Lutheran Seminary – Moved by the Promise – God Pause – Thursday, 2 January 2014 - John The Word Became Flesh 1

Lutheran Seminary – Moved by the Promise – God Pause – Thursday, 2 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

In these winter months when the darkness seems to last forever it is so comforting to know that we have the light to illumine our way. We hear God's voice, we have God's word and now God's Son walks with us on our journey. "In him was life, and the life was the light of all people...The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world." And he is here! We have just heard the Christmas promise: "For unto us a child is born, a Son is given." Yet why are we so tempted to leave the greatest gift that we have received back at Christmas and not to carry that light into the New Year?

Now that the cacophony of Christmas is past, maybe we can spend more time soaking up the Son and reveling in the Light. Maybe, just maybe, we can get out of the dark and let the light shine through.

Awesome God of light and love, we give thanks for the gift of your Son, the Light of the world, who has brought light into our darkness and enlightened our lives. Help us to be witnesses to the Light that all the world may praise your Holy Name. 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.

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