John 1:1-18
1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God. 1:3 All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made. 1:4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it. 1:6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. 1:7 The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him. 1:8 He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light. 1:9 The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.
1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him. 1:11 He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him. 1:12 But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name: 1:13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 1:14 The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. 1:15 John testified about him. He cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’” 1:16 From his fullness we all received grace upon grace. 1:17 For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 1:18 No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.
John puts the Christmas story in theological language. Deep, powerful, penetrating language which grapples with the mystery of it all in words which grasp that mystery and holds it before us that we might penetrate it with our minds and embrace it with our hearts,
Here is what he tells us: We are a people of the Word, not just any word, not just a word, but THE WORD! The word which makes God known and creates faith in human hearts.
This Word is our life blood - the source of all we believe and the reason why we love.
It is a living Word living in us and living through us. It makes us a people of faith - it becomes “a power and passion in authority among the powers and passions of our lives.”
(P. T. Forsythe)
It also makes us a people of grace - a people who partake of grace at the Lord’s Table; and who practice grace in our living. Who believe in the real presence in the bread and wine and who practice the real presence in our daily living.
All because of the Word which became flesh and lived among us - full of grace and truth.
We are a people who trust in “God’s love which never ends and God’s dazzling grace which always is.” William Sloane Coffin
“The Word Became Flesh”
Christmas is here; and will soon be past. The celebration of Christmas, which begins earlier each year, will soon be over. Yet Christmas is never over. It never ends. It is hidden in every day, every word, every deed of our lives.
As we celebrate the Word which became flesh and dwelt among us, we also celebrate the Word becoming flesh - our flesh - and dwelling still in our midst.
Henri Nouwen: “The most important question for me is not, ‘How do I touch people?’ but, ‘How do I live the word I am speaking?”
Indeed, Christmas is not just once a year. It is yesterday, today, and forever, as the Word becomes flesh in us and dwells among us.
Indeed, Christmas is every day!
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