Strange title I know, but as I turned the pages of scripture this morning, now early into John's Gospel, my mind seemed unwilling to simply read over the English term, "Word."
Logos (λόγος) is the original Greek, finally settled upon in the KJV translation, with evidence of its use as far back as 536 B.C. by Heraclitus.
Apparently there had been quite a struggle among translators, even up until Martin Luther's day, when attempting to settle upon a term that fully captured God's ultimate means of communication...becoming flesh!
Though Creation screams of the majesty of God, we apparently needed a God with skin on him. Burning bushes and stone tablets left too much margin for religious error.
Logos is often paired up with two other words in order to capture the full gamut of rhetoric. Ethos and pathos are necessary as well, implying both credibility for the one speaking, as well a felt passion around the rational word being communicated (the logos).
I think God was successful, given that after 2000 years, even those most skeptical won't deny the love personified in the man Jesus, and the powerful impact of Christianity (warts and all) over time.
Even repeated attempts to silence the Name across continents, some now preferring Current Era, as means of escape from that reality that even time took a break with Anno Domini, A.D. "in the year of the Lord".
As I delved into the first few verses of the Gospel of John this morning, I sensed a powerfully loving desire from this BEING, the "Word," who went so far as to become flesh" knowing the cost, if rejected. Yes, the One who is life and light, the One who calls me friend, who had always been dwelling around us, then in 33 A.D. physically dwelling among us, soon rejected by us, yet now by grace, spiritually dwelling in us!
What a love story!
Yes, the same sea-parting YHWH of Moses, and before that, the light that rushed across the then forming galaxies, would care to dwell among us. Yet, darkness and relatively speaking, we are that, "comprehended it not."
But for those willing to recieve it, "to them gave he power to become the sons of God."
Think of that!
The writer John goes on to describe one such "son of God," the other John, the baptizer, whom the religious Pharisees, priests and Levites had been sent out to question, given his apparent impact and large following.
To paraphrase, they sere asking "Are you the One you keep speaking of and if not, perhaps Elijah resurrected?"
Ressurection was a part of their belief system, but John must have been creating quite a ruckus on the shores in "Bethabara beyond the Jordan" to draw them out of the Temple and into the wilderness. Still yet, that they were suspect that he might be their well revered Elijah!
Would there were those among us today of such influence!
John quickly deflects any spiritual accolades, but seizes the moment to declare that the "One is among them" but they lack the discernment of spirit to recognize him. He never seemed to cut others slack, eventually it would cost him his head!
I often wonder, given all the reformation moments of history, to include Azusa Street, the Charismatic Renewal, stadiums filled by Promise Keepers, etc. why so few of us professing to be the "sons of God" draw such minimal attention in our towns, let alone troubling the spirits such that the demonic cry out in our presence, or occasionally the dead raised!
By the way, that does still occur, as I was told by a friend while visiting in Ethiopia, her husband had witnessed 5 physical resurrections. No, she was not talking medical resuscitation, as I too asked that same question.
As I age, I am less and less moved by the rhetoric of men alone having seen a few miracles myself. As well, witnessing personal interventions beyond my own belief. My brain even rewired, but the most unbelievable, a car passing through our own in a head-on collision...(ask my wife).
So, like Simeon, I long for the next great awakening, one I am certain is now brewing among upcoming generations, those I find more than ever open to "The Word who became flesh" but less likely to be attacted to institutional religion. Such were the days of John The Baptist.
May it be so again, though perhaps by new means and a new movement!
Maranatha!