From the Beginning
John 1
The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.
Translation of John 1. 1-14,
based on Erasmus’ (16th century biblical scholar)
translation of logos not as word but as conversation.
It all arose out of a conversation,
conversation within God, in fact the
conversation was God. So, God started the
discussion, and everything came out of this,
and nothing happened without consultation.
This was the life, life that was the light of men,
shining in the darkness, a darkness which
neither understood nor quenched its creativity.
John, a man sent by God, came to remind
people about the nature of the light so that
they would observe. He was not the subject
under discussion, but the bearer of an
invitation to join in.
The subject of the conversation, the original
light, came into the world, the world that had
arisen out of his willingness to converse. He
fleshed out the words but the world did not
understand. He came to those who knew the
language, but they did not respond. Those
who did became a new creation (his children),
they read the signs and responded.
These children were born out of sharing in
the creative activity of God. They heard the
conversation still going on, here, now, and
took part, discovering a new way of being people.
To be invited to share in a conversation
about the nature of life, was for them, a glorious
opportunity not to be missed.
How Big is our God?
- From before anything
- at least as big as the universe
Lessons from John's Prologue
- Jesus is the revelation of God
- "if you have seen me then you have seen the father"
- the revelation isn't altogether obvious
- the elite rejected him
- the peculiar and marginalized accepted him
- there is continuity between Creation and Revelation
- Jesus enters the world
- not to pull believers out of it...
- redeems the world
- doesn't condemn the world
the Word to build a life on
- God is a living conversation
- holiness is participation not perfection
- love suffers
- invitation to join the conversation
“Holiness is not a moral achievement. It is union with the divine flow.”
- Richard Rohr
C.S. Lewis put it this way:
“He is the self-expression of the Father—what the Father has to say.
And there was never a time when He was not saying it.”
Almighty vs. All-vulnerable
- Behold the lamb of God
- self-emptying love
- Power is Powerlessness
- 1 Corinthians 1:18
- 2 Corinthians 12:9
- Philippians 2:6-11
God is Love.
God wants to give God's self away to us...
Entering the conversation will initiate a call to love in you.
Self-emptying love changes everything.
Athanasius (Early Church Father)
"The word was made flesh in order that flesh might be made Divine."
Questions to Consider
- Have you ever sensed the presence of Jesus speaking through the Spirit?
- How do you recognize the voice of the Spirit pointing you toward truth?
- In what ways has the Spirit helped you understand more about who God is?
- Have you ever felt the Spirit drawing you closer to the heart of the Father?
- Do you experience the Trinity as a relationship, not just a doctrine?
- What does it feel like when the Spirit glorifies Christ in your life?
- How has your view of the Holy Spirit changed over time?
- When you pray, do you imagine addressing the Father, the Son, or the Spirit—or all three?
- Are there moments when you’ve sensed the Spirit giving you words or wisdom beyond yourself?
- How do you make space to listen to the Spirit in your daily life?
- How can you intentionally enter the Divine conversation today?
Liturgies
Pentecost Prayer
May we live like your Spirit is alive in us,
even when we feel powerless or afraid.
May we be more moved by holy fire than held back by fear.
Let courage rise in us, like wind through a banquet hall.
And may we carry your Spirit, not as a secret,
but as a living flame that ignites love, truth,
and holy disruption
everywhere we go.
Amen
Resurrection Prayer:
May we live like resurrection is real,
even in the places that still feel like death.
May we be more surprised by hope than overcome by despair.
Let joy find us, like morning light breaking through clouds.
And may we carry your rising, Jesus, not as a trophy,
but as a burning truth that changes everything.
Amen
Wayfinders Family Blessing
Gracious God,
We gather before You as a family, grateful for Your loving presence with us.
Bless our children:
Guide them in Your truth and lead them in Your ways.
Help them to walk in faithfulness, seeking Your will in all that they do.
May Your Spirit empower them to love one another deeply,
to forgive as You have, and to extend grace and mercy to all.
May the lessons they learn and the stories they share grow their love for you.
Help them to know how deeply loved they are by you and this church.
In Jesus' name we pray,
Amen.
