Monday, December 12, 2022  

Today’s Scripture Reading
John 1:1–5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. (NRSV)

Reflection

A familiar, beautiful, profound passage from the New Testament. How many ways can it pull you in and challenge and delight you? I found at least three:

1. Linguistically. These five verses include some very interesting word usage. “Word” stands out initially. In John’s original Greek, this would be logos. Both the Greeks and the Hebrews were familiar with the rich meaning of this word. To the Greeks, logos meant something that was right and true, the power that kept the world in order and forestalled chaos. To the Hebrews, the “word” of God was sometimes interchangeable with the idea of God the Father. To know one was to know the other. In a single verse, John meets Jews and Gentiles on ground familiar to both groups.

2. Theologically. Among other ideas about creation and Christ’s role in the world, this passage asserts the existence of the Trinity. Jesus was with the Father before anything was created, “in the beginning.” It asserts Christ is also a separate being from the Creator. He was with God and also was God, distinct and equal. Whole treatises have been written to examine this, which is more space than I have here.

3. Poetically. This is my favorite way to consider the passage. I can recite these verses from memory without trying. In Jesus was life (zoe— “life principle”), and that life is a light that guides us out of darkness. It will never be snuffed out. Try reading it aloud slowly and see if it doesn’t give you a feeling of awe in Christ’s power and comfort in God’s purpose.

My family made this verse into a Christmas card one year. Our then-four-year-old had drawn a whimsical candlestick (Jack Be Nimble was big that year in our house), and we copied it onto cards and printed these verses inside. My mother still displays the card in a little frame each year at Christmas. In such small things, we can find the essence of our faith, personal and cosmic at the same time.

Prayer

Dearest Lord, Creator, and Sustainer, please keep my eyes open for the mystery, wonder, and beauty of life and your love for me. When darkness descends on me, remind me that your light has been shining since before the beginning and will be there until the end.

Written by Jim Garner, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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