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John 1:1-18
In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him, not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.
It started at the Orlando airport earlier this month. A flight from Orlando to Knoxville was canceled. Not delayed, but canceled. And the next flight available was two days away.
What do you do? Well, one of the passengers put a call out. She shouted that anyone who wanted to join in a van rental and make the 662-mile trip that night should follow her. Thirteen of them did.
So they went over the Hertz to rent a van, and while the paperwork was being completed, they did what any normal people would do in 2022. They made a TikTok about it and introduced themselves.[1]
My name’s Lexi, and I’m possibly going to miss my finals, but it’s fine.
I’m Robin and I’m here for my son’s custody battle.
I’m Q, and we’re stuck.
I’m, my name’s Seth and I got stuck here in Orlando after visiting some friends.
I’m Adolf, from Cancun Mexico, and I came here to Orlando to fly to Knoxville but our flight was canceled so we are renting a van and taking a trip together.
Hi, I’m Johan, I’m from Mexico.
Hi, I’m Amy, from Cozumel Mexico and I’m up here trying to get my friend who’s moving to Mexico and we’re trying to get back so we’re going to do cars, trucks, planes, and automobiles. We’re going to get ourselves where we gotta go, tonight.
Laura, Carlos, Mikaela. They canceled our flight, but you know, and he points to his shirt which says these words, “I never argue.” We’re trying to visit the University of Tennessee. Go Vols!
I’m the Farm Babe, from Florida, and I’m the keynote speaker in Knoxville on Tuesday so we’re going to go and I’m going to make my speech.
I’m Renee and I came for a good time.
Hi, my name is Kelly Young and we’re having a road trip to Knoxville for 10 hours can’t wait.
Big Shout Out to Hertz for Helping us out wish us luck!
Thirteen people who didn’t know each other, spent 10 hours in a van together.
The first TikTok wasn’t the last, of course, and then a newspaper followed up and asked them some questions.
Farm Babe, Michelle Miller said, “In the van, we shared what we do for a living and talked about our aspirations. Everyone was getting to know each other,” she said. “One of the passengers, Seth, was a minister, so he talked about religion and God for a little while. And a couple of the guys were farmers, going to the same conference that I was…If there was any music, it wasn’t on for more than 30 seconds.”
When they finally pulled into Knoxville around 8:30 a.m., everyone was exhausted but jubilant.
When asked about the reaction, the viral reaction,
People are hungry for goodness and were happy to see a feel-good story….We were grateful to have had the experience of being part of something that brought a lot of smiles to people,” she said. “We’re all different, but we had a great time.”
It’s not the first time this has happened, nor is it the last time it will happen, but it struck me that this is John 1, brought to life.
In the first chapter of John, the gospel takes the angels and the shepherds, the wise ones and the annunciations, and writes a poem about Jesus’ arrival.
Chuck Campbell writes:
Although John's prologue is theologically dense, it takes the form of poetic narrative, not intellectual analysis; it is the language of worship, rather than of systematic theology. The text is a hymn of praise, which creates the proper stance for reading the gospel narrative that follows. Containing some of the most sublime poetry in the New Testament, John's prologue reminds believers that the incarnation is not a problem to be solved, but a mystery to be engaged in and lived. … In a scientific, technological world that worships human explanation and management, John confronts us with God in Jesus Christ, who invites neither explanation nor management, but worship.[2]
A hymn of praise, the word made flesh, light in the darkness.
And a group of people coming together, united by humanity and grace, isn’t that the story?
In one sense it’s the stuff of movies. As we watched “It’s a Wonderful Life” last night I marveled at how many of my favorite movies, maybe your favorite movies, too, follow the same theme.
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles,
A Christmas Carol - the Muppet version of course
True Grit, the Coen Brothers' version
The Great Escape
Ocean’s Eleven.
They are all about different people coming together to do something none of them could do on their own. And the experience changes them and bonds them.
But here’s the good news.
The story that is at the center, this is our story.
And it’s not a movie, it’s Good News.
And it began on a one-star night, described by Ann Weems in this way.
The One-Star Night, by Ann Weems[3]
Into an extremely dark and bitterly cold December
came a one-star night.
Those who had compassion
found room and
were filled with wonder
at the brightness of the star above them.
Those who saw fell to their knees in fear,
but listened to the angels’ song
and ran to see.
Those who heard the baby’s cry
believed,
and fell to their knees,
this time in worship.
Those who followed the star
already believed,
and knew the time was now.
They persisted in their journey
through the dark and cold,
bringing gifts to this One
born to us all
in a one-star night.
This is our story, the word made flesh.
And you might not be in a rental van on your way from Orlando to Knoxville, but we’re all in this together, united and inspired and saved by something bigger than us all, and it’s the most real thing we will ever know.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory,
Thanks be to God.
[1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/12/13/flight-cancelled-road-trip-strangers/
[2] Campbell, Charles. “John 1:1-14,” in Interpretation, 1995, p.394. Cited here: http://web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=9b66bcb5-2edd-4c9e-9f8f-2e738d970728%40sessionmgr101&vid=1&hid=107
[3] From Advent's Alleluia to Easter's Morning Light: Poetry for Worship, Study, and Devotion, page 32.
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