John 1:1-5, 14

THE FIFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS  - SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2007

THE LIVING WORD

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 were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. St. John 1:1-5, 14 (NKJV)

In comparison with the several verses that St. Luke uses to relate the account of the Birth of Christ, St. John uses one short verse to tell the story. In verse 14 of the 1st Chapter of his Gospel, St. John writes, “ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” In this the Fifth Day of Christmas it is important to identify who this Christ Child is, and St. John gives us that definition in the first five verses of this chapter.

It is helpful to even go back to the opening chapter of Genesis and consider verses such as, “And God SAID, let there be light and there was light. In this and other verses, it is the power of God’s Word that did the creating. God and the WORD that commanded the light to become light, cannot be separated, they are one. So the WORD was there at the beginning, the WORD was with God and the WORD was God. Here we also can see a reference to the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

In verse 4 and 5 we read that in Him was the life and the light of men. The light of the Holy Spirit seeking to lead people to life in God, shines in the darkness of man’s sinful heart and man did not comprehend it. It is because of this that God, who loved the people of His Creation so much, had no choice. It was either allow the people to march farther and farther to their eternal destruction or to send His Son, the Promised Messiah, to atone for the sins of the people so that they, in faith, could enter the gates of eternal life with Him.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” The Word, Jesus,.became alive, became living flesh and dwelt among us. To the Shepherds, then to the Wise Men, then to all that He taught, healed or even reprimanded, all people were able to see His Glory and that the words He proclaimed were full of grace and truth. He became a living, speaking, acting, caring God on Earth. It was simple. All the people had to do was listen and follow. Sadly, many did not.

The LIVING WORD, still lives today. His WORD has been preserved and is proclaimed in so many ways and places. The LIVING WORD is there for us not only in written and spoken form but also given to us as God, through the Holy Spirit, touches our heart and changes our lives. It is simple; all we have to do is listen and follow. Sadly, many will not.

WE PRAY:

O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be. AMEN

O LOVE THAT WILL NOT LET ME GO from cyberhymnal.org

A SUGGESTION FOR LIVING THE DEVOTION

List ten thoughts, concepts, desires and hopes that come to your mind on a regular basis. Now rank them in their importance to you?

Now ask yourself if your LIVING WORD has any part in any of these ten that you listed? If there is even one that God plays a part in, give your attention only to those where God is involved. If you allow God to help you work through these, then those where God is not involved will matter less and less.