The Word of God (Part Two)

The second hidden gem in John’s introduction is what he means by calling Jesus “the Word”.  An idea is a powerful concept.  Words and ideas can inspire people, create movements, change the world.  But an idea is hidden until it is expressed, either in word or deed.  E. Stanley Jones suggested in his book “Christ of the Mount” that Jesus, the incarnation of God, is the human expression of God in the same way that a spoken word is the expression of an idea.  If we want to know what God is like in terms we can understand, look carefully at Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection.  Look at what he said, what he did, how he treated people.  He was humble yet strong.  Poor but kingly.  Loving but challenging.   

The phrase “What Would Jesus Do?” swept through American churches and inspired a 2011 movie, created the bracelet fad (WWJD) and spawned many websites that have a well-intentioned mix of Jesus’ sayings taken out of context and usually coming across as judgmental and even hateful toward the down-trodden and outcast.

In his earthly life, Jesus was both loving and judgmental.  But who was he loving to except the down-trodden and the outcast.  Who was he judgmental to?  The proud and the religious elite who had forgotten to be loving and merciful.  I am not saying we should not tell the truth about sin and its consequences.  The consequence of sin is death: separation from one another and from God.  If I am honest with myself, assuming I have been forgiven (and I hope I have been forgiving!), I have sinned and continue to sin at an astonishing pace.  We all will rely on His Grace.  If I have any hope at all in Jesus, how can I possibly judge whether someone else should not?