The medium is the message

the medium is the messageSocial scientists use interesting words to describe the time in which we live. You probably heard the words "pre-modern", "modern" or "postmodern". In fact, some call the time we live now a postmodern world. Social scientists also suggest different techniques for effective communication for each generation, be it the Builders, the Boomers, the Busters, the X-ers, the Y-ers, Z-ers. or the "Mosaic".

But no matter what world we live in, real communication only occurs when both parties go beyond listening and speaking to a level of understanding. Communication specialists tell us that speaking and listening are not ends, but means to an end. True understanding is the goal of communication. Just because a person feels better because "they poured out their thoughts" or otherwise thinks they have fulfilled their obligation because you have listened to the other person and let them speak, does not necessarily mean that you have actually understood that person. And if you didn't really understand each other, you didn't really communicate - you just talked and listened without understanding. With God it is different. God not only shares his thoughts with us and listens to us, he communicates with us with understanding.

First, he gives us the Bible. The Bible is not just a book; it is a self-disclosure of God to us. Through the Bible, God communicates who he is, how much he loves us, the gifts that he gives us, as we can get to know him, and the best way how we can organize our lives. The Bible is a road map to the abundant life that God wants to give us as his children. But as great as the Bible is, it is not the highest form of communication. The highest form of communication of God is the personal revelation through Jesus Christ - and we learn from it through the Bible.

One place where we see this is in Hebrews 1,1-3: "After God spoke to the fathers many times and in many ways through the prophets in the past, he has spoken to us in these last days through the Son, whom he appointed to be the heir over all, through whom he also made the world has. He is the reflection of his glory and the likeness of his being, and upholds all things with his mighty word.” God communicates his love to us by becoming one of us, by sharing our humanity, our pain, our trials, our sorrows, and takes our sins, forgives them all and prepares a place for us with Jesus at the Father's side.

Even Jesus' name communicates God's love for us: the name "Jesus" means "The Lord is salvation". And another name for Jesus is Immanuel, which means God with us. Jesus is not only the Son of God, but also the Word of God, revealing the Father and the Father's will to us.

The Gospel of John tells us:
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1,14)”. Like us Jesus in John 6,40 says it is the Father's will, "that whoever sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life." God himself took the initiative for us to get to know him and he invites us to be with him personally communicate through reading the Scriptures, through prayer and through fellowship with others who know him. He already knows you. Isn't it time you got to know him?

by Joseph Tkach


pdfThe medium is the message