John's Gospel

7 May 2017

It is arguable that John was the most profound writer that ever lived. Of the four gospels the Gospel of John stands by itself as the most unique. This is the one that gives us a glimpse into the heart of Christ. More than any other book John shares with us the intimate relationship of Jesus with the Father. And John chapter one is mind boggling with deep truth expressed with few words. I used to wonder why John began his gospel by saying, “In the beginning was the Word”. Obviously he is talking about Jesus, but why doesn't he come out and say so? But with those short five words he has told us more about Jesus than shelves full of books.

Why is Jesus called the Word of God? Words may be the most profound, powerful vehicle known to man. Words are a unique vehicle. Words are the only means of communicating, or imparting, something inside of one persons heart to another.

Information is one of the most valuable treasures we have. Information can tell us where to find gold, it can tell us how to do things, it can explain mysteries. Information is the key to unlocking innumerable varieties of subjects. But the only way that information can be transmitted is by means of words. If there is something in one persons heart that he wants to communicate, or impart, to another the only mode of doing this is by the vehicle of words..

But there are many many different types of words. There is the spoken word. There is the written word. Signs language, talking with your hands are words. Diagrams, blue prints, or drawings are words. Maps are words. Pictures are words. Models are words. Actions tell stories that are hard to deny. If we want to teach someone how to do things, being an example is the best teacher. Let them follow you. We have body language. Sometimes silence speaks louder than shouting. Pain speaks a very clear message. All these are different types of words that we use to communicate information. But the best mode of communication is to show them the real object. If I was trying to tell somebody what my son was like I could do it use various means of communication but the best way would be to introduce them to my son and say, “This is my son”.

Hebrews 1:1 tells us that in ancient times God spoke to the fathers by various means. He spoke to them by the prophets. He gave them His Book. He spoke to them by nature, by friends and enemies. God spoke to His people by many various means – “but in these last days He has spoken unto us by His Son” (Heb. 1:2). It has been said that all God wanted to communicate to humanity He has placed in Christ. It is literally true that all we can know about God has been expressed in Christ. Phillip said to Jesus, “Show us the Father and we will be satisfied” (Jn. 14:8). Jesus replied, “Phillip, have I been with you so long and you have not known Me. He that has seen Me has seen the Father” (Jn. 14:9). Oh my goodness, what a statement! That is why Jesus is called, “the Word of God”. The Living Word is God's ultimate and highest mode of communication. Words are the most important tool in any tool box. It is by the Living Word that God has communicate to us the most important message that He want us to know.

There are three different types of the Word of God. Rhema is the spoken Word. Rhema can only be heard. Logos is the written Word of God. Logos can be written, read, studied, memorized, and taught. The Bible is the Logos of God. You can do none of this with rhema. Rhema can only be heard. When rhema is converted from what you hear to distinct words it becomes logos. Thirdly we have the Living Word of God – Jesus. Jesus is God's highest message to humanity.

I first heard of the doctrine of “the power of the spoken word” in an excellent message by Jack Taylor in 1973. I thought, “Man howdy, this is an important message”. But over the years I decided that really doesn't stand up. Then I heard it again in 1978, at the Haggie Iverson conference in Karuizawa. Haggie had a very strong message that “God created His world by His mouth and so do we create our world by our mouth”. Haggie had some incredible illustrations and he brought a lady with him to share her testimony. After listening to Haggie I thought, “There is something to this message”. Years later I have come to a half and half position. I believe there is much truth in what Jack Taylor and Haggie Iverson taught but I am not sure it is an infallible principle.

Last week I believe the Lord shared an important truth with me. I was thinking about the statement in John 1:4 in connection with the Word and Life. Jesus is the Word. In 1:4 John goes on to explain to us that “In Him was Life”. It is true that all God wanted to share with us He has done so in Christ and Jesus is God's Word. In that Word (Jesus) was Life. How is that Life transmitted to us? It is only by the Word. When we receive the Word and it takes root in our heart, we have His Life. I believe this is universally true. There are many different ways of getting saved but ultimately it is when we hear, understand, and believe the Gospel that the Life of Christ enters into our heart. Salvation is not something abstract. Forgiveness may be abstract, but salvation is Jesus. Salvation is Jesus living in our heart. How does Jesus get in our heart? When we hear and believe His Word, Life (Jesus) comes into our heart. This is how God imparts His Life to us. It is by His Word.

Paul picks up, and emphases, this truth in his argument for evangelism in Romans 10. Romans 10 is known as the Roman Road. It is used by many in soul winning in showing people how to get saved. Romans 10:9 is one of the most basic verses in

scripture where it tell us, “If we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus Christ, and believe with our heart that God has raised Him from the dead we shall be saved” It is an incontestable fact that the only way to get saved is by believing with our heart. When we believe Jesus comes in. But how can we believe if we don't hear?

Gomen nasai, I am sorry I have done a very poor job in explaining this to you. There is so much truth and material in this subject that I have not been able to sort it out to present it in a clearer manner. The subject that the Lord spoke to me about was that Jesus was God's Word and in Him was (is) Life. The connection between the Word and Life is clear.

But I believe there is also a principle that goes beyond the theological implications. In a more general manner I believe words hold in them the power of life and death. Nineteen years ago a message was communicated to me that was absolutely lethal. It caused something inside me to die. I felt exactly like a woman who was pregnant with a dead baby inside. For six months I felt like I was carrying something dead inside me. And then there have been times when I felt like a dead man and a message came that was like a massive shot of life.

There is no question but what words are tremendously powerful. They are the means of transmitting something from one person to another. Jesus was God's Word to us and it is through Him that we have life. Oh thank God, thank God, thank God for Jesus! Oh hallelujah He has given us life.

How great is our debt of gratitude, bill