John 1:1-5;1:14
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 were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
This passage talks about "The Word". Now, at first it might sound a little confusing, but to skip the lengthy discourse and put it simply, "The Word" is God the Son. God the Son by no doubt is God, but He is also distinguished from God the Father. Although I'm tempted to go into a long discussion about the trinity, instead I'll focus on what it says later on:
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
When the Holy Spirit conceived a child inside of Mary's womb, something amazing happened; God entered the world He had made. God sent Himself (The Father sent the Son) into the world to finish the story He had started. THE WORD (GOD HIMSELF) TOOK ON FLESH! HE BECAME A HUMAN! THAT'S AMAZING! He came into our world and subjected Himself to our weaknesses to save us from our sins! Think about it: God was in perfect peace and harmony, then to save us wretched sinners, He left that paradise behind and became as a little, tiny, helpless baby to be cared for by those whom He Himself created! That is radical love; That is the real Christmas story.
At this time of year, it's easy to get caught up in the cute little scene with the baby in a manger with angels flying over head while kings from the east presenting gifts to the child, but let's stop and remember the real significance of the whole story. Instead of focusing on the cute paintings and nativity scenes, let's focus on this amazing truth: God left His paradise and subjected Himself to all kinds of pain to bring us the life He left behind; He came that we might seen His Glory; He came that He might be God with us - our Emmanuel.
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 were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
This passage talks about "The Word". Now, at first it might sound a little confusing, but to skip the lengthy discourse and put it simply, "The Word" is God the Son. God the Son by no doubt is God, but He is also distinguished from God the Father. Although I'm tempted to go into a long discussion about the trinity, instead I'll focus on what it says later on:
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
When the Holy Spirit conceived a child inside of Mary's womb, something amazing happened; God entered the world He had made. God sent Himself (The Father sent the Son) into the world to finish the story He had started. THE WORD (GOD HIMSELF) TOOK ON FLESH! HE BECAME A HUMAN! THAT'S AMAZING! He came into our world and subjected Himself to our weaknesses to save us from our sins! Think about it: God was in perfect peace and harmony, then to save us wretched sinners, He left that paradise behind and became as a little, tiny, helpless baby to be cared for by those whom He Himself created! That is radical love; That is the real Christmas story.
At this time of year, it's easy to get caught up in the cute little scene with the baby in a manger with angels flying over head while kings from the east presenting gifts to the child, but let's stop and remember the real significance of the whole story. Instead of focusing on the cute paintings and nativity scenes, let's focus on this amazing truth: God left His paradise and subjected Himself to all kinds of pain to bring us the life He left behind; He came that we might seen His Glory; He came that He might be God with us - our Emmanuel.