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The Living Word
Sacred Rhythms - Part 2
Sunday, January 10, 2021
John 1:1-14, John 3:1-9, Hebrews 4:11-13, 2 Timothy 3:16-17
The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.John 1:14 (The Message)
Don’t be surprised that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’ God’s Spirit blows wherever it wishes. You hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. It’s the same with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
John 3:7-8
American folk writer Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, once said,
It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand.
He’s got a point. As Christians, we are well practiced at debating the most minute verses of scripture while completely missing the point of the whole story. We are quick to quote chapters and verses out of context to reinforce our argument or position on any number of issues which the Biblical writers knew or cared nothing about, while at the same time not even being aware of the surrounding context of that verse. We are quick to judge others for breaking some Old Testament law while we ourselves still can’t seem to figure out how to love our neighbors as ourselves or to forgive as God has forgiven us.
I once heard a seminary professor comment on a sermon he heard on half of a verse. “It was a wonderful sermon,” he said, “until I read the other half of the verse which completely undermined the preacher’s entire message.”
Consider one of the most quoted verses of scripture, for example - John 3:16.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
It’s a beautiful verse which is often used to proclaim the message of salvation by faith and convince someone of their need to "believe in Jesus” so they won’t “perish” (or “go to Hell”), but will have eternal life. In theory that sounds great, at least to believers. But too often this verse gets wrapped up into manipulating people into praying some magical prayer about believing in Jesus, not because they really believe or have any interest in following him as a disciple, but because they are afraid of going to hell.
Imagine what difference it would make if we added just one more verse - John 3:17
“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
All of the sudden this verse is so much less about eternal damnation and so much more about the incredible lengths God will go to so that we can know the infinite, unconditional love of our Savior. Just one verse changes the whole message. God doesn’t want us to repent of our sins to get out of some eternal punishment. God desires a loving relationship with everyone, a relationship that cannot thrive on a foundation of fear and condemnation.
John begins his gospel, his account of the Good News, with the declaration that the Word which spoke all of creation into existence from a formless void has now become flesh and dwells among us. God “moved into the neighborhood” as Eugene Peterson paraphrases it, so that we might know our creator personally and learn to live in the way of love which God intended for us (John 1:14).
Here’s the key. The word became FLESH, not TEXT.
We don’t just read Scripture in the context of surrounding verses or even the whole of the book. We also read and hear the Word in light of the life of Jesus himself, for he alone is the Living Word.
How might we read scripture differently if we understood it as a revelation of the Living Word rather than an ancient and often confusing text? What would it look like to put ourselves in the story of Scripture, that the Word might continue to take on new life in us.
That famous John 3:16 verse we mentioned earlier comes toward the end of a conversation Jesus is having with Nicodemus. Nicodemus is a well-educated Bible scholar who knows the sacred texts inside and out, far better than any of us will ever know. But he doesn’t yet know the Living Word. That is why Jesus says he must be “born again.” Interesting that Jesus does not take an opportunity here to lead Nicodemus in the “prayer of salvation.” I guess it would have been a little awkward for Nicodemus to day, “Lord Jesus, I believe you died for my sins,” when Jesus is sitting right in front of him, alive and well.
Nevertheless, this idea of being born again was never about a prayer, or about getting out of some eternal punishment for our sins. It’s about taking all of that “text” that Nicodemus learned in the flesh and allowing it to be born… that is, to become flesh, or rather, to take on his flesh, so that the Living Word, the way of Christ, might be embodied in all who follow him. In this way, the world will know how much God loves them… not because we can quote ancient verses, but because we love them as Christ loved us.
Spend some time with John 3:1-21 this week. Perhaps read only a few verses a day. Don’t rush. Don’t try to get in as many chapters as you can to check it off your list. It’s not about how much scripture you read or even how much you know. It’s about what you do with the scripture you do know.
Read slowly. Read small sections several times. Sit in silence and listen for the still small voice of the Spirit.
If you are able, consider reading aloud so you can hear the text. Many Bible apps such as You Version also have an option to listen to the scripture being read. Ask yourself a few questions as you listen or read…
What feelings or emotions is this word stirring in me?
Where does it resonate or intersect with my life right now?
Where am I most resisting or wrestling with this word?
What do my reactions tell me about my attitudes, perspectives, or patterns of behavior?
What is God’s invitation to me this week from this word?
These are just a few of the kinds of questions we must ask as we allow the Word to take on a life of it’s own not only in our minds, but in our hearts and souls. We must allow ourselves to fully enter into the Word so that the Word might fully enter into us, not to give us more information or knowledge about God, but so that we might be transformed more and more into the image of God revealed to us in Christ.
If you want to dig deeper into this kind of reading, I recommend the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, formally developed by St. Benedict in the 6th century. Here are a few resources to get you started.
A Simple Guide to Lectio Divina - https://www.discipleship.guide/lectiodivina
Resources for Digging Deeper - https://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/lectio-divina-contemplation/
Let us meditate on the Living Word of God day and night, that it may fill us with new life and lead us in the way of peace.
Listen to this week’s sermon here: