Morse Code

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-14 ESV). In 1844, Samuel Morse demonstrated to Congress the practicality of telegraphy by transmitting his famous message of “What hath God wrought?” over a wire from Washington to Baltimore. With that event modern telecommunications took a great stride forward and thousands of people were able to connect with one another in seconds. Morse code is a series of dots and dashes reproduced electronically and transmitted by wire from one station to another. It is almost a lost science today. Most people could not recognize the code nor read it. For example, do you know what the following code translates: … --- … ? It is the internationally recognized code for “help,” or “SOS.” Here’s one more series of code: ---. --- -.. .--- --- …- --- -.-- --- ..- That message may be the most important one you ever receive! It translates, “God loves you.” But what good is a message if you cannot understand it? This is the truth that John reminds us of in our text this morning. God knew we needed to know of His love in a way that would be unmistakable. So He sent Jesus, His only begotten Son to convey that message. The land of Persia was once ruled by a wise and beloved Shah who cared greatly for his people and desired only what was best for them. One day he disguised himself as a poor man and went to visit the public baths. A furnace in the cellar heated the water for the baths, so the Shah made his way to the dark place to sit with the man who tended the fire. The two men shared the coarse food, and the Shah befriended him in his loneliness. Day after day the ruler went to visit the man. The worker became attached to this stranger because he "came where he was". One day the Shah revealed his true identity, and he expected the man to ask him for a gift. Instead, he looked long into his leader's face and with love and wonder in his voice said, "You left your palace and your glory to sit with me in this dark place, to eat my coarse food, and to care about what happens to me. On others you may bestow rich gifts, but to me you have given yourself!" As we think of what our Lord has done for us, we can echo that fire tender's sentiments. Oh, what a step our Lord took -- from heaven to earth, from the worship of angels to the mocking of cruel men, from glory to humiliation! And all of that so that we could understand the message that God loves us!