Pastor’s Column 12/11/2022

PASTOR’S COLUMN

“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God…The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone.” ​      John 1:1-2;4, NLT

3rd Sunday in Advent: “Living Word!”

In acknowledging the coming of Jesus as Messiah, The Gospel of John takes us behind the curtain of human history, to creation. No genealogy is given, because the Son of God was with God the Father from the beginning. John introduces us to Jesus as “the Word.” In the Hebrew and Greek languages, Word has a distinct and profound meaning. For the Greeks, the Logos, or Word, was the highest expression for life, thought, and meaning. In the Hebrewcontext, the davar, or Word, is the “divine order” God has given us to assure life. The Word is the guide and rule of life. Jesus, our Messiah, is our guide. The prophet Haggai declares, He is the “Desire of all nations;” or, “The hope of all people.” Before the manager, shepherds, wise-men, and angels, Jesus existed. The Word became flesh, and made His residence with the human family! The Jewish culture to which Jesus was born, reminds us of how important is the concept of Word. The scrolls upon which the word of God is written is handled with great care. In fact, Jewish religious leaders will tell you that the scrolls contain the embodiment of a living person. I was once stopped in traffic near our residence, by a small funeral procession. It consisted of ahearse; a lead car; and a car following the hearse, with a Rabbi and a cantor. The tiny procession was escorted by a local police cruiser.I learned later it was a burial for some damaged scrolls. Once the scrolls are bruised, they are buried. The words remain alive in the hearts of believers. Our Word, the Messiah-Jesus, lives; reigns;and rules in our hearts. He too was bruise d and buried, but rose on the third day. Advent is a reminder, that He’s alive and iscoming again!