Annie
Scriptures: John 1:1-16
John begins his gospel, not with earthly genealogy, but with the amazing pronouncement that Jesus is The Word made flesh. The Word that existed from before the beginning, living among mankind, revealing the Father to all who would believe.
What is it that John sees so differently from the other gospels in the earthly coming of Christ? What Revelation has he received that brought about this difference? There is compelling evidence that John wrote his gospel after he received what is called the Book of Revelation on the isle of Patmos toward the end of his earthly life. His visions that are described in that book are mighty, often frightening and staggeringly awe inspiring. There can be no doubt of Who won the victory on Calvary’s tree. There can never be any doubt as to the gravity of the choices we make when we are stand before the God of all creation. Yet, despite our frailty and constant falling, Jesus still willingly obeyed His Father and took all sin, all degradation, all sickness and disease upon Himself. He became sin for us. And John saw this, he saw the Lamb as He had been slain. Can you imagine the impact that this had upon him?
Later in his gospel John describes himself as the disciple that Jesus loved. Yet he also says that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that all who believe might be saved. What Revelation had John received that caused him to understand with certainty that God who loves the whole world, loves each one of us individually and uniquely?
He had seen what motivated Jesus to carry out everything He has seen His Father do, to make every sacrifice asked of Him, to endure every cruel act of mockery and torture that was laid on Him.
John is faithful in narrating events, miracles, wonderful insights into the nature of Jesus, and of His Father. Yet it is the thread of pure love that weaves through the whole gospel that displays so clearly the depth of John’s understanding of the Love Jesus brought to this earth. The Word who became flesh was pure Love, the Love that had spoken our earth into being. The Love that longed to share Himself with us, the Love that wept as He cast Adam and Eve out of the garden. The Love that will never abandon us, never forget about us, never ignore us.
John 1:4-5 4 In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. 5 And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it]. (AMPC)
This Life that was the Light of men walked among us, shining continuously through those 33 years He spent on this earth, darkness never once overpowered Him. Hanging on Calvary’s tree He gave up His Life, willingly, darkness did not extinguish that Light. The Love of the Father that was that Life shone like a beacon in the darkness. The Word that had spoken “Let there be light” brought that Love to us.
To know the depth of the Love that died for us is a treasure beyond imagination. To seek Him and be found by Him and to spend eternity falling down before Him in worship and adoration is a prize beyond measure.
Prayer:Father God, thank You that The Word did become flesh, lived among us and ultimately redeemed us as the Lamb of God, the perfect sacrifice that is our only way of salvation. Amen.
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