John 1:1-13
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 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. [1]
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What strikes me today about the familiar opening words of John’s Gospel is an incredible paradox that John presents about God. John begins describing the mystery of the Word who is God but distinct from God. The Word is clearly God in the highest, the creator, the source of life, the true light, and darkness cannot overcome it. So we start at the absolute height of divinity, true God above all.
But then we’re immediately presented with a much “lower” view of God. The world that was made through the Word doesn’t recognize Him and in fact refuses to receive Him. How can such a God – creator, life-giver, light-bringer – be resisted, let alone refused? Is He almighty or not?
This is the paradox. The Word is highest God, a unique divine being, the only one in the category “god.” And yet, the presence of this Word can be ignored and His desire for relationship can be resisted and refused.
It’s not that God is weak. It’s not that He is un-almighty. But rather this is how He has chosen to reveal Himself to His creation. In the garden, Adam and Eve were created with the freedom to refuse God. And so is true for all of us. God will never force a relationship. We see this throughout the Scriptures. God will be relentless in offering His love and inviting into His family. But it will not be forced. And it will not be compelled in an overwhelming display of divinity.
God wants a relationship with me that is real, genuine, authentic. A relationship that is family: children of God. The God of the universe, the high divinity of verse 1-5 wants me as His child. But He wants that relationship to be real. A willing heart that believes in His name.
Am I thinking about my relationship with God that way? Not just a worshiper of divinity, but real authentic relationship as a child of the Father?
So my prayer is one of thanksgiving that I am a child of God. That I have received Him. And so I pray that I live this day as a child of God, my life as an outgrowth of that relationship.
[1] The New International Version. 2011 (Jn 1:1–13). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
