Podcast Show Notes - A Bigger Jesus (Origin #1)
Ever wondered if you've been thinking about Jesus in a way that's far too small? What if the comfortable Sunday school version is just the beginning?
In this mind-expanding episode, John Harding takes us to the opening of John's Gospel - not to rehash familiar stories, but to encounter a Jesus who's bigger than our imagination. While other Gospel writers start with genealogies and prophecies, John begins with something that reshapes everything: "In the beginning was the Word."
This isn't ancient mythology - it's the most profound truth about reality itself. The same Jesus who taught in parables and walked on water is the eternal Word who spoke galaxies into existence. Understanding this doesn't just change your theology; it transforms your Monday morning, your work stress, and how you see your purpose in the world.
Journey with us through:
[00:00] Welcome to the Origin Series - John's Gospel and Acts
[05:05] John 1:1-13 - The Word made flesh
[08:35] Why John starts differently than other Gospel writers
[11:35] Jesus as the pre-existent Creator - mind-blowing implications
[14:36] How we find real life and what that actually means
[17:15] Why some received him and others rejected him
[24:18] Worship and reflection with "In Christ Alone"
[26:27] Conversation Street - unpacking the cosmic implications
[05:05] In the Beginning Was the Word
John opens his biography of Jesus with the language of Genesis 1, revealing something most people miss about who Jesus really is.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."
What we explore:
- How John's mystical, poetic approach differs from other Gospel writers
- Why starting "before the beginning" changes everything about Jesus
- The profound truth about something coming from nothing
- How this addresses modern scientific questions about origins
Key takeaway: Jesus isn't just part of creation - he's the Creator who spoke everything into existence.
[11:35] The Pre-Existent Creator
Understanding that Jesus always has been and always will be, distinct from and superior to all creation.
"Jesus is outside of that... he was before all of that, the word in the beginning, the uncaused cause, the unmoved mover."
Deep dive into:
- How Jesus exists outside time, space, and matter
- Why this makes him fundamentally different from everything else
- The implications of the eternal Word becoming flesh
- How this explains Jesus's unique impact throughout history
Key takeaway: The life of Jesus on Earth is what happens when pre-existent Creator God wraps himself in human flesh.
[14:36] Jesus Is Life Itself
Exploring what it means that "in him was life" and how this transforms our understanding of being truly alive.
"Life is found in Jesus... the only reason that we have something rather than nothing... is because Jesus the word was there in the beginning orchestrating it all."
Practical implications:
- How life led to matter, not the other way around
- Why you'll always lack a sense of being truly alive apart from Jesus
- The difference between biological life and real quality life
- How this speaks to our deepest questions about meaning and purpose
Key takeaway: When you find Jesus, you find life - because he is the source and origin of all life.
[17:15] Receiving the Source of Life
How the cosmic Creator offers intimate relationship and what it means to become children of God.
"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."
Real talk about:
- Why some overlook or reject Jesus despite his significance
- How receiving Jesus transforms us from the inside
- What it means to be "born into God's family"
- The life that flows through Jesus becoming our life
Key takeaway: Real life comes through receiving Jesus - the cosmic becomes personal.
[19:38] A Bigger Vision Changes Everything
How seeing Jesus rightly impacts how we believe and behave in every area of life.
"How you see God, how you behold God radically impacts how you believe and how you behave... get your vision right and you'll find you start to live in a transformed way."
Transformation areas:
- Moving beyond putting God in a box
- Understanding our true selves as children of God
- How this bigger Jesus energises our work and relationships
- Why this vision is relevant to healthcare, community, and society
Key takeaway: A bigger vision of Jesus leads to experiencing more of his life and power within you.
Conversation Street
Is life only found in Jesus when there's obviously life everywhere?
The community explored how this means something deeper than biological existence. It's about recognising who we are because of our creation - we have breath breathed into us by God, and acknowledging that source makes us complete. Without that recognition, something essential is missing, like living in a mystery world that doesn't make sense.
How do we respond to the exclusivity claims in a pluralistic society?
Discussion acknowledged that claiming one source of real life isn't popular in modern culture that emphasises personal truth and tolerance. But John presents a fixed reality - there was only one Word, not multiple options. For those who know this Jesus, it provides rest and certainty rather than limitation.
How does this bigger Jesus impact daily life and work?
Conversation touched on Christian healthcare leaders bringing something counter-cultural to their work, the importance of truth-telling in professional settings, and how the life within believers can transform organisations and communities. The light becomes not just personal but something that impacts workplaces, neighbourhoods, and society.
Why are some attracted to Christian values but resist the source?
The community noted how people often appreciate the fruit of Christian character - love, service, integrity - while rejecting the root. They like aspects of who believers are but don't want to acknowledge that these qualities flow from Christ's life within them.
What Changed
The conversation highlighted several transformative encounters with this bigger Jesus:
A work colleague asking if Christianity is "just a list of rules" received the response: "It's something that comes and changes us, transforms us from the inside. I wouldn't be this person without God."
Christian healthcare leaders discovered how Jesus's teaching is radically counter-cultural, bringing life and truth to organisations struggling in grey areas of uncertainty.
The reflection on Queen Elizabeth II's recent passing showed how this bigger Jesus sustained her for 70 years of service, from grand state occasions to intimate moments of grace with individuals in need.
Stories emerged of ordinary people discovering they can go directly to Jesus - not through structures or intermediaries, but straight to the Word who created them and knows them completely.
Next Steps
If this bigger vision of Jesus resonates with you:
Expand Your Perspective - Start seeing creation around you as spoken into existence by Jesus. Let trees, sunrises, and even difficult people remind you of the Creator.
Breathe in Life - Begin each day remembering that every breath comes from the source of all life. Practice the prayer: "This is the air I breathe, your holy presence living in me."
Read John's Gospel - Don't just read it as history. Ask how this cosmic Christ wants to transform your ordinary moments.
Go Direct - Remember you can approach Jesus directly. He's not too big to be bothered with your concerns or too small to handle your biggest problems.
Share the Transformation - When people notice something different about you, don't hide the source. Your life can point others to this transformative encounter.
For those exploring faith:
- The Alpha course offers space to investigate these claims without pressure
- Reading multiple Gospel accounts shows different perspectives on the same extraordinary person
- Community support is available for questions, prayer, and next steps
Remember
This episode challenges us to expand our vision beyond "Jesus my personal helper" to "Jesus the cosmic Creator who became flesh." The same Word who spoke galaxies into existence moved into your neighbourhood to offer you real life.
This isn't just theology - it's the foundation for transformation that impacts everything from your Monday morning routine to your workplace culture to your deepest relationships. When you grasp that the eternal, pre-existent God knows you personally and invites you into his family, everything changes.
The light that blazed out of darkness at creation continues to shine in our darkness today. And the darkness has never been able to put it out.
