What is God Like?

How do we know? Can we just make it up?

The gospel of John is full of theological intricacies and movements. You likely know that John is separated by scholars from the other three gospels (Matthew, Mark, & Luke). While the first three are considered more story-like or narrative (“synoptic”), John isn’t as focused on producing an orderly account or narrative, but rather, to demonstrate who Jesus Christ was and why he came. Much later, we’ll read his thesis in 20:31 that speaks to this.

We’ve already encountered some of the richest theological explanations in the first fourteen verses. But here in 15-28, John (the Baptist) continues to set the stage for who the forthcoming Christ will be.

It’s well-known that many messiah-like figures arose in the couple of hundred years around Jesus. Part of what John the Gospel Writer is doing is distinguishing that John the Baptist was not the messiah, but that Jesus of Nazareth was.

But the nature of John the Baptist’s ministry is important. He prepared the way for the messiah through particular means. In John’s gospel, the strongest of these are repentance and purity.

Perhaps often overlooked in this passage is verse 18 in which we are told that Jesus Christ has made God known. This becomes a foundational theological statement about the Son of God, Jesus Christ - we best know who God is because of Jesus’ example.

Want to know God? …who God is? …what God is like?

Look to Jesus.

John 1:15-28

John testified about him, crying out, “This is the one of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than me because he existed before me.’”

From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace; as the Law was given through Moses, so grace and truth came into being through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. God the only Son, who is at the Father’s side, has made God known.

This is John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?”

John confessed (he didn’t deny but confessed), “I’m not the Christ.”

They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”

John said, “I’m not.”

“Are you the prophet?”

John answered, “No.”

They asked, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

John replied, “I am a voice crying out in the wilderness, Make the Lord’s path straight, just as the prophet Isaiah said.”

Those sent by the Pharisees asked, “Why do you baptize if you aren’t the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”

John answered, “I baptize with water. Someone greater stands among you, whom you don’t recognize. He comes after me, but I’m not worthy to untie his sandal straps.” This encounter took place across the Jordan in Bethany where John was baptizing.

Psalm 40:9-10

I’ve told the good news of your righteousness in the great assembly.
I didn’t hold anything back—as you well know, Lord!
I didn’t keep your righteousness only to myself.
I declared your faithfulness and your salvation.
I didn’t hide your loyal love and trustworthiness from the great assembly.

Prayer

God,

Goodness, I feel like I say it all the time, but I guess that’s because it’s so important to me: Thank you for Jesus. All this human wondering and propositioning about what the divine must be like…it can be exhausting and frustrating. Sometimes, annoying. It’s quite a privileged position to sit around and wonder what you’re like all the time. It makes Jesus’ solidarity with those who’ve not the time to do that all the more poignant and exacting of who you are.

So I choose to believe the notion that you are like Jesus and what we see in him and his example. And so I’m grateful for that overlapping sweet spot where he not only shows us who you are, but also shows us who we are to be.

So help me, God: Help me to know Jesus as your son. That is, help me to know him as sent forth by you, proceeding from you, the fruit of your bearing with humanity. And then help me to know my responsibility to follow suit.

By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.