Lutheran Seminary – Moved by the Promise – God Pause – Friday, 3
January 2014 - John The Word Became Flesh
1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with
God.3 All things came into being through him, and
without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in
him was life,[a] and
the life was the light of all people. 5 The light
shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He
came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through
him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to
testify to the light. 9 The true light, which
enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.[b]
10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him;
yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what
was his own,[c] and
his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all
who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of
God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will
of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen
his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son,[d] full
of grace and truth. 15 (John testified to him and
cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of
me because he was before me.’”) 16 From his
fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 The
law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No
one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son,[e]who
is close to the Father’s heart,[f] who
has made him known.
Footnotes:
a. John 1:4 Or 3 through
him. And without him not one thing came into being that has come into being. 4 In
him was life
b. John 1:9 Or He
was the true light that enlightens everyone coming into the world
c. John 1:11 Or to
his own home
d. John 1:14 Or the
Father’s only Son
e. John 1:18 Other
ancient authorities read It is an only Son, God, or It
is the only Son
f. John 1:18 Gk bosom
As I reflect on the images of light in this week's gospel
lesson, I can't help but think of a song I wrote many years ago with the help
of my good friend Hans Peterson of Dakota Road. It's titled, "Secure in
Your Arms." The sun was going down at Good Earth Village Bible Camp in
Minnesota as our eyes gazed over the valley and the splendor of God's creation.
"Christ you are my light through the dark of night,
I sense your presence near as you calm my deepest fear."
Chorus: "You brought me through the day, guiding along the
way.
Now I rest secure in your arms.
God I pray for peace, fighting and war to cease.
Remind me of your plan that one day love will rule the
land." Chorus: "You brought me through the day, guiding along the
way.
Now I rest secure in your arms.
That security, that love, that comfort, that hope—those
blessings are what "grace upon grace" means to me. Because of Christ
we keep getting one blessing after another. Got grace? Well, here's some more!
God of grace and truth, you have given us so much to be thankful
for. Continue to shower us your children with mercy and grace, so that as
grace-filled people we may proclaim your majesty to all the world. AMEN!
Meg Sander
Pastor of Children, Youth and Family, First Lutheran Church,
Kearney, Neb.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things came into being through him, and without him not
one thing came into being. What has come into being
4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not
overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all
might believe through him.
8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the
light.
9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the
world.
10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through
him; yet the world did not know him.
11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not
accept him.
12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he
gave power to become children of God,
13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of
the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have
seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.
15 (John testified to him and cried out, "This was he of
whom I said, "He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was
before me.' ")
16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came
through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is
close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.(NRSV)
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