Not A Word, THE Word

Spirituality Column #109
December 9, 2008
Current in Carmel (IN) newspaper
Current in Westfield (IN) newspaper

Not A Word, THE Word
By Bob Walters

And the Word became flesh … John 1:14

When Jesus spoke, people listened.

Some were enraptured, many were enraged. Some believed, and many were incredulous. Some followed, some shunned, and some attacked.

Yet, they listened. His words were unlike anything heard in the history of mankind. His words talked of truth, light, life and eternity. They described a God of love and good, not wrath and power. Christ’s words spoke not of earthly goals for survival, but of a divine plan for salvation.

Jesus spoke, with human words, of His eternal Father and of His oneness with the Spirit of Life. He talked of humility and service. He revealed not only God but a new covenant of faith. He became flesh – a man – not only to save a needy world from death and sin, but also to call mankind to share in the divine glory of God.

It was radical stuff in the world of Jewish Law and Roman Rule 2,000 years ago. It is radical for all time.

Even in this day and age of instant, global, personal, mass communication, we too often dwell on the Bible’s words (Greek: rema), and miss the actual Word of God (Greek: Logos), Jesus Christ.

The Bible is the immutable word (small “w”) of God. Amen. I love the Bible, and even if you don’t love or even believe the Bible, you should read it: it’ll make you smarter. The Bible isn’t so much a rule book, a science book, or even a history or literature book. It is a relationship book; it describes God’s relationship with mankind.

And the key, top, No.1 component of that relationship is God’s Word (capital “W”), and that divine Word is the incarnate Christ Jesus, not the Bible.

This brings us back to John 1:14. The Bible presents good words, yes, but they are manmade words even as they express a Godly idea. Christ joining humanity (i.e., becoming flesh) brought to us the Word: a relationship with the Creator God, the Father Almighty. This is not something we could do on our own, and it is an action manmade words could never accomplish.

Read the Bible, go to Church, love your neighbor, take care of your family, and tend to your business, but don’t worship them. Worship God, and His Word.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) is making a point about the true meaning of Christmas. This is the second of a four-part series.