, John the Baptist, confirms Jesus’ eternal existence when he describes Him as “The one coming after me ranks ahead of me, because He existed before me.” (v 15)
Grace Upon Grace From His Fullness
John then writes, “Indeed we have all received grace upon grace from His fullness.” (v 16) The Amplified Bible illustrates this concept beautifully, “For out of His fullness [the superabundance of His grace and truth] we have all received grace upon grace [spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favor, and gift heaped upon gift].” (v 16) When I read “the superabundance of His grace and truth” during my study of this passage, I experienced a kind of Holy Spirit drenching. I felt some measure of what the Word really carries—the fullness of Christ. Why did this fullness have such an impact on me—and why is it still in this moment affecting me? I believe it is in large part because the One from whose fullness I am being drenched with grace is the Word that was with God and was God. Christ’s fullness is the fullness of God—a divine and infinite fullness, impossible to deplete. His fullness is an accessible fullness - He became flesh and dwelt among us! His fullness is glorious, mediated to me not just from God but through God. He didn’t send an angel but His only Son to deliver His fullness. Lastly, this fullness is soaked in grace and truth, spiritual blessing that will not drown but fill me to overflowing, based on the solid-rock truth of God’s promise of redemption becoming reality.
For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ, and you have been filled by him, who is the head over every ruler and authority. Colossians 2:9-10
Word.
Big Picture Questions for Today:
Consider how you respond to the hearing of God’s Word. Are you responding in a way that demonstrates you agree and want to hear more?
Specifically name some of the graces or spiritual blessings you have received through Jesus’ fullness. Take some time today to allow yourself to be drenched in this superabundance of grace, truth and presence.
Pray and thank God for choosing to express His great love for us by becoming flesh and dwelling among us. Jesus, we are overwhelmed by your willingness to show us, to reveal to us, the glory of God. Give us courage to sit in that superabundance today.
