1. The whole Jesus thing

2. The whole Jesus thing: Who is he? (What we believe.)

3. John 1:1-5 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Word = logos The universe is in constant change and there is an underling order or reason to this change - the “Logos." The Logos is beyond human comprehension, even though it is the controlling factor in all things. Men have no experience of the Logos that they might understand it. (www.wsu.edu/~dee/GREECE/HERAC.HTM)

4. John 1:1-5 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Word = logos When the beginning happened, the Word/logos already was. (This means that the Word/logos was “before” time.) The Word/logos existed/s equally with God. There is no dependence upon God for his being. (No order implication.) The Word/logos is in fact fully God but is not all that there is to God. (Father / Son / Holy Spirit)

5. John 1:1-5 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The relational aspect of the Word/logos with God is stressed.

6. John 1:1-5 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Word/logos is the Origin and Originator of all that is. Colossians 1:16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. This is not mainstream thinking... (See Psalm 2)

7. John 1:1-5 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Word/logos is the Source of life, the essence of what it is to be about. Without light, we die in utter ignorance. Colossians 1:17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

8. John 1:1-5 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Word/logos is the full revelation of God, the Origin and Originator. Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. “image” ~ icon/idol “firstborn” ~ title of absolute authority over a father’s domain.

9. John 1:1-5 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A problem is revealed. Darkness is unable to deal with the Word/logos. Why Not?

10. John 1:1-5 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A problem is revealed. Darkness is unable to deal with the Word/logos. Why Not? The Word/logos was supposed to be our source of life and being.

11. The Word/logos was supposed to be our source of life and being. We developed cognition problem. (Closed minds don’t think.) John 1:1-5 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A problem is revealed. Darkness is unable to deal with the Word/logos. Why Not?

12. The Word/logos was supposed to be our source of life and being. We developed cognition problem. (Closed minds don’t think.) 2 Corinthians 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “blinded” ~ to make dull. Jading can do this very well A problem is revealed. Darkness is unable to deal with the Word/logos. Why Not?

13. John 1:10-11 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A problem is revealed. Darkness is unable to deal with the Word/logos. Why Not? The Word/logos was supposed to be our source of life and being. We developed cognition problem. (Closed minds don’t think.) We developed a vision problem. (Closed eyes don’t see well.) The idea here is a willful mental action to not try to comprehend.

14. John 1:10-11 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A problem is revealed. Darkness is unable to deal with the Word/logos. Why Not? The Word/logos was supposed to be our source of life and being. We developed cognition problem. (Closed minds don’t think.) We developed a vision problem. (Closed eyes don’t see well.) We developed an ego problem. (I’ll do it my way.) Slamming the door.

15. The Word/logos was supposed to be our source of life and being. We developed cognition problem. (Closed minds don’t think.) We developed a vision problem. (Closed eyes don’t see well.) We developed an ego problem. (I’ll do it my way.)

16. The Word/logos is the light that we need. But we take comfort in our darkness.

17. But we take comfort in our darkness. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. pride

18. John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (takes up and carries away) But we take in our darkness. pride