The Word Made Flesh: Spoken, Not Written

Text: Luke 4:14-22

Friends, today we contemplate a powerful paradox: Jesus, the Word made flesh, came to us in the fullness of time, a master teacher, yet he left us no written word of his own. 

Think of it. Jesus, the son of a carpenter, grew up in a world where literacy was a rare and precious skill.  He, undoubtedly, could read. The passage before us – his reading from Isaiah in the Nazareth synagogue – provides undeniable proof of that. He knew the scriptures intimately, could quote them with authority, and used them to illuminate the profound truths of God's kingdom. 

Yet, in all his years of public ministry, of healing the sick, feeding the hungry, challenging the powerful, and proclaiming the good news, Jesus never once picked up a pen and wrote down a single line of his own teachings. No letters, no treatises, no gospels penned by his own hand. 

This silence is profound. It challenges us to grapple with the very nature of truth, of revelation, and of the human encounter with the divine. 

Some may argue that the Gospels, with their carefully crafted narratives and profound theological insights, capture the essence of Jesus' message. They are, after all, the foundation of our faith. But let us be honest: these are not verbatim transcripts. They are the retellings, the interpretations, the remembered words of those who walked with Jesus, who heard his voice, and who sought to preserve his legacy for generations to come. 

And therein lies the challenge. How can we be certain that we fully understand the nuances of Jesus' teachings? How can we be sure that our interpretations, however sincere, do not reflect the biases and limitations of those who first recorded them? 

This is not to diminish the importance of the Gospels. They are precious gifts, windows into the life and ministry of Jesus. But they are windows, not photographs. They offer perspectives, not definitive pronouncements.

As Progressive Christians, we embrace this challenge. We recognize that faith is not a matter of blind adherence to a fixed set of doctrines, but an ongoing journey of seeking truth, guided by reason, informed by Scripture, and inspired by the Holy Spirit. 

We use our God-given intellect to critically examine the texts, to grapple with their complexities, and to discern the core message of Jesus' teachings. We strive to understand the historical and cultural context in which those teachings were given, and to apply them meaningfully to the challenges of our own time.

And above all, we remember Jesus' central message: love God with all your heart, mind, and soul, and love your neighbour as yourself. This is the foundation upon which all else rests. 

Any interpretation of Jesus' teachings that contradicts this fundamental principle of love – any claim that elevates fear over compassion, division over unity, or condemnation over grace – must be viewed with deep suspicion. 

For Jesus, the Word made flesh, came not to condemn the world, but to save it. He came to bring good news to the poor, release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind. He came to proclaim a message of radical love, of inclusion, of justice and peace. 

Let us, then, strive to live into that message. Let us use our God-given gifts of reason and compassion to discern the truth, to challenge injustice, and to build a world that reflects the love of God. 

For in the end, it is not about reciting creeds or adhering to rigid doctrines – however helpful they may be as statements from which to start on the journey of faith. It is about living lives that embody the spirit of Jesus – lives characterized by love, compassion, and a relentless pursuit of justice for all. 

Amen.