John, chapter 1 part 1

This morning is interesting. It is the first time I have turned to the Scriptures in two weeks. Because of my vacation, I stepped away from the Word and did not keep up with my devotions. I did not realize how much I needed to spend regular time in the Word until these past two weeks. As we step into the final of the four gospels I see just how important it is to stay in that walk with the Word. It is refreshing to be back even though I was burned out before.

Today, we step back into the Word with the John chapter 1. This is a unique gospel, as its author takes on a different tone than the other three of Matthew, mark, and Luke. In this gospel, John seeks to present Christ as the beginning of all things. It still tells the story of His life on earth, but it focuses primarily on his identity and the fact that he is equal with God. In this, we are shown our need for salvation and through which that salvation may come.

¹⁰He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹²Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

¹⁴The 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 1:10-14

John refers to Christ here as the Word. We tend to think of the Word as the Bible itself, but this is still an apt description for Christ. I say this because the Word is a living, breathing thing that teaches and comforts us. Christ is merely the Word personified. He is the ultimate source of Truth and he literally became the promise of the Word when he came to earth to die for our sins. He is the beginning of the Word as well as the ultimate fulfillment of its promise. That is what John is trying to tell us here.