Divine Word: unquenchable light and unending life
Daily Scripture
John 1:1-5
1 In the beginning was the Word
and the Word was with God
and the Word was God.
2 The Word was with God in the beginning.
3 Everything came into being through the Word,
and without the Word
nothing came into being.
What came into being
4 through the Word was life,
and the life was the light for all people.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
John started his gospel by deliberately echoing the first words of Genesis: “In the beginning.” The images of “light” and “life” also echoed those “beginning” stories. John meant that in coming to earth, Jesus the creator was creating anew. Talking about “the Word” drew from both Greek and Hebrew thought worlds. Many Greek thinkers used logos (“the Word”) to identify the great Idea behind nature. For Hebrews, meanwhile, Genesis 1 said God created by speaking, by “the Word” (cf. Psalm 33:6).
- “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light” (verse 5). That’s not just a theological theory; it’s physically true. Light even a small candle in a dark room, and the darkness doesn’t extinguish it. Have there been times when it felt as though “darkness” was trying to put out God’s light in your life? What spiritual practices keep you connected to Jesus “the Word” so that his light can keep shining in and through you?
- John’s prologue daringly linked Greek and Hebrew thought. Greek philosophers said “the Word” (Greek logos) was “divine reason that orders the universe.” * The Hebrew Bible’s first three words were “in the beginning,” and said God spoke everything into being. John chose words and ideas to draw cultures and world views closer, not pitted against each other. Do you believe that continues to be part of the mission of Christ followers, at their best, as they live in Jesus’ power?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you came to earth, not just for some small subset of humanity, but aiming to restore and uplift your entire creation. Help me play my humble part in that vast, saving mission. Amen.
GPS Insights
Mikiala Tennie
Mikiala Tennie, who serves as the Student Discipleship Program Director with Resurrection Students, wrote today’s Insight. She has nearly 20 years of ministry experience and loves encouraging others in their spiritual journey. Mikiala is blessed to be an adoptive aunt and godmother to many kiddos and lives with her 10-pound Yorkie, KiKi Okoye Tennie.
John’s gospel identifies Jesus as God’s Word. That means Jesus is a message sent to each of us, the message that we are given a light. A light that persists through any darkness.
In the same way that we use words to convey our deepest hopes, Christ as God’s Word conveys the hope that darkness doesn’t win–that the deepest and darkest of nights will always give way to morning, that light will always push back the darkness that tries to settle into our world, settle into our hearts and minds.
In the same way that we use words to encourage others, to tell them they are seen, known, loved, and accepted… God used Jesus to convey that we are seen, known, loved, and accepted. We have access to a light that can warm our hearts and light our paths in the midst of winter. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it (John 1:5).” May the clarity of God’s message through the person of Jesus be a light to you and yours this season. I pray that the light of Christ warms your heart and lights your way!
© 2024 Resurrection: A United Methodist Church. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible (p. 9218). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
