Faith and Religion
"In The Beginning Was The Word"
January 3, 2003
How do we start? Let me start this way. Father in Heaven we are starting a New Year and as we start this New Year of 2003, we feel like Moses before the burning bush. We know not what to say! We would like to tell you how much Your dear Son means to us. But at the same time, we know that He hears all we say, and knows all we think. How do we praise You for what You have done for us? Only by knowing and living Your Word in our lives.
It is hard for us to understand, "In the beginning was the Word." This is saying that there really never was a time when our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Your Son, did not exist. He has always been with You.
In the coming year help us to take a new and deeper look in to the created world. It is the creation of your Son! Not a single thing that we can see, and so much that we cannot see, was fashioned by His mind and brought into existence. "In Him is live." Eternal life is in Him and of Him. Man has no light or hope without Him!
So in John’s Gospel we read from the New International version Chapter one and verses ten to eighteen these words. "The word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John testifies concerning Him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me." From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.
"The true light that gives light to every man (person) was coming into the world." What a glorious purpose: to give light to every man (person). Our Lord has so much light to give, as He said, "I am the light of the world." The light is "Christ in you the hope of glory." People need a philosophy of life, so Christ said, "I am the way." People need a prepositional revelation, so Christ said, "I am the truth." People need the hope of purpose and energy in this world and the world to come, so Christ said, "I am the life." People need constant nourishment and support, so Christ said, "I am the vine – abide in Me." We humans are slow to learn and we are erring, some one has said "Like sheep," so Christ said "I am the good shepherd." In all these ways and many more, Christ came as a light to all men (people).
". . .The only Son, who is at the Father’s side, has made Him Known."
There will never be adequate words to express the meaning of this momentous event! How did Jesus give us knowledge of God? In several ways He did it. (1) He has made known the infinite interest of God in every man and woman by His constant involvement with so many people in so many different situations. There are twenty-eight persons to whom He spoke personally to win them to Himself. God our Father is just that concerned with each and every one of us, yet all of mankind! (2) He made God known by His Life Style. God came down in the person of His Son to show us how to live. It took very little to satisfy the physical needs of Jesus – so it does take but little to meet the essential needs of any one of us.
Think about this, there are some incredible riches in these verses. (1) "To be from above is the ultimate human experience." (2) "I want to give you more grace for the needs of your life." (3) "Please look at My Son again; there is so much you have not seen."
Have a Great Year In Christ!