God with us unto eternal life | Dec. 14
John 1:1-5, 9-14
Josh Ratzlaff | Young Adults Pastoral Intern
Last year, my brother brought a beautiful coffee table into our living room. It is a testament to my father, not only because he taught my brother all the skills of using tools and wood finish, but also because he spent years working alongside him.
My dad built our home for us to live in and built into us skills for life development as his children; but, God gives greater life transformation to all willing to receive Him. In speaking about Jesus coming to dwell with humanity in order to give eternal life, John says:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 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.
– John 1:1-5, 9-14
In Christianity, God is not merely there waiting for us to reach up to Him. He came to dwell among us. Creator God over all the cosmos indwelled human flesh. Why?
So that we might receive Him (11-12), and so that he can adopt us as children, born of God. But why? So that we might be with Him, enjoying Him as the Son enjoys the Father and Father enjoys the Son before the world was created (1-3). In this united joy and love, they created the world for the purpose of us seeing His glory and joining them in their joy.
PRAYER: Thank you Jesus for not leaving us in darkness, but coming as true light and life to give us new life by receiving you. May we give you glory for your endless truth and grace, amen.