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 drama in two acts - This lesson
includes a mini drama-perhaps the world’s most abridged drama-in two parts. In vs.
10-11 we have the "The Drama of Rejection." Logos enters the time and space
world that is the result of the logos’ creativity (lit. "his own things");
more specifically, the enfleshed Word comes to his own specific humanity grouping (Jewish
people or Israel), more broadly the very humanity who came into being through the Word,
but with the same rejection. But in vs. 12-13 the writer presents a salvific drama: to
those who did believe in this Logos, they received the "power"/"right"
to new life.
nib - John 1 evokes the wonder of creation, the gift of life, the
power of the Word, and celebrates the mystery of revelation that transcends conventional
limits of time and space . . . The Fourth Evangelist claims for himself and his community
the wonder and mystery of the incarnation. The concluding section is neither neutral nor
objective, but confesses, "We have seen his glory." [1]
power of words - According to Borsch, this lesson is packed with
double entendre and deliberate misunderstandings to advance its themes. As he says,
"This lesson is a reminder of what the writer apparently knew quite well: words are
powerful. They have nuances and figurative as well as more literal meanings. They are even
worth fighting over, especially if one wants to convey theological meaning." [2]
 [3] Why might this gospel writer
haven decided to begin "in the beginning" rather than at Jesus’ birth?
What does John’s emphasis on the pre-existent, creative Christ mean to you?
What do we learn about the Logos in verses 1-5? Verses 10-18?
 homily on this passage
- See Thomas G. Long’s excellent homily on this passage entitled, "We Interrupt
This Service." [4]
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[1] New Interpreter’s Bible IX (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1995), page 525.
[2] John Paul Heil in New Proclamation 2002 (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2002), p. 271.
[3] Serendipity Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing Co., 1998), page 354.
[4] In Shepherds and Bathrobes (Lima, Ohio: C.S.S. Publishing Co., 1987), pp. 52-58.
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