Before you start anything, take some time to be still and to pray. Let go of any distractions, worries, or stresses you have. Offer them up to God. Ask him to help you focus and to learn from his word. Take your time. Prepare yourself to hear from God.
Once you have done that, Read John 3:22-36
In this passage, we encounter John the Baptist a second time. We first saw John the Baptist in chapter 1 when the Pharisees asked him who he is and what he was doing. In chapter 1, John was baptizing people but in doing so he proclaimed Jesus’ name and not his own (like in John 1:26-27). Here in chapter 3, he again glorifies Jesus and not himself. In verse 29, he talks about how we are like the friends of the bridegroom. Imagine for a second that you’re a best man at a wedding. You dress up in your best tuxedo, you come up with an awesome speech, and you make a big toast. Wouldn’t it be ridiculous if the best man made a speech about himself and toasted to himself? Of course. It’d be ridiculous because the wedding isn’t about the best man; it’s about the bride and bridegroom. The best man should rejoice in the bridegroom, and not rejoice in himself. John uses this example to illustrate how we Christians should live. It’s ridiculous for us to try and draw attention to ourselves because our lives should be about Jesus. That is why in chapters 1 and 3 John the Baptist gives the glory to God and not himself. John captures the whole idea in verse 30 when he says, “He must become greater; I must become less”. Our lives must be more about God and less about ourselves. Are you giving God the glory and recognition that he deserves? Take some time to think about areas in your life that should point to God and not to yourself.
In verse 27, John says “A person cannot receive even on thing unless it is given him from heaven” (ESV). Think about that for a second. We can have nothing unless God gives it to us: no life, no salvation, no family, no friends, no love, no talents, no nothing. The list goes on and on. This shows us how awesome and loving God is because he has given us everything we have even when we deserve none of it. We often forget and take all the things God has given us for granted, but his grace and provision should lead us to thanksgiving. Take some time to reflect and thank God for all that he has given you.
John ends with telling us why our lives should point to him and why we should be thankful. Verse 35 says, “The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands”. When Jesus died on the cross, the weight of all of mankind’s sin was in his hands and he took the punishment for us. Christians who believe and accept Christ’s receive eternal life and certify that God is true. We can rejoice because we are free from the penalty of sin, we will be in heaven one day, and we can have a personal relationship with God. God’s salvation is a gift to mankind, a gift from heaven (verse 27). Because God has given us salvation and so much more, we should be thankful and our lives should point to him, just like the best man at a wedding.
As you finish your time in the Word, take some more time to reflect and pray. What are you going to get out of this devotional? Is it to be reminded that your life should be about God and not yourself? Do you need to be more thankful and not take God’s provision and grace for granted? Do you need to be reminded of the cross? Ask God to make it clear to you what he wants you to get out of these passages and to remind you of it daily.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Born Again - John 3:1-21
Can you imagine what it was like to have met Jesus face to face during his earthly ministry? What kind of questions would you have asked him? How might he have answered? The interesting thing is there's a good chance he wouldn't have answered your question directly, but responded with the truth. We're going to see that in the encounter that Jesus has in John 3.
Read John 3:1-21
Perhaps one of the most famous encounters that Jesus has with people in the gospel of John. Nicodemus. A member of the Pharisees, a ruling member of the Jewish religious class. He comes to Jesus by night. Maybe he wasn't supposed to be there, but he wanted answers, he wanted to know: who is this Jesus?? So fittingly, a man in darkness, comes during darkness, to the true Light. Nicodemus starts off with a pretty obvious statement. Something that he and all the Pharisees agree on (even if later they insist it can't be true), Jesus is sent by God. But Jesus doesn't wait for him to go with circles with their questions, he cuts right to the point. Nicodemus comes wanting to know about the Kingdom of God, the kingdom that Jesus has been preaching and teaching, the kingdom that has come. He wants to know how to get in. Jesus says very simply in John 3:3, "unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." You must be born again.
Nicodemus is obviously confused, and maybe rightly so. Born again? That sounds like crazy talk. How is a person supposed to be born a second time? But Jesus isn't talking about re-birth, he's talking about new birth. He's saying that you have to be born not physically but spiritually. He's saying, If you want to see the Kingdom of God, you've got to have new life in me! That's the simple truth about Jesus' message: God sent His son to restore us to the life God intended for us. That means a new birth and a new life in Him. Have you been born again? In 1 Peter 1:3, Peter says we have been "born again into a living hope." Spend some time reflecting on the new birth we have in Jesus.
Read John 3:16-21
Jesus hammers it home for Nicodemus. He's not just there to teach about God. Jesus is there to save the world. The amazing thing is that Jesus came to save the world because of God's great love for us. His mission is rooted in compassion. Jesus came to rescue us from the darkness and bring us into the light. Have you thanked God for that today? That He sent Jesus to die on for you? His death means we no longer live in darkness but now we walk in the light. That's what an encounter with Jesus does! We may come to him in the darkness a la Nicodemus, but we leave Him walking in the freedom of the light. How will you walk in the light today? Give your day to God, ask Him how He wants you to walk in the light, and ask Him to help you do that.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him (John 3:16-17).
Read John 3:1-21
Perhaps one of the most famous encounters that Jesus has with people in the gospel of John. Nicodemus. A member of the Pharisees, a ruling member of the Jewish religious class. He comes to Jesus by night. Maybe he wasn't supposed to be there, but he wanted answers, he wanted to know: who is this Jesus?? So fittingly, a man in darkness, comes during darkness, to the true Light. Nicodemus starts off with a pretty obvious statement. Something that he and all the Pharisees agree on (even if later they insist it can't be true), Jesus is sent by God. But Jesus doesn't wait for him to go with circles with their questions, he cuts right to the point. Nicodemus comes wanting to know about the Kingdom of God, the kingdom that Jesus has been preaching and teaching, the kingdom that has come. He wants to know how to get in. Jesus says very simply in John 3:3, "unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." You must be born again.
Nicodemus is obviously confused, and maybe rightly so. Born again? That sounds like crazy talk. How is a person supposed to be born a second time? But Jesus isn't talking about re-birth, he's talking about new birth. He's saying that you have to be born not physically but spiritually. He's saying, If you want to see the Kingdom of God, you've got to have new life in me! That's the simple truth about Jesus' message: God sent His son to restore us to the life God intended for us. That means a new birth and a new life in Him. Have you been born again? In 1 Peter 1:3, Peter says we have been "born again into a living hope." Spend some time reflecting on the new birth we have in Jesus.
Read John 3:16-21
Jesus hammers it home for Nicodemus. He's not just there to teach about God. Jesus is there to save the world. The amazing thing is that Jesus came to save the world because of God's great love for us. His mission is rooted in compassion. Jesus came to rescue us from the darkness and bring us into the light. Have you thanked God for that today? That He sent Jesus to die on for you? His death means we no longer live in darkness but now we walk in the light. That's what an encounter with Jesus does! We may come to him in the darkness a la Nicodemus, but we leave Him walking in the freedom of the light. How will you walk in the light today? Give your day to God, ask Him how He wants you to walk in the light, and ask Him to help you do that.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him (John 3:16-17).
Friday, January 27, 2012
Keeping the Temple Holy - John 2:12-25
Read John 2:12-25. Now re-read it and focus on what Jesus is do and the message that he is trying to send.
When Jesus arrived at the temple, he saw, according to verse 14, “those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons and the money-changers.” Now what was going on in the temple wasn’t necessarily bad; the selling of the animals may have started off with the intention of supplying them to Passover guests, and a place to collect the temple tax. Why would Jesus drive them out? Somewhere along the way, the good service that the merchants may have intended to provide degenerated into a lucrative money making business; they abused the temple, and Jesus drives them out. Notice how everyone’s property is still intact—none of it is destroyed.
In verse 17, “His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” The disciples are recalling, “For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me, ” Psalm 69:9. Jesus is the most zealous in the cause for God. How have you been zealous in your own life for God?
After Jesus cleanses the temple, the Jews sought justification for how Jesus, one man, had the power to drive out numerous merchants, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” (verse 18). Jesus answers with, “destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” In the following verse; however, he is not literally talking about the temple, he is talking about his body. One man raising up a temple that took from 20 B.C. to 64 A.D. to finish, is a ridiculous task, though God could accomplish it. However, the disciples are quick to assume that Jesus is talking about it literally and they ignore the spiritual and true meaning of what Jesus is saying.
The Jews believed that Jesus had no authority to take temple-abuse matters into his own hands, unless he is the Messiah. Now we, and they probably knew as well that Jesus is the Messiah, but they still sought verification, and needed more than faith alone to believe. Jesus indicates that his resurrection though will be the sign that will justify that Jesus is the Messiah. Many individuals believed in Jesus when he performed miracles, but didn’t believe in him with their faith. Reflect in your life when you doubt God, and remember that God wants us to place our full trust in him—we shouldn’t be looking for miracles to verify that God is sovereign.
Jesus cleansing the temple teaches something about the standard of holiness that he wants us to have. Think about how you have failed to meet the standards of holiness that God wants us to have for our temple, our body and life; pray with God about what God has placed on your heart through this passage.
Leave a comment with prayers you have, key verses, or key ideas you want to remember.
When Jesus arrived at the temple, he saw, according to verse 14, “those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons and the money-changers.” Now what was going on in the temple wasn’t necessarily bad; the selling of the animals may have started off with the intention of supplying them to Passover guests, and a place to collect the temple tax. Why would Jesus drive them out? Somewhere along the way, the good service that the merchants may have intended to provide degenerated into a lucrative money making business; they abused the temple, and Jesus drives them out. Notice how everyone’s property is still intact—none of it is destroyed.
In verse 17, “His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” The disciples are recalling, “For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me, ” Psalm 69:9. Jesus is the most zealous in the cause for God. How have you been zealous in your own life for God?
After Jesus cleanses the temple, the Jews sought justification for how Jesus, one man, had the power to drive out numerous merchants, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” (verse 18). Jesus answers with, “destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” In the following verse; however, he is not literally talking about the temple, he is talking about his body. One man raising up a temple that took from 20 B.C. to 64 A.D. to finish, is a ridiculous task, though God could accomplish it. However, the disciples are quick to assume that Jesus is talking about it literally and they ignore the spiritual and true meaning of what Jesus is saying.
The Jews believed that Jesus had no authority to take temple-abuse matters into his own hands, unless he is the Messiah. Now we, and they probably knew as well that Jesus is the Messiah, but they still sought verification, and needed more than faith alone to believe. Jesus indicates that his resurrection though will be the sign that will justify that Jesus is the Messiah. Many individuals believed in Jesus when he performed miracles, but didn’t believe in him with their faith. Reflect in your life when you doubt God, and remember that God wants us to place our full trust in him—we shouldn’t be looking for miracles to verify that God is sovereign.
Jesus cleansing the temple teaches something about the standard of holiness that he wants us to have. Think about how you have failed to meet the standards of holiness that God wants us to have for our temple, our body and life; pray with God about what God has placed on your heart through this passage.
Leave a comment with prayers you have, key verses, or key ideas you want to remember.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Water Into Wine - John 2:1-11
Before you begin this devotional, take a moment to pause, and just quiet your hearts. Don’t think about school, friends, or any other anxiety you may have in your life. This is your time with God. As you finish preparing your heart, start to read John 2:1-11.
From these verses alone, we are able to see some of the coolest things ever within the Bible. We see Jesus turn water into wine. Not only is that a miracle, it’s his FIRST miracle. Thus, from this, we can derive many things. However, first off, let us focus on the background a bit more, to a feel for what’s happening at the time.
Previously in chapter 1, Jesus has just encountered Nathanael and this is only a mere two days after that. It is still very early in his ministry, and in verse 4, we see Jesus say “my hour has not yet come”. As the audience, we all know Jesus is our saving grace, the Messiah. However, back then, a lot of people had many mistaken beliefs about the Messiah. Therefore, we can see that the time just isn’t ripe for Jesus to reveal himself. In fact, only the servants know about the miracle, and no one else. The miracle is done very subtly, but shows us many things.
Now to the miracle itself. John tells us that this was the first ever miracle, and as a result, his disciples believed in him. We see that Jesus turns water into wine yes, but even the wine is of high quality. I don’t know about you, but to me that’s amazing. I mean, God’s power is so awesome, so great, that he can just snap his fingers, and bam, water turned into win. Beyond that, we can also see how God provides for us. There was a wedding, and a lack of wine, but God, as merciful as he is, chooses to provide for it. It’s a bit mind blowing to just see these little aspects of God together, that he is so powerful, but at the same time so merciful to us.
Take some time to reread John 2:1-11
Then reflect. Take some time to praise God for everything he has done for you, and for his greatness. Worship him.
Leave a comment with prayers you have, key verses, or key ideas you want to remember.
From these verses alone, we are able to see some of the coolest things ever within the Bible. We see Jesus turn water into wine. Not only is that a miracle, it’s his FIRST miracle. Thus, from this, we can derive many things. However, first off, let us focus on the background a bit more, to a feel for what’s happening at the time.
Previously in chapter 1, Jesus has just encountered Nathanael and this is only a mere two days after that. It is still very early in his ministry, and in verse 4, we see Jesus say “my hour has not yet come”. As the audience, we all know Jesus is our saving grace, the Messiah. However, back then, a lot of people had many mistaken beliefs about the Messiah. Therefore, we can see that the time just isn’t ripe for Jesus to reveal himself. In fact, only the servants know about the miracle, and no one else. The miracle is done very subtly, but shows us many things.
Now to the miracle itself. John tells us that this was the first ever miracle, and as a result, his disciples believed in him. We see that Jesus turns water into wine yes, but even the wine is of high quality. I don’t know about you, but to me that’s amazing. I mean, God’s power is so awesome, so great, that he can just snap his fingers, and bam, water turned into win. Beyond that, we can also see how God provides for us. There was a wedding, and a lack of wine, but God, as merciful as he is, chooses to provide for it. It’s a bit mind blowing to just see these little aspects of God together, that he is so powerful, but at the same time so merciful to us.
Take some time to reread John 2:1-11
Then reflect. Take some time to praise God for everything he has done for you, and for his greatness. Worship him.
Leave a comment with prayers you have, key verses, or key ideas you want to remember.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
The Good News - John 1:35-51
I’m pretty sure you all have had a time when you received really good news. At first you go through a short period of disbelief thinking, “No way! That just happened!” You try to wake yourself up because it’s too good to be true. Then after this period of disbelief, you finally accept this awesome truth and start celebrating. If you’re watching a sports game and your team just won the championship, you go absolutely nuts! You start screaming, jumping, and hugging strangers. You’re so happy that you don’t even care what other people think about you. What happens next? You call up your friends, classmates, and random contacts on your phone and you spread the word of the good news. You’re going like, “Hey! Guess what? My team just won! Isn’t that pretty legit? Do you want to know how it all went down? You should watch the replays!” You just keep going and going until they find out for themselves and confirm the good news.
Read John 1:35-51
Now note that the Jews have been waiting for a Messiah for over 400 years. They’ve been waiting for somebody to save them for so long. They’ve been subjected under foreign rulers and in fact they’re under the Roman rule currently. So when two disciples of John hear that Jesus is the Lamb of God, they’re in disbelief. Then they start stalking Jesus (or just following). And when Jesus dispels their doubt, they tell others about him. They’ve just found the Messiah! This is great news! For example, Andrew told his brother Simon about how they found the Messiah and he brings Simon to meet him. Philip also discovers the Messiah and goes to tell Nathanael. But Nathanael doubted Philip’s words a little bit saying, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Since Nazareth was a small and somewhat forgotten town in the land of Israel. Then when Jesus proves himself in verse 48, Nathanael believes and starts worshiping him!
I just wanted you all to see that when Jesus came, this was great news. And you know what? It still is great news that we should be excited to share with others. Jesus came, clothed himself in humanity and lived among us, died on the cross for our sins, and then rose again in three days! He conquered death and sin! Share the good news and truth and then they will see for themselves that the news really is good.
Leave a comment with prayers you have, key verses, or key ideas you want to remember.
Read John 1:35-51
Now note that the Jews have been waiting for a Messiah for over 400 years. They’ve been waiting for somebody to save them for so long. They’ve been subjected under foreign rulers and in fact they’re under the Roman rule currently. So when two disciples of John hear that Jesus is the Lamb of God, they’re in disbelief. Then they start stalking Jesus (or just following). And when Jesus dispels their doubt, they tell others about him. They’ve just found the Messiah! This is great news! For example, Andrew told his brother Simon about how they found the Messiah and he brings Simon to meet him. Philip also discovers the Messiah and goes to tell Nathanael. But Nathanael doubted Philip’s words a little bit saying, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Since Nazareth was a small and somewhat forgotten town in the land of Israel. Then when Jesus proves himself in verse 48, Nathanael believes and starts worshiping him!
I just wanted you all to see that when Jesus came, this was great news. And you know what? It still is great news that we should be excited to share with others. Jesus came, clothed himself in humanity and lived among us, died on the cross for our sins, and then rose again in three days! He conquered death and sin! Share the good news and truth and then they will see for themselves that the news really is good.
Leave a comment with prayers you have, key verses, or key ideas you want to remember.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Prepare the Way - John 1:19-34
Unlike the other three gospels written by Matthew, Mark, and Luke, which primarily focus on a historical-narrative of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus but with differing target audiences, John's gospel is definitely written from a theological perspective. While the first three are answering the question "What did Jesus do and why did he do it?" John's gospel answers the question "Who is Jesus and why does that make what he did unique?" John is very clear in John 20:31 "but [this book] was written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. So as we begin our study of the gospel of John, we have to keep this question at the forefront of our minds, "What does John want us to know about who Jesus is?"
Read John 1:19-34
John focuses his gospel on various encounters that Jesus has with different people. The first encounter we see is him meeting his cousin John the Baptist [I'll refer to him as J.B.], not to be confused with John the author of this gospel. We see J.B. as he has been preaching repentance in the wilderness for all of Judea and baptizing people in the water. He was preparing the people for the one who was to come, that is Jesus. Over and over people are confused and mistaking J.B. for someone he's not. They think he's the Messiah, or one of the prophets of old. But J.B. is absolutely certain of his place in God's salvation plan. He is NOT the Messiah. He's the one preparing the way for the Messiah. Not only that, but J.B. is quick to make sure people know he should not be elevated, but that the one to come is so great, J.B. is not even worthy to untie the strap of his sandal.
So eventually, all the preparing that J.B. is doing in the wilderness leads to his encounter with Jesus. Jesus comes and shows just how worthy he is. Remember, J.B. has been baptizing tons of people in the Jordan river, so there is something about this encounter that is significantly different than all the others he's been baptizing. J.B. recognizes it immediately, because when he see's Jesus he says, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" This sounds normal to us because we understand all that Jesus did for us, but to the people who heard J.B. say this, it would have made no sense! But J.B. was fully aware of who Jesus was. But if you were there and you didn't believe J.B. was right or telling the truth, there was no denying there was something special about Jesus, because immediately after Jesus is baptized, we see the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. This is an amazing encounter, and just the beginning of an entire gospel of encounters that tell us one thing. This Jesus, he IS the Son of God.
Amazing. Jesus. The Messiah. The anointed one. Savior of the World. That's who we're going to encounter as we continue to study our way through the gospel of John. Spend some time this morning reflecting on who Jesus is to you. Do you have a right grasp of who he is? If you're not sure, that's ok, ask God to help you fully understand who Jesus is as you read through the gospel of John. If you are fully aware of who Jesus is awesome! The question for you is, what are you doing to prepare the way for him? What are you doing to proclaim him out in the wilderness to all the people you yourself encounter? Do you see him as "the one who's sandals I am not worthy to untie" or is he just a secondary part of your life?
Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Leave a comment with prayers you have, key verses, or key ideas you want to remember.
Read John 1:19-34
John focuses his gospel on various encounters that Jesus has with different people. The first encounter we see is him meeting his cousin John the Baptist [I'll refer to him as J.B.], not to be confused with John the author of this gospel. We see J.B. as he has been preaching repentance in the wilderness for all of Judea and baptizing people in the water. He was preparing the people for the one who was to come, that is Jesus. Over and over people are confused and mistaking J.B. for someone he's not. They think he's the Messiah, or one of the prophets of old. But J.B. is absolutely certain of his place in God's salvation plan. He is NOT the Messiah. He's the one preparing the way for the Messiah. Not only that, but J.B. is quick to make sure people know he should not be elevated, but that the one to come is so great, J.B. is not even worthy to untie the strap of his sandal.
So eventually, all the preparing that J.B. is doing in the wilderness leads to his encounter with Jesus. Jesus comes and shows just how worthy he is. Remember, J.B. has been baptizing tons of people in the Jordan river, so there is something about this encounter that is significantly different than all the others he's been baptizing. J.B. recognizes it immediately, because when he see's Jesus he says, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" This sounds normal to us because we understand all that Jesus did for us, but to the people who heard J.B. say this, it would have made no sense! But J.B. was fully aware of who Jesus was. But if you were there and you didn't believe J.B. was right or telling the truth, there was no denying there was something special about Jesus, because immediately after Jesus is baptized, we see the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. This is an amazing encounter, and just the beginning of an entire gospel of encounters that tell us one thing. This Jesus, he IS the Son of God.
Amazing. Jesus. The Messiah. The anointed one. Savior of the World. That's who we're going to encounter as we continue to study our way through the gospel of John. Spend some time this morning reflecting on who Jesus is to you. Do you have a right grasp of who he is? If you're not sure, that's ok, ask God to help you fully understand who Jesus is as you read through the gospel of John. If you are fully aware of who Jesus is awesome! The question for you is, what are you doing to prepare the way for him? What are you doing to proclaim him out in the wilderness to all the people you yourself encounter? Do you see him as "the one who's sandals I am not worthy to untie" or is he just a secondary part of your life?
Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Leave a comment with prayers you have, key verses, or key ideas you want to remember.
Monday, January 23, 2012
The Word Has Come - John 1:1-18
Read: John 1: 1-18
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God,” begins the Gospel of John. Often times we gloss over this introductory statement in John, but this is a very important passage! In the original Greek, the Word was logos, which means a way, a philosophy, the singular truth around which the world revolves. This is the same root from which we get our term “logic.” All those “-ology” classes have a basis in logos. Bio-logy, for example, seeks to ascertain the truth behind life. For me, however, the Chinese word dao would be a superior translation because dao also involves a way of life, an ethic. Thus, in one word, logos, we see already the undeniable attributes of God. God is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No truth is ever separated from God. No life is ever far from God. Even the most degenerate criminals are never far away from God – you always can see God weeping not far behind them. Indeed, all life on earth, all truths on earth, all things on earth exist and mean something because God made it so. At school, in math, science, literature, or whatever classes, I encourage you all to pause and just admire how everything you learn exists only because God spoke, and it was so. It’s easy for us to complain about how school sucks and how math, chemistry, literature, etc. is boring, and whatnot. But what if we regarded the course material not as drudgery, but as gifts of God, as learning about how God has organized the world?
But the significance of this passage is that this Word became flesh (v. 14) and dwelled among us, breathing our air, walking our roads. Truth is no longer some abstract concept, some unreachable ideal. Many Buddhists seek to find ultimate truth in enlightenment, and meditate in order to get to that ideal. But for us Christians we don’t need to meditate our way to Truth. Truth has come to us, and his name is Jesus! That is why the way of Jesus is the way of Truth; the life of Jesus is the life of Truth. In this season of Advent, we remember the expectant waiting of this Truth. Maybe some of you remember your younger days when you were expectantly waiting for Christmas Day because that is the day when the presents underneath the Christmas tree is truly yours. Let us, therefore, have this attitude of expectation as we remember the day God blessed us with Jesus. For on Christmas Day, the Way, the Truth, and the Life is opened and extends his inviting hand out to us, inviting us to follow him.
Leave a comment with prayers you have, key verses, or key ideas you want to remember.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God,” begins the Gospel of John. Often times we gloss over this introductory statement in John, but this is a very important passage! In the original Greek, the Word was logos, which means a way, a philosophy, the singular truth around which the world revolves. This is the same root from which we get our term “logic.” All those “-ology” classes have a basis in logos. Bio-logy, for example, seeks to ascertain the truth behind life. For me, however, the Chinese word dao would be a superior translation because dao also involves a way of life, an ethic. Thus, in one word, logos, we see already the undeniable attributes of God. God is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No truth is ever separated from God. No life is ever far from God. Even the most degenerate criminals are never far away from God – you always can see God weeping not far behind them. Indeed, all life on earth, all truths on earth, all things on earth exist and mean something because God made it so. At school, in math, science, literature, or whatever classes, I encourage you all to pause and just admire how everything you learn exists only because God spoke, and it was so. It’s easy for us to complain about how school sucks and how math, chemistry, literature, etc. is boring, and whatnot. But what if we regarded the course material not as drudgery, but as gifts of God, as learning about how God has organized the world?
But the significance of this passage is that this Word became flesh (v. 14) and dwelled among us, breathing our air, walking our roads. Truth is no longer some abstract concept, some unreachable ideal. Many Buddhists seek to find ultimate truth in enlightenment, and meditate in order to get to that ideal. But for us Christians we don’t need to meditate our way to Truth. Truth has come to us, and his name is Jesus! That is why the way of Jesus is the way of Truth; the life of Jesus is the life of Truth. In this season of Advent, we remember the expectant waiting of this Truth. Maybe some of you remember your younger days when you were expectantly waiting for Christmas Day because that is the day when the presents underneath the Christmas tree is truly yours. Let us, therefore, have this attitude of expectation as we remember the day God blessed us with Jesus. For on Christmas Day, the Way, the Truth, and the Life is opened and extends his inviting hand out to us, inviting us to follow him.
Leave a comment with prayers you have, key verses, or key ideas you want to remember.
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