Monday morning munch #2

Have you travelled to a city or country where you knew nobody? The moment you cleared customs, walked through the gate and as you stared at all the faces waiting for friends and family, it dawned on you – you really know no one here. Excitement mixed with fear, anticipation with trembling. The unknown … and the question looms – where do I go now? How do you begin to explore this labyrinth of unknown sights, smells and accents?

This might describe the experience for some as you read the Monday Morning Munch (“Munch”). We’re at the second stop of our Around the Bible in 5 Days tour and in our first Munch, we saw that God not only created but he also spoke. The unknown has been made known. Christianity claims that you and I can know God. Amazing – yes.

… And yet, perhaps a question lingered – if God can be known, why does he remain distant? Is knowing God like being in a long distance relationship? Is absence supposed to make our hearts grow fonder? I mean… if you are there God, couldn’t you have come closer? I suspect these questions lose their philosophical air when our life hangs by a feeble thread – it’s no longer theoretical when we face a debilitating illness, are in financial distress or are scarred by broken relationships.

So, God created and he spoke – but could he do more? The surprising answer is yes, he could – and in fact, he did.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 1 John 1:1

The writer, John who was one of Jesus’ earliest followers, knew how to build suspense. He delays revealing who he is talking about – an intentional drip feed to allow us, the reader to put the puzzle together for ourselves.

What was from the beginning? In last week’s munch, we saw it was God. The next bit of info, “we have heard” – well, we already know God spoke so that’s wonderful but not new. However, John then makes an outrageous claim: he and others (note: it’s not merely individual, it’s not an “I” but “we”) saw, looked and touched …. God. How odd.

If there ever was an idea to turn our concept of God upside down it is this: that God not only created, not only spoke to his creation but he decided to live in his creation as a person. The gulf between creator and creation is not too far for this God to cross, because he willingly takes that extra step, pulls up a chair and strikes up a conversation: “Here I am. Come. Look, See, Touch. Here is your point of contact for I have come.” Finally, John identifies this person as Jesus Christ, by referring to him by one of his titles, the Word of Life. Jesus is God’s point of contact between God and mankind.

I started off by asking where do you go now? You’ve landed in a country where you know no one. Well for many they would go to the tourist information desk. That’s where all the information you need is easily accessible – to start, hopefully a map larger than the one in your Lonely Planet! It’s your one stop shop. When it comes to Christianity, Jesus is the first stop and the one-stop shop. He is God. God initiates contact. You can really know this God because he has made contact with us. He wants to be known. This truly is amazing.

Here are two quick questions to munch on during this week. Your answers or comments are welcome. Feel free to post them below:

• If Jesus is God, what are the top 3 things you’d expect Jesus to say to you and me?
• Imagine you were John and saw, heard and ate with Jesus – what would be the top 3 questions you’d ask God?