Newness, The Fruit of Uniqueness

[HKHaugan]

The Gospel of John

A common theme in 1:1-4:54 is the idea of newness. In Jesus something new happened. Actually newness is the theme of the whole Gospel not only in John but in the '-New-' Testament as well. It is a change in perspective. There has been a shift, a replacement of the old with the new, a new revelation from the physical to the spiritual, from Law to heart, from institution to relationship, from 12 tribes (bloodline) to 12 disciples (heartline). The point is that newness is every person's experience every day. How do we place ourselves in it's reality? It's all in the Spirit:
1. a new word (1:1)
2. a new humanity (1:14)
3. a new truth (1:14)
4. a new atmosphere, grace (1:14)
5. a new witness (1:23)
6. a new baptism (1:33)
7. a new discipleship (1:35-50)
8. a new sign, first of seven
a. wine in place of water, (2:1-11)
b. healing of official’s son (2:43-54)
c. healing of invalid at Bethesda pool (5:1-15)
d. feeding of the 5000 (6:1-15)
e. walks on water (6:16-21)
f. healing of blind man (9:1-34)
g. raising of Lazarus (11:1-44)
9. a new temple (2:14-19)
10. a new birth and life (3:1-21)
11. a new well of water (4:7-15)
12. a new worship (4:16-26)
13. a new dimension, spiritual (4:24)
14. a new inclusion (4:39, 46-47
(What we will find in the rest of the Gospel is that all the teachings are the foundation to be able to see what is and what is not new and what may be masquerading as new. A good example is the expression “the new normal.” What the world defines as 'new' is usually old. “There is nothing new under the sun.” Eccl.1:9). True, but who and what is above and over the sun is revealing something new for each one of us each day. A new opportunity, a new person, a new possibility, a new challenge---all looking forward.

Thus, these passages reveal for every disciple in every next moment a newness in the way to think (believe-mind), newness in the way to trust (make decisions-heart) and newness in the way to have faith (motivated to act-spirit). “New every morning, new every morning, great is Thy faithfulness O Lord.”

What new things have happened to you in your life since Jesus began to make sense to you?
Are there other new ideas that you see in these verses as we have viewed them?
How can we apply the idea of spiritual newness in a physical world?
Bottom line question:
Are we looking forward, being expectant, anticipating the Spirit's prompting our next move?
Do you ever look back to your youth and wish you could return to the comfort and protection of family and friends?
Do you ever wish you could go back to the first days of your conversion or the first of anything that was part of your growing up?
Vacation places that were so wonderful, unexpected experiences you wish you could repeat?
Does age and health and your eyes open to a world of hurt, pain, sorrow, crime and death surround you and cause a kind of retreat from it all?
Do you ever feel alone, no one seeming to understand you or at best they misread you?
Do you ever ask why me? What have I done that I should have this happen or that person hate me or why I think others desert me or make bad decisions that I would never have done?
Do you feel you are being treated unjustly by circumstance, a boss, a friend or someone in the Body of Christ?
Do you ever feel inadequate, not having the right answers or afraid you might not have an answer when a question is asked?
Do you ever feel reluctant, hesitant, ‘it’s best to be quiet and size up the situation before I speak’ feeling if you are among others you don’t know?

Php.4:7 KJV (“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”) is the basis for the Prayer Book's liturgical blessing at the end of a service. “The Peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and of His Son Jesus Christ, and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit keep you and remain with you always. Amen.”

There are three dimensions in this blessing, mind, heart and spirit. Note that it starts with our spirit, the peace of God. Then it goes to the heart and then the mind, the last two dimensions. If our spirit senses the peace it has been given then the heart and mind receive what the Spirit of God has planted in us in Christ. Sometimes it is the heart or the mind that receives that peace first but the point here is that spiritual reality is our priority. All three find their balance in Jesus who directs that balance through the Holy Spirit. The reason for the Scripture is to start thinking spiritually in order to give the heart and the mind the stability they need to continue sorting out our responses to the world around us.