When you want to begin a discussion based on the “red letters”, where is the best place to start?
At the beginning of course? No Seriously,
In this discussion, I want to start with the writings of John.
For starters, lets put a few things in context.
All four Gospels begin by placing Jesus within a historical setting, but the Gospel of John is unique in the way it opens. The Book of Matthew begins with the genealogy of Jesus that connects Him to David and Abraham. Mark starts with the preaching of John the Baptist. Luke has a dedication of his work to Theophilus and follows that with a prediction of the birth of John the Baptist. But John begins with a theological prologue. It is almost as if John had said, “I want you to consider Jesus in His teaching and deeds. But you will not understand the good news of Jesus in its fullest sense unless you view Him from this point of view. Jesus is God manifest in the flesh, and His words and deeds are those of the God-Man.”[1] (The Bible Knowledge Commentary)
John begins his writing as claiming the deity of Jesus. Basically, John is stating that if you cannot deal with Jesus as God, you can’t really deal with Jesus.
This is a major sticking point for most of the world 2000 years ago and for most of the world today.
Is Jesus God? Do I believe it? What proof is there?
If that proclamation was being made to day, what questions would we ask to prove or disprove such a claim?
How does that impact the rest of these writings by John? Is it possible to understand any of John’s writings using any other lens than Jesus deity?
One of the things that I find really fascinating is the parallel between the beginning of John’s writing and the beginning of the Torah (Genesis)
Genesis 1:1-3 The Beginning
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth wasa formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
And God said, He said. Think about that for a second.
Now, looking forward in to the text of John 1:1-2
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. [3]
So, In the beginning, God said. How do you say, you speak words, who is “The Word”?
So, does this mean God spoke Jesus into existence? Or is Jesus the manifestation of God as spoken, “revealed” word?
There is some really interesting implications to this idea.
Do we think of creation as an extension of God or separate from God?
Let me wrap it up by saying this, if we are going to study the Red Letters, we have define what the red letters really mean. Is Jesus God or just an interesting history lesson?
You will have to decide that for yourself.
[1]Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (2:271). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
a Or possibly became
[2]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Ge 1:1-3). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
[3]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (Jn 1:1-2). Grand Rapids: Zondervan
