THE SPOKEN WORD
John’s gospel begins with the familiar words, ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God’(John 1:1). To know he is speaking of Jesus we jump down to v 14, ‘and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory as of the only begotten of the Father.’
I wonder if you have ever struggled to understand this description of Jesus? I certainly have. I love words, I love reading them, writing them and the beauty words can portray when used creatively. How does this relate to Jesus? The Greek meaning of ‘word’ here isn’t so much the written word but the spoken word, ‘logos’. It is the expression of a thought. It makes much more sense to describe Jesus in this way, as the spoken, outward expression of God’s thoughts.
Scripture tells us that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12 : 34). God had so much in His heart that He wanted to express to mankind – of His love, joy, truth, holiness, grace and mercy. So He sent us His spoken message in the person of Christ. In effect Jesus was the embodiment of all that God wanted to say to us. How beautiful is that!
THE CREATIVE WORD
But there is more. John 1 : 2-4 tell us that Jesus was there in eternity with God and through Him all creation happened (Colossians 1:16). We know that God spoke creation into being, it was in His heart, but speaking the words had the power to bring what was in His heart to life. In and through Jesus, God speaks the desire of His heart, to bring life, eternal life, life in abundance. He is ‘The Word of Life ‘(1 John 1: 1). Pictured on a white horse in the book of Revelation, the all victorious one, Jesus is given the name ‘The Word of God’ (Revelation 19 : 13). He shed His blood and wears the victors crown to purchase life for us; ‘In Him was life’ (John 1: 4), and in Him IS life.
‘I believe that God speaks all the time to us, brother, but often our hearts are closed to hearing Him. Perhaps you have consciously opened your heart towards God more as you have journeyed on this pilgrimage, and so you have heard Him speak. Not in an audible voice, perhaps, but through the things you understand and relate to.’
‘So, I might hear God more from now on?’
‘I pray so, son. That’s why you are on this journey, after all. We are all on a journey closer to His heart. For you, it is treading the path of pilgrimage; for others, like me, it is serving Him in the everyday and doing the best with the life He has given us.’
‘How do you hear God speak, brother?’
‘Like you, sometimes in the things I am doing, just naturally; a thought comes to me that I believe is from Him. Other times He speaks to me through the wise words of others; sometimes through songs and liturgies, most often when reading and meditating on His word.’
THE PILGRIM
Joy Margetts is a published author and blogger. Her books are works of Christian Historical fiction. Set in medieval Wales against the backdrop of Cistercian abbey life, they tell stories of faith, hope and God’s redemptive power. Her debut novel ‘The Healing‘ was published by Instant Apostle on 19 March 2021. Joy has also self- published a short novella, ‘The Beloved‘ as both a companion to ‘The Healing‘, and as an easy to read standalone story, which is available to buy on Amazon Kindle.
‘The Pilgrim‘, her second full length novel, was published by Instant Apostle on 22 July 2022
More information on Joy, and her books can be found here www.joymargetts.com