The Word for today:
John 1: 1-18
I clearly remember the meeting on the day we thought up the simple concept of "Stand in the Rain." In fact, the concept is so simple it thought itself up: a three-year Bible reading program, with daily readings alternating between Old and New Testaments, accompanied by a daily blog to promote and teach it. The plan was simple, strong, true. We saw that it was good. We committed to it. The meeting was over.
But walking down the short hall from the meeting room to my desk, a moment of panic crossed my mind: "John, chapter 1. How on God's green earth do you blog John chapter 1?"
Because John chapter 1 packs more meaning onto the page it occupies than any other page in all of recorded writing. Well, John chapter 1 is here now. Where to begin?
Maybe I should write about the three beginnings in the Bible: in John, Genesis, and Mark--in that order.
Maybe introduce the concept of the logos--the Word.
How about noting the light of Genesis 1:3 which echoes in John 1:4. Or was it the light from John 1:4 which echoes in Genesis?
Or the unbridled pure power of our rebirth and resurrection in 1:12?
Or the incarnation--the Word made flesh and now amongst us--in 1:14?
Or how about grace upon grace?
Faced with my own limitations, unworthy to render meager comment, I've decided to get out of the way, and listen as deep calls unto deep in its native tongue:
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.
John 1: 1-18
I clearly remember the meeting on the day we thought up the simple concept of "Stand in the Rain." In fact, the concept is so simple it thought itself up: a three-year Bible reading program, with daily readings alternating between Old and New Testaments, accompanied by a daily blog to promote and teach it. The plan was simple, strong, true. We saw that it was good. We committed to it. The meeting was over.
But walking down the short hall from the meeting room to my desk, a moment of panic crossed my mind: "John, chapter 1. How on God's green earth do you blog John chapter 1?"
Because John chapter 1 packs more meaning onto the page it occupies than any other page in all of recorded writing. Well, John chapter 1 is here now. Where to begin?
Maybe I should write about the three beginnings in the Bible: in John, Genesis, and Mark--in that order.
Maybe introduce the concept of the logos--the Word.
How about noting the light of Genesis 1:3 which echoes in John 1:4. Or was it the light from John 1:4 which echoes in Genesis?
Or the unbridled pure power of our rebirth and resurrection in 1:12?
Or the incarnation--the Word made flesh and now amongst us--in 1:14?
Or how about grace upon grace?
Faced with my own limitations, unworthy to render meager comment, I've decided to get out of the way, and listen as deep calls unto deep in its native tongue:
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.
"In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
ReplyDeleteThe light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
Does it get any better than that? That's all the hope that we can hang our hats on. That's the basket where all of our eggs can go. That is the be all, end all of the hope we've been given! No matter how dark the world may seem, it has not now, nor will it ever overcome the light of Christ!
Amen, Tim, it doesn't get any better than that. These lines shine under their own power.
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