Creation
Evolving into Fullness
Thursday, January 29, 2015
The prologue to John’s Gospel is not talking about Jesus; it’s talking about Christ, which, as I’ve shared in previous meditations, is a much older and more inclusive statement. So, instead of using the Greek word “Logos” as John does, I’m going to use the word “blueprint,” because it really has the same meaning but is not so mysterious. Logos is his way of pointing to the inner blueprint, the inner pattern and template for reality. Now re-read the text:
“In the beginning was the blueprint. The blueprint was with God. The blueprint was God.” The inner reality of God was about to become manifest in the outer material world. “And all things came to be through this inner plan. Nothing came to be except through this blueprint and plan. All that came to be had life in him.” Now it’s become personalized: “him.” The great universal mystery that has been since the beginning of time now becomes specific in the body and person of Jesus. The blueprint has become personified and visible. “And that life was the light of humanity. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it” (John 1:1-5).
“This blueprint was the True Light that enlightens all human beings that come into the world” (1:9). So the True Light, or what I’m going to call “Consciousness,” precedes and connects and feeds all of our smaller lights. “He was in the world that had its very being through him. But the world did not know him” (1:10). Exactly! We have not much understood Jesus’ cosmic significance or the meaning of the “Body of Christ” and what many psychologists would rightly call “the collective unconsciousness.” This blueprint had largely been operating unconsciously. It is just too much for human consciousness to absorb or believe. Yet God seems to be very patient, very humble, and always outpouring.
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” or in my paraphrase, “The blueprint materialized and became visible. We have seen his glory, full of grace and truth…. From his fullness, we have all received, grace upon grace” (John 1:14, 16). The Greek word John uses for “fullness” is pleroma. Paul uses the very same word in several places and clearly teaches that “You have a share in this fullness” (Colossians 2:9) and even “You are filled with the utter fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19). Talk about inherent dignity and empowerment! You can chew on that for the rest of your life. Most Christians never have.
Gateway to Silence:
Bring creation to fullness.
Reference:
Adapted from Christ, Cosmology, and Consciousness (MP3 download)
