September 14, 2024 - John 1-4

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made” (1:1-3).  Each of the Gospel writers seem to have his own emphasis when writing about Jesus, though each, in his own way, connects the Messiah with what has gone before.  Matthew is intent on showing that Jesus is the son of David, the promised king.  Mark begins by quoting the Isaiah passage, which foretells the preparatory ministry of John.  Like Matthew, in quoting the prophet early in his writing, Mark is linking Jesus to the plan of God, rooted and carried out in history, to send the Messiah. Luke carries Jesus’ genealogy all the way back to Adam:  “Son of Adam, son of God.”  John connects Jesus to the past, but not with a genealogy.  In fact, it is more accurate to say that John does not so much connect Jesus to his human descendants; rather, John establishes Jesus’ eternal credentials right up front.

Jesus, his incarnation and ministry, and the gospel, are no last minute decisions on the part of God the Father.  God is not acting on a sudden whim.  From the beginning, preparations were made for Jesus’ coming, and now he has come, as Matthew puts it, “into the world to save his people from their sins” (Matt 1:22).  As John the Baptist put it:  “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (1:29).

Jesus, Thou joy of loving hearts,

Thou fount of life, Thou light of men,

from the best bliss that earth imparts,

we turn unfilled to Thee again.

Thy truth unchanged hath ever stood;

Thou savest those that on Thee call;

to them that seek Thee, Thou art good,

to them that find Thee all in all.   -- Bernard of Clairvaux (~1160)