The Gospel of John 1:1-18
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And 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. (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.'”) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.
Let us Pray: You came to us before we came to You, and You are with us always. Help us to live every day in the True Light of the Spirit of Christ that You sent into each of our hearts. This we pray to The light of the Word, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
The main themes of John’s gospel – life, light, truth, the world, testimony and the pre-existence of Jesus Christ are provided in the opening passage of this Gospel. A very powerful opening. Jesus is the Incarnate Word, who reveals God the Father to us. Then comes the dramatic statement: “the Word became flesh”. the reason Jesus is important to us is that when we look at Jesus, we see God. we see a God, who cared enough about the world to come, in the flesh, just so that we might see clearly God’s love for us and to reveal clearly to us what God cares about. So, the Word took on our human nature in all its fullness. He did not have, as some people believed, just the external appearance of a human but was “like us in all things”. And he lived right among us. Then there is John a man sent by God, John is a witness to the light. John is to welcome him in a world that does not know him. Even his own people did not accept him. Jesus is God’s greatest gift to us. We pray to have room in our hearts and lives for him. As we come to the end of a year and listen to what God’s word says to us. It helps us look back to learn and look forward in hope. God’s word is a creative word who gives life to all, in love. Jesus is the Word uttered by the Father, the word of hope and promise. Jesus is God’s message to us, he is our Good News. We know that God loved the world and sent Jesus among us. It has been a very eventful year that leaves lasting memories. We have the steadfastness of God to sustain us in the many challenges of life. We have tools God has given us. We need light in the darkness and hope in the uncertainty that is around us. Let us give thanks that the light and life is intended for all people. And give thanks that the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. God has given us the Eternal Word and the living word of scripture to guide us. We pray to welcome and appreciate those words more fully, asking that our words may be in harmony with them. What word does the Lord desire me to take with me as I enter the New Year? Jesus in important to us as we enter the new year because in him we see that the reality that is today need not be the reality of tomorrow. Jesus can always create something new. We are children of God who are promised new life by Jesus who revealed the Father’s love to us.
Let us Pray: A New Year’s Prayer. Lord, You make all things new You bring hope alive in our hearts And cause our Spirits to be born again. Thank you for this new year for all the potential it holds. Come and kindle in us A mighty flame So that in our time, many will see the wonders of God And live forever to praise Your glorious name. Amen
Reflections by Bob 