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John reported love’s life-giving power

February 7, 2024
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Daily Scripture

John 1:1-4, 3:3-8, 20:30-31

John 1
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.

John 3
3 Jesus answered, “I assure you, unless someone is born anew [or from above], it’s not possible to see God’s kingdom.”
4 Nicodemus asked, “How is it possible for an adult to be born? It’s impossible to enter the mother’s womb for a second time and be born, isn’t it?”
5 Jesus answered, “I assure you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, it’s not possible to enter God’s kingdom. 6 Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Don’t be surprised that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’ 8 God’s Spirit blows wherever it wishes. You hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. It’s the same with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

John 20
30 Then Jesus did many other miraculous signs in his disciples’ presence, signs that aren’t recorded in this scroll. 31 But these things are written so that you will believe that Jesus is the Christ, God’s Son, and that believing, you will have life in his name.

Daily Reflection & Prayer

John’s gospel was all about God-given “life.” The famous “born again” passage didn’t specifically use the word “life,” but that’s what it was all about. “He said to Nicodemus, ‘You must be born again.’ In the Greek it can be translated, born again, born anew, or born from above. And the point, I think, the only reason to be born is so that you can live. God wants you to live. God wants us to have life, and God wants all of his children to have life.” * Rome ruled by threatening death. Jesus offered life.

  • John’s great poetic prologue said, “What came into being through the Word was life, and the life was the light for all people.” In Hebrew thought, Genesis 1:3, 6 et al said God created by speaking (cf. also Psalm 33:6). Greek thinkers saw “the Word” (Greek logos) as the force that directed the universe. In what ways has Jesus, the Word, brought you “life”? What can help you to take in more fully how much the life-giving God loves you and wants you in his kingdom?
  • Bishop Curry joyously summed up John 20:21’s message: “At the end of the gospel, ‘I’ve written all these things so that you might believe and have life.’ The whole point is life abundant. Life meant for each. Life for rich folk and life for poor folk. Life for Democrats and life for Republicans. Life for Independents. Life for Deputies. Life for Bishops. Life for everybody. Life!” ** We’re sure God’s love wins because Jesus showed that evil can’t end God’s loving gift of life. Can you trust that?
Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for John’s use of his writing ability to offer me (and everyone) life. Guide my thoughts as I reflect on your life of love in all its majesty and mystery. Amen.

GPS Insights

Picture of Jennifer Creagar

Jennifer Creagar

Jennifer Creagar serves as the Community Assistance Coordination Director in Resurrection's Congregational Care Ministry. She is married and loves spending time with her family, and she enjoys writing and photography.

It’s really interesting how, when it’s time to share my thoughts about the Scripture and teaching brought to us each day through the GPS, the assigned reading is exactly what I need to hear. That definitely happened when I looked at the installment for today. I am not a Winter person. The long cold, gray days always drain the joy from me. I get grumpy and begin to view things expecting the grayness. I lose the joy and the gratitude for all the blessings around me. I can feel sort of dead inside, even on a day when the sun does shine.

But here in the first chapter of John, “What came into being was life, and the life was the light for all people.” And the last, “But these things are written so you will believe that Jesus is the Christ, God’s Son, and that believing, you will have life in his name.” God made sure we would have light that gray clouds can’t block out. God gave us life, and joy, and hope, and grace that can’t be blotted out by cold and clouds, or by worry, or anxiety. God loves us and wants us to live life in the fullest way possible. Jesus came to tell us how to do that. Love, grace, gratitude for our blessings (which are there, even in the Winter), the small miracles that are there every day if we only look. Caring for each other in all the ways we long to be cared for. Life, even in the dark seasons. For everyone. Today I am very thankful to sit in that light.

Lord God who loved us so much that you gave us light and life that cannot be diminished by darkness, open our eyes to see the life and light that is everywhere around us–your gift and blessing. Help us live our lives today basking in that light and your love, Amen.

© 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

* Curry, Bishop Michael. The Power of Love (p. 46). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
** Ibid.