WORD

(I want to start by apologizing for the total lack of paragraphs.) I'm finding John 17:14-19 interesting in that the "word" given by Jesus may mean something other than what we easily think of. I just am not so sure we are correct in jumping to the conclusion Jesus meant "Scripture" as we traditionally think. Perhaps in our rush to think "Scripture" as we know it we miss what other possibilities there are as to His meaning. Scripture, as we know it, did not exist. What might He have meant then? John's opening words in writing his gospel offers a strong clue, a different perspective behind the meaning of Jesus' use of "word". The Word became flesh. John 1:1-14 is quite emphatic about this, it really is a theme that runs through and ties the gospel together. The context, the point in time captured by John in his retelling of Jesus' prayer seems important. Who had received the strongest rebuke from Jesus during His years of ministry? It was not the obvious sinners but the religious intelligencia who had turned knowing God into a long list of rules and regulations that were endlessly debated. It became a heavy yoke never intended by Father and a way to acquire and keep power and status in a theistic society. Jesus incarnation and ministry was not about showing a better way to do what already was being done. It was the real way to live in communion with Triune God. The curtain would be torn. Word became flesh with ALL the implications of relationship. If one reads this last recorded prayer of Jesus with eyes, hears and heart opened by the Counselor, it is stunning what He is saying. He gave us Father's word - himself. We are in Him, He is in us. the love Father has for the Son, a love that was and is before the creation of the world is in us, in me. John 17:22 says we have been given Jesus' glory, glory given because Abba loved Jesus before the world was created; it transcends time and is ours to live in. Having written this, I can only conclude the word He spoke of was Himself. He revealed the Father and we are sanctified not by Scripture but by Jesus, the Word that became flesh. This is important. Scripture as we know it, is not an end in itself but is the means to the end, Jesus. So when we remember, "Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin," the fulfillment is Jesus in us, us in Jesus. The key to dealing with sin is what Jesus did, and again, we are in Jesus. We are complete, whole and blameless. Although sin still is part of our mortality, it is not the over-riding factor we we make it to be. Jesus is. Living in intimacy with Him is our hope, our glory. Life is no longer about how to manage sin better but rather how to love Jesus more and letting Abba's love reign within. It is out of that reality that we stand complete in Christ when we are tempted, when we do fail. He does not abandon, He does not leave us as orphans and I don't believe He turns away. He is with us, even when we stumble, fall or wander off as a lost sheep. We can know the word (Jesus) if we listen for His voice. He is in us. He is in us. He is in us.