John

Check out all the previous John readings here.

John Reading Plan | Week 1, Day 2

Prayer

Give your soul a moment of silence to align with your body. Express gratitude to God for the opportunity to be with Him and invite Him to meet you at this time.

Bible Reading: John 1:6-18

Read these verses three times slowly.

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

(John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

Reflection & Questions

Yesterday we read that the Word (Jesus) was God, was with God from the beginning and He created everything. Now what would you expect the Word to do? As He looks upon a broken world that has rejected Him? Destroy it and start over? Perhaps. At least, we’d expect Him to leave us to our own devices. But what is shocking is John’s statement, “The Word became flesh.” Rather than ignore us or reject us, the Word became one of us. The Creator became a creature. This is a shocking claim. John has gone far beyond saying there is a God. He is saying that God visited us. Amazing.

As He took on flesh, what was His attitude to His creation? “He came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” He came to give us the truth. To bring light into darkness. To show us what is real and what is illusion. And His attitude in bringing that truth to light? Grace. Kindness. Mercy. He came to save. Not that everyone received Him. Staggeringly, “though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him… did not receive Him.” There perhaps is no statement ever uttered that is more sad. But some did receive Him and to those who do, “He gave the right to become children of God.” This is the character of our God. Us broken creatures, who have ignored and rejected Him, are not rejected and ignored by Him. We who believe are received and given a new identity: children of God.

1. What word or phrase from these verses stick out to you? Why?
2. What are some words that come to mind as you think of… mankind’s rejection of God? …God’s mercy upon those who believe?

Prayer

Talk to God in response to today’s reading.

Worship Song

You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:

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Questions?