John 1:1-18, Isaiah 43:18-21
A new calendar year has begun. Have you ever thought how from God’s perspective…January 1st is just another day? While celestial bodies circling and revolving is a thing of the divine, only humans make such things as calendars to make sense of it all. Nonetheless, utilizing something like New Year’s Day as a new start is not a bad thing. Any day is a good day to do the right thing.
But as we will read below, Christ (the Word) was intended by God from the very beginning. Whatever else has happened with humanity, whatever else humans have decided to do or be, God’s intention has always been for humanity to reflect who we come to see in Christ. John 1 sets that stage for us.
But first, just a few words about how this will go as we begin Jesus Daily:
The scripture text will be included in the post each day - most often from the Common English Bible, but you are encouraged to use your own Bible.
On some days, introductory remarks or considerations will be included, but other days, the post will just have the scripture and prayer.
While for the majority of the year the readings will follow the general path of the current gospel book, readings will be more thematic on Sundays, Christian holidays, and during particular seasons (Advent, Lent, Easter, etc.).
With that, let’s get going!
John 1:1-18
In the beginning was the Word
and the Word was with God
and the Word was God.
The Word was with God in the beginning.
Everything came into being through the Word,
and without the Word
nothing came into being.
What came into being
through the Word was life,
and the life was the light for all people.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light.
A man named John was sent from God. He came as a witness to testify concerning the light, so that through him everyone would believe in the light. He himself wasn’t the light, but his mission was to testify concerning the light.
The true light that shines on all people
was coming into the world.
The light was in the world,
and the world came into being through the light,
but the world didn’t recognize the light.
The light came to his own people,
and his own people didn’t welcome him.
But those who did welcome him,
those who believed in his name,
he authorized to become God’s children,
born not from blood
nor from human desire or passion,
but born from God.
The Word became flesh
and made his home among us.
We have seen his glory,
glory like that of a father’s only son,
full of grace and truth.
John testified about him, crying out, “This is the one of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than me because he existed before me.’”
From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace;
as the Law was given through Moses,
so grace and truth came into being through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God.
God the only Son,
who is at the Father’s side,
has made God known.
Isaiah 43:18-21
Don’t remember the prior things;
don’t ponder ancient history.
Look! I’m doing a new thing;
now it sprouts up; don’t you recognize it?
I’m making a way in the desert,
paths in the wilderness.
The beasts of the field,
the jackals and ostriches, will honor me,
because I have put water in the desert
and streams in the wilderness
to give water to my people,
my chosen ones,
this people whom I formed for myself,
who will recount my praise.
Prayer:
God, we're told that in the beginning was the Word. Before anything else, you had a word and a message. You've spoken your message to us in a variety of ways, but during Christmas, we remember that your clearest declaration of your Word came in the human, Jesus Christ. Your message went from simple words into a whole person, one of us. Thank you for Christ, your message to us and for us as one of us. So now today then Lord, help us to live his way. Make us your Word...to our families, to our friends, to our neighbors, to our colleagues, to the world at large. Make us be for all your good news, as Christ himself is good news. We choose to be vessels today as he was a vessel. Tabernacle in us as your Spirit did in him. Make us the Body of Christ. We pray it by your Spirit and in his name, Amen.