My excitement – nerdy in a way of course – was that a TV reality show showed not just a cross, but used scripture as a clue. The Amazing Race is such a joy to watch – I get to travel to places that I would never be able to get to – and see cultural elements which are embraced as traditional even vintage to the place. In this episode, in Bulgaria, the racers were to decipher a clue from a highly ornate book – ancient text in fancy language – with a cipher. The racers had to flip the cipher over to find the english words – many teams were racing at the same time to understand. No one knew to turn the device over. And when they did – then “OH!” – the words of the Word spilled out and spelled out into a clear Heaven-sent message: “In the Beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.“

WOW!!!

WOW for the Word and WOW for the Word on TV and WOW for the deciphering of the cipher – and especially WOW for the WORD to decipher itself! That is the truth – the Word came to be understood – and yet that in itself has been the stumbling block to many. The scripture from this TV episode is a puzzle revealed, it recounts a truth that came with “clues” too. Remember that John, the disciple Jesus loved, was writing a gospel of wisdom when he was in his 90’s – the only disciple not to be martyred and to live a very long time teaching. John, in this first chapter of his gospel, was laying down the answers to the “clues” yet to be discovered by future generations. Well, the big puzzle of that moment in time, recounted in the bible gospels was one that confused and intrigued so many, the clues that prophesy spoke of and unveiled by the Spirit. It may have seemed like a puzzle to those yet to witness Jesus in the flesh AND to have experienced Him as God. So, when John the Baptist (verses in chapter 1 of John’s gospel) showed to be a prophet to “prepare the way” for Jesus, we can now read that he himself was prophesied about, as a voice in the wilderness. Yes the clues kept ruling in for those who could decipher with open minds, souls and spirits. John the Baptist said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord,” ’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” And John the Baptist experienced Jesus as a man and as God. John did this by understanding the moving of the Spirit and THEN saw the descending of the spirit upon the whole scene. Talk about a big response to unlocking the biggest clue!

These “clues” in the Word – the scriptures of prophecy – were also the WORD too, as Jesus IS the Word. Unfortunately so many did not understand, as John the disciple recounted: “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him”  

John the disciple wrote about John the Baptist who bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”

How blessed FOR US to have received these words and the Word and the HOLY SPIRIT clue solving: to the open ears and eyes which might be able to say “AH – HA !!!!!” and then “AMEN”. Blessed are those who will come to understand Jesus as the Word, as God, as the One to come and the One who came. 

Let us continue leaving open book clues to let Jesus be known. And for them to be known as “children of God”… One could say that we were born to be His.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

AMEN !!!

—

John 1:1-34 NKJV

The Eternal Word
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John’s Witness: The True Light
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

The Word Becomes Flesh
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ”

And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

A Voice in the Wilderness
Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”  And he answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord,” ’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.” These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

The Lamb of God
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.”

And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”