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. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And 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. (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.” ’) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known. John 1:1-18
We have shifted this week from Matthew's gospel to John. I have always loved John's gospel for it's poetry and imagery. He tells many of the same stories as the other Gospels but has made the telling an artistic, insightful story. John is the latest of the Gospels, which means there might have been more time to describe and imagine. "The word (of God) is made flesh and lived among us. God among us, here and now, as well as then. Jesus came and the world rejected and crucified him, yet he rose again for our sakes, the be with us as we live. What a gift to know God's love is so intense towards all creation, that the incarnate Word, lived and suffered as we do. We are never alone, nor far from the living God. God who was human, real human flesh, knows the depths of our fears, despair and pain.
Wondrous Creator, who sent your only Son to us
as your Word made flesh to dwell among us here
so that we might see you standing with the world.
We suffer from the hurts and wounds every day
we lash out with anger and scream in prayer
and all the time you abide with all of us here.
Help us to see you in our joys and out sorrows
help us know your Word so we might speak love
and be your love and compassion in the flesh. Amen.
