Jesus: God’s living (and dying) love letter
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
Isn’t today’s passage about “life,” not the cross? No—it starts a story that ends with Jesus (“the Word”) dying on the cross and then alive again. “By the time that John writes his Gospel, ‘the Word’ is close to being recognized as a personal being, and it has roles relating to the manner in which God created the world and to the way in which God reveals himself to the world that he brought into being…. Phillips at least makes an effort to give his translation meaning: “At the beginning God expressed himself.” *
- From a human perspective, Jesus’ death on the cross was a time of deep darkness (cf. Mark 15:25, 33-34). But the central point of John’s narrative was that “the light shines in the darkness… the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light.” In what ways does that convey the message that the cross, seen from God’s perspective, was a “word” expressing the light of God’s profoundly self-giving love for all humanity?
- John’s prologue was superb theological poetry about reality. Is a geologist’s precise technical report on the Grand Canyon’s sediments and rocks “truer” than a poet’s imagery evoking the Canyon’s awe and grandeur, or are both “true” but in different ways? When has some event or connection lifted you “out of yourself” or helped you “get “in touch” with depths in yourself, pointing to realities that go beyond your ordinary day-to-day life? How can Jesus’ cross do that?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you were (and are) light in my darkness. Continue to change me from the inside out to be a beacon reflecting your light to those around me. Amen.
GPS Insights
Melanie Hill
Melanie Hill, who serves as the Director of Operations at Resurrection's West location, wrote today’s Insight. She is a Navy mom and mom of three teen daughters, a wife of 24 years, and an avid fan of nachos.
An old saying says “you’re only as happy as your least happy kid.” I think it’s true about stress as well. As a mom I often feel that my stress level is too often in proportion to my kids. I was talking with my son yesterday who just returned from an awesome weeklong backpacking and hiking trip over his college spring break. He shared that it was one of the most amazing trips he has taken. He loved being out in nature on the Appalachian trail totally disconnected from technology. It was just the break he needed, he said.
Skip ahead two days back into classes and I received a text that he was totally stressed out. I think I replied something to the effect of “that escalated quickly.” I can’t blame him too much though–I’ve been there myself. You finally get that break that refills your cup and leaves you feeling rested and rejuvenated and BAM! You step right back into life and the stress kicks right back in. Maybe that’s just part of the rhythm of life. I’m sure that is why God invented sabbath for us. I’ve found in my life that one of the best ways I can deal with stress is to count my blessings.
On the days that I am feeling most surrounded by darkness it can be hard to see the light. Counting my blessings doesn’t get rid of the darkness. What was stressing me out is still there. Instead, it reminds me that the darkness is not all there is. There is also light. It helps me refocus away from the darkness and toward the light. It reminds me that the light is not stagnant. No, it is moving! God is in action!
During Lent as I focus on the cross, I am reminded that God is not done. The story is not over. Just as a focus on gratitude helps me recenter my perspective, a focus on the cross reminds me that God is still moving. “What came into being through the Word was life, and the life was the light for all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light.”
My prayer for you today is that you might experience the life and light that has come into the world. Whether you are feeling stressed out, hurt, or broken, I pray that you might, through gratitude, be reminded that the light still shines. I shared this advice with my son and received back a text that read “I tried your gratitude thing and it worked, thanks!” I hope it works for you today too.
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Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Barclay M. Newman and Eugene A. Nida, A Handbook on the Gospel of John. New York: United Bible Societies, 1980, p. 7 with quotation from The New Testament in Modern English by J.B Phillips copyright © 1960, 1972 J. B. Phillips. Administered by The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England. Used by Permission.
