John 1:1-18 (NRSV)
Read John 1:1-18 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Verse 2He was in the beginning with God. Verse 3All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being Verse 4in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.
Verse 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. Verse 6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. Verse 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. Verse 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. Verse 9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. Verse 10He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. Verse 11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. Verse 12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, Verse 13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. Verse 14And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.
Verse 15(John testified to him and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.'") Verse 16From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. Verse 17The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Verse 18No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known.
Devotion
As I reflect on the images of light in this week's gospel lesson, I can't help but think of a song I wrote many years ago with the help of my good friend Hans Peterson of Dakota Road. It's titled, "Secure in Your Arms." The sun was going down at Good Earth Village Bible Camp in Minnesota as our eyes gazed over the valley and the splendor of God's creation.
"Christ you are my light through the dark of night,
I sense your presence near as you calm my deepest fear."
Chorus: "You brought me through the day, guiding along the way.
Now I rest secure in your arms.
God I pray for peace, fighting and war to cease.
Remind me of your plan that one day love will rule the land." (Chorus)
That security, that love, that comfort, that hope—those blessings are what "grace upon grace" means to me. Because of Christ we keep getting one blessing after another. Got grace? Well, here's some more!
Prayer
God of grace and truth, you have given us so much to be thankful for. Continue to shower us your children with mercy and grace, so that as grace-filled people we may proclaim your majesty to all the world. AMEN!