The 40-Day Feast: Feast on God's WordSample

Come right in. Pull up a chair. Our first course is already on the table. We’re looking at two Greek words today so that we can apply the right one to our reading. As you reread today's verses, notice the repetition of “the Word.” In verses 1 and 14 alone, “the Word” is mentioned four times.

In English, we have one word for the term word. However, in Greek, there are two words—­rhēma and logos—­and each has a slightly different meaning.1 Rhēma typically refers to a specific spoken statement. For example, when the angel appeared to Mary and told her that she would conceive and give birth to God’s Son, Mary responded, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word [rhēma]” (Luke 1:38 ESV). But rhēma is not the word John used to refer to Jesus in John 1.

Instead, the word that is repeated four times in this short passage is logos. Logos doesn’t refer to a short statement, but a complete message. Therefore, we might better understand the meaning of “the Word” in our passage of study by reading the verses this way: “In the beginning was [the complete message of God], and [the complete message] was with God, and [the complete message] was God. . . . [That complete message of God] became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”

God put flesh on His message and then sent it to us in the form of a Messenger so that we might hear the message, see the message, touch the message, and receive the complete message. Ultimately, there’s nothing more important to God than us getting this message.

Incredible.

When Jesus came to earth, fulfilling the word [rhēma] spoken by the angel of God to Mary, the complete message of God [logos] took human form in her womb. For thirty years, Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and favor with God and humans (Luke 2:52). But finally, in Luke 4, we find the full-­grown Messenger, ready to share the complete message that He was born to bring. The chapter begins with Jesus being led by the Holy Spirit out into the desert to be tempted by the devil for forty days. During that time Satan attempted to distract Jesus from His calling, but Jesus fought back by speaking verses from the Torah. The Word was wielding the Word. The Word made flesh used the written Word like a sword to battle back the Enemy.

What a thrill! When Jesus was creating the world, He was referred to as “the Word” (John 1:1). When He came to earth the first time, He was called “the Word made flesh” (John 1:14). And when He returns again, He will be known as “the Word of God” (Rev. 19:13).

Jesus, You are, You will be, and You always have been, “the Word of God.” You are the complete message of God—­with skin on. Tender my heart to You as I read Your Word. Jesus, Logos, it is in Your name I pray, Amen.