John 1:1-18 (NRSV)
Read John 1:1-18 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Verse 2He was in the beginning with God. Verse 3All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being Verse 4in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.
Verse 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. Verse 6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. Verse 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. Verse 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. Verse 9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. Verse 10He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. Verse 11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. Verse 12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, Verse 13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. Verse 14And 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.
Verse 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.'") Verse 16From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. Verse 17The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Verse 18No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.
Devotion
John’s theological story about the coming of God’s Word made flesh at first puzzles Christmas Day worshippers. Where are all the Christmas images? What is this Word about? John proclaims that God’s Word, present from the beginning through which creation came to be, restores something new. God’s Word comes to “tent” with us. That is the original image of abide: To tent together. I used to go camping, so I have some idea of the incredible intimacy of tenting together. You really get to know each other personally. Not just the folks in your own tent, but three tents down the campground you can tell who snores! Imagine a God who comes to dwell so intimately with us. God tents with us out of love and for our redemption! Talk about a new image of God!
Prayer
O God, so dwell with us that we know how deeply we are known and loved by you, through Jesus, our newborn Savior. Amen.