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John 1:14-18

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'") And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.[John 1:14-18]

"And the Word became flesh..." These are among the most important words found in the Bible. Jesus- God -came down to Earth to walk among us, when He had every right and reason to destroy us because of our evil. It would do us all well to take some time to think about what that really means.

John 1:6-13

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.[John 1:6-13]

Since this is a larger selection there is plenty to discuss here. As I read this, the part that jumps off the page [screen] at me is the last sentence. It is among the more 'controversial' texts in the Bible. It sparks debate because its meaning gives us great insight into how we are saved. Many, including myself, would argue that when this passage says, "born, not...of the will of man" John is saying that it isn't making a decision for Christ (walking a aisle, praying a prayer) that saves us. It is God's will, his desire.

At first glance, this sounds great, but what does it really mean if God saves us and not our decision? The crux of the issue is this: If God saves you, then who doesn't save you? You.

Think about it and let us hear what you have to say.

John 1:3-5

All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.][John 1:3-5]

This section is a continuation of yesterday's passage. John is describing "The Word" in more detail, clarifying that this "Word" that was with God, and that was God, also was the agent by which the world was made. Notice that John doesn't say, "all things were made by him," but rather "through him." He was the method of creation, so to speak. And, how did God create the world in Genesis 1? He spoke it into existence. He used "words."

Wow. Think about that for a while. It blows my mind.

There is so much here to discuss, but I'll add just one more note. The word "overcome" at the end of this section is really the Greek word for "grasped." Of course, the proper translation of that word here is, in fact, overcome, but when you understand the meaning behind it, it adds more color to this reading, doesn't it?

John 1:1-5

This will be an interesting place to begin. The book of John is the story of Jesus as told by one of his disciples. John has a unique spin on the story of Jesus' life. He tells some stories that the other Gospels miss, and he has a different voice than the others, who seem to speak more as reporters. Take Luke, for example. His main purpose was to document a historical account of Jesus' life. In John, we get a more intimate look into what it was like to walk side-by-side with Jesus.

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 men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. [John 1:1-5]

This seems pretty straightforward, but these two verses have marveled philosophers for centuries. You see, in the Greek, the word translated in verse 1 as "Word" (logos) can mean many different things. Wikipedia has a discussion about this word (and this passage from John) that may shed some light on its magnitude. Logos can also mean things like "thought, speech, account, meaning, reason, proportion, principle, standard."

My point is that John is saying that God had a thought, a meaning, a message to communicate to the world, and that he sent that message in the embodiment of His Son.

What do you think? What is this passage saying to us?