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| JOHN |
| God Breaks the Silence |
| He spoke in the only way we could truly understand. |
| The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. 1:14 |
| Unless a person communicates to you, in speech or gestures or even facial expressions, you can't get to know him or her. What goes on behind the mask of skin will always remain a mystery. God, too, was a mystery until he broke his silence. He spoke once, and all creation sprang to life - quasars, oceans, whales, giraffes, orchids, and beetles. He spoke again, says John, and this time the Word took the form of a man, Jesus Christ. John's book tells the story of that Word who became flesh. Different from Other Gospels It's clear from the first few paragraphs that John broke sharply from the style of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The other Gospel writers focused on events, following Jesus through the bustling marketplaces and villages. Unlike them, John assumed readers knew the basic facts about Jesus. Instead of focusing on facts, he mulled over the profound meaning of what Jesus had said and done. The book of John reads af it were written under a great, shady tree by an author who had lots of time for reflection. In his first sentence, John highlights Christ's nature. There are no Christmas scenes here: no stables, shepherds, or wise men. John tells nothing of Jesus' birth and youth. He introduces him as the adult Son of God. After an eloquent prologue, the book shows John the Baptist humbly ponting to Jesus, "the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie" (1:27). Jesus Sent with a Mission John selected vignettes from no more than 20 days in Jesus' |