I was struck today by the deep beauty and truth that exists at the beginning of the book of John. Unlike the other gospel authors, there is a poetry to how he writes that made the gospel come alive in an incredible way as I read it. I’ve highlighted the bits that ‘sung’ to me this morning, and I’ve noted a few simple thoughts that popped out.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God —children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

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. John 1:1-14

What jumps out as I read this wonderful passage again?

• Life can’t exist without God – we can’t remove God from His creation and if we could it would cease to exist. He creates, He sustains, He is God, and we are not. The reason I am breathing right now is because of Him. That makes me so thankful for even the small things that I take for granted.
• Light always wins – we often need reminded of this especially in dark times. Jesus came in the midst of a dark cultural climate, a time where Romans ruled, after the Greeks had ruled, and exile hadn’t been that long before that. The people had suffered 400 year without much of God speaking to them, they needed light and they needed to know that light wins.
• Light is available to all – our lineage, socio economic grouping, location, and even behaviour isn’t what qualifies us to receive the light of Jesus. He, the true light, was available to everyone – everyone was equal in His sight and the same is true today.
• We must recognise and choose the light – whilst we all access to the light we must choose to accept the invitation to become children of God. We won’t force it on us, He simply offers it to us, but we must choose what we do with His invitation.
• It’s a privilege, not an obligation – we gain the right to become children of God, that truly is an incredible opportunity. Following Jesus isn’t a burden we are lumped with, it is a gift that we should be so grateful that we get to accept.
• He is with us – God, the word, became flesh and made His dwelling among us. How crazy is that. He doesn’t just know our pain, He’s lived it. There is something so deeply comforting about that truth.

Thank you Jesus!