LEARNING DAILY

 

John 1:1-4, 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 were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

 

I really enjoy these verses as John begins his gospel. I need to read these words at Christmas; they are important to the Christmas story that Matthew and Luke write about.  John’s writings remind me that we need to celebrate Jesus at this time. There is a lot of celebrating that happens at this time. But, if it does not center around Jesus, the celebrating can be done at any time of the year.

 

John writes that Jesus is the Word of God and in doing so Jesus is the personal Word of God. God speaks through His Son. The LSSB states, “Scripture declares that Jesus Christ is the manifold wisdom of God and the perfect revelation of the nature and person of God.”  John states that Jesus was “with God” before the creation of the world. He had the same nature and heart as God, making Him divine. The Word never had a beginning and enjoyed intimate fellowship with the Father; He always was.

 

“All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” It was through the Word that the Father created the world. At the right time (see Galatians 4:4) the Word was made flesh (John 1:14); He took on the human nature but without sin.  That He left heaven to come into the world He created through the human birth process is basic to the Christmas story. The JSSB notes state, “nothing, not even one single thing, was made independently of His cooperation or volition”.

 

I write this today because it is important to remember and understand this was not written about some mystical figure that is in heaven somewhere.  It was written about a man who “walked with the Word while He was on earth who lived and breathe like we do” (Thoughts from John Stedman).  I hope that as you gather with family to celebrate the Word being born in the flesh that you remember “He is the reason for the season”.  The presents, the prepared meal, the fellowship is wonderful; I have found that when it is all done the only lasting gift is the gift the Father gave us when He sent the Word to us. Take the time to remember and to be thankful for the birth of the One called, “Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”.  This is the Word, the One John said, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” It is because He gives life – eternal life – to whosoever believes in Him that we do all we can to walk on the narrow way to His kingdom to live there forever!

Enjoy the gathering with friends and family! Just do not forget the reason for your gathering!

 

From now on DJSB will be used to note information or quotes from the David Jeremiah Study Bible and LSSB will refer to information and quotes from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible.  I have added Jimmy Swaggart’s Expositor’s Study Bible to be referred to from now on as JSESB