6.25.20 - Logos Explained in John 1

The Son/ Word of God / Logos: Recall that the Greek ‘Logos’ signifies a word spoken, speech, eloquence, doctrine, reason, truth, logic, and wisdom. It was also used by both Greek and Hebrew philosophers to denote some kind of force (of God’s) that existed between God and the universe/between God and man. The original Greek Gospels use “Logos.” Our English translation uses Word, or Word of God, whom John has identified as Jesus Christ.

Here are the key opening lines in John 1:

In the beginning was the Word (Logos), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. It was through him that all things came into being, and without him nothing came to be. In him there was life, and that life was the light of men. And the light shines in darkness, a darkness which was not able to overcome it.

He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came unto his own, but his own accepted him not. But all those who did receive him, he empowered to become children of God, to them that believe in his name.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw his glory, the glory of which belongs to the Father’s only-begotten Son, full of grace and truth.”

- John 1:1, 3-5, 10-14

Let’s review each of these.

Q: What is the meaning of the first verse: In the beginning was the Word (Logos), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

A: Assuming we know Jesus is the Word/Son of God, which is shown later in Verses 13-14, this verse tells us three things. It tells us that:

1) The first phrase says that the Word/Jesus was present in the beginning of time; which means he was not created. It means He is eternal like God the Father.

Also note Gen1:1 (In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth…”). John is paralleling Genesis intentionally not only because Jesus was there, but also because the Gospel writers allude to Genesis several times to call attention to Jesus Christ’s arrival 2000 years ago as a “new creation” for man.

2) Jesus was with God – they were together, which means he and God are separate beings or persons.

3) The third phrase then says Jesus “was God,” which means that, besides being separate, Jesus and God are also one being (God). This eliminates the idea that they are separate beings, but retains the idea that are separate persons in God.

Q: What is the meaning of: It was through him that all things came into being, and without him nothing came to be.

A: it means that Jesus was not just present from the beginning, he was central to creation. Therefore, between God the Father, who is pure being and existence, and the Creation/the Universe, we have Logos (the Word/Jesus) who acts kind of like the Architect and Master Builder all in one.

Aristotle defines four causes for all things and, although he uses this for explaining the physical universe, it could apply to the spiritual realm also.

If it is helpful to think in these terms, then perhaps God the Father is #1 and Logos is #2, the “Efficient Cause.”

It should be stated that there is no higher definition of omnipotence than Creation.

If Logos/The Word is the Interface (so to speak) between God and Creation (us), this adds new meaning to Jesus’ statement in John 14:6: “I am the way… no man comes to the Father except through me.”

Q: What is the meaning of: In him there was life, and that life was the light of men. And the light shines in darkness, a darkness which was not able to overcome it.

A: After creation, the next order of business is… what? Life! All living things. However, there are also qualities of life. When Jesus talks about giving us life in abundance, he is talking about the life that is eternal, not temporary.

Light… After life comes higher life, wherein the spiritual knowledge and truth of God may be recognized and understood by that life. It is to these higher beings that Jesus can become the Word of God truly. As the Mind and Wisdom of God, Jesus becomes our ultimate spiritual instructor.

Darkness – refers to Man who is blind to the light and hope of God; it refers to the Fall of Man and those humans who choose to remain there because they have made themselves, or the world, their god.

But the darkness is unable to overcome the light. This is darn “Good News.” It means God has found a way to throw humanity a life raft, even if they did nothing to deserve it. Logos/ Jesus is the Light who has been sent into the darkness.

Q: What is the meaning of: He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came unto his own, but his own accepted him not.

A: He came into the world via the Holy Spirit and Mary – the Incarnation of the Logos into Jesus Christ.

The world did not know him. It is ironic that the One who created the world is not recognized by the very creatures who were created by him.

Why didn’t they know him? For starters, because he came incognito; and by that I mean humbly. He did not come in a kingly way, which would have been the standard of this world. In fact, everything he did – being born a nobody, into a poor family, into an occupied country, and then spending his time with outcasts and those who would be categorized as having the least hope – is God telling humanity that real greatness comes from humility and servanthood.

He came to his own – The Jews, the “chosen ones.”

They did not accept him. He was not what they expected, and his message turned everything that was important to them upside down. Everything about his message (love, mercy, faith) came across to those in power as too threatening or destabilizing (to their positions or hold on power). His answer – to trust God – was simply not safe or comfortable enough for them to trust him. No doubt there were many in positions of power who were already corrupt, and they simply could not “hear” Jesus. Some could (i.e., Matthew). For many, the cost of following Jesus was simply too high.

Q: Meaning of: But all those who did receive him, he gave power to become children of God...

A: To those who believe in his name (which means living in a relationship of love with God and all others), he gives the Holy Spirit and a bridge to the Trinity.

Q: Meaning of: And the Logos/Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…

A: Logos becomes Jesus Christ.

We closed with a Logos Prayer…

Lord Jesus Christ – Logos and Mind of the Father, intermediator between the Creator and the created, the spiritual and physical, and God and man – how can we possibly thank you for emptying yourself of your pure Godhood to become one of us; to walk in our shoes; to teach us/show us personally; to suffer like us – nay, to suffer because of us; and, just when evil thought it had won, your love and forgiveness to the end defeated the finality of evil and reversed the fall of man. In doing so, you showed us, once again, how the Father allows humans free-will but then helps us turn suffering and adversity into something good; for by standing on the threshold of human death, you became a new doorway for the human race – a doorway accessible to us by the same humility, love, forgiveness, and freedom by which it was created; the freedom to enter into a relationship with you that supersedes our relationship to this world.

To aid the weakness of our will, you left us your grace-filled, Trinitarian sustenance in the Eucharist and sent us our own, personal Trinitarian assistant – the Holy Spirit – to keep us from losing our way.

We thank you beyond our words and continue to pray for your wisdom, strength, and guidance all the days of our lives.

Amen.