Christology Through Figures
After a period of extensive teaching, Jesus summarized His words with the statement: “I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. A time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures” (John 16:25). A reading of the Gospel of John reveals a number of such figures by which reference is made to Christ and His redemptive mission. The study of the person and work of Christ is referred to theologically as Christology. For a number of sessions, Theology 101 will choose some of those common figures of speech as an entranceway into thinking about Jesus.
The earliest installments of Theology 101 centered on the image of Christ as the Word: the living Word, the eternal Word, the distinctive Word, the divine Word, the incarnate Word and the proclaimed Word.
This week Theology 101 considers some of the other figures by which the Gospel of John conveys insights into Christology.
‘In the beginning’
Opening the Gospel of John, we find in its first verse a threefold use of Word as a figure that conveys truth about Christ: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Immediately we associate the idea of a word with human speech, whether spoken or written. What then does this biblical figure of Word reveal to us concerning Christ?
Christ came as the highest form of God’s communication with humanity. Previously, God had communicated with His people by signs and wonders. At a more articulate level, He had spoken through prophets for centuries.
In the fullness of time, God spoke through His incarnate Son, as stated in Hebrews 1:1–2: “Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son,” making Him the Living Word of the Living God.
Living likeness
Human words can be exaggerations that overstate the truth or lies that distort the truth. Words are nonetheless our best way of forming our inmost thoughts and of meaningful communication with others. Pictures, expressions and gestures can help, but words are more precise. Christ came as the precise and altogether accurate expression of God’s likeness and message.
If we would know God at the point of His highest self-revelation, we must know Christ the Living Word, both His ministry and His message.
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