“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
“The Word” of John is the “Savior” recorded in Luke’s gospel. I remember the very great privilege I had three times to let various family members and friends know of the births of our children. Our firstborn took his time coming into this world so by the end of the day most of our congregation was present in the waiting room. Those phone calls to family members after each birth were very special and very much full of joy. What joy must have been God’s at this beginning of the fulfillment of His plan of salvation for mankind!
Just think of the Apostle John pondering over how to present the incarnation of the Son of God to a world which had difficulty understanding it. The angels basically made the rather stark announcement of the birth to the shepherds but made it in such a glorious way that the shepherds knew something special had happened. John very carefully, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, proclaimed the same kind of message in a very spiritually sensitive way. His way proclaimed the nature of this God-Man as being One who was from before the beginning and was, in point of fact, God Himself (see verse 1). My very favorite portion of scripture is the prologue of John’s gospel (John 1:1 – 18). So much about Jesus and His reason for coming is found in those 18 verses. Christmas is the incarnation of the Son of God in human flesh. God’s whole purpose for mankind is found in this act on our behalf.
Today as you think on this scripture focus on your reaction to what God has done for you and all in this world. Have you ever properly thanked God for becoming flesh on your behalf? Think also on John 1:12 where the apostle writes, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” The last part of verse 13 tells us that we are, “…born of God.” What joy to be a child of God! Take a moment and express that joy to God now.
Red Cloud Wesleyan Church 