“The light shines in the darkness”. As we draw near to Christmas, John’s gospel focuses not the particulars of the baby in Bethlehem, but on who Jesus is and what his coming means for the whole world.
Worship this weekend: Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in Chapel
Sunday – 8:30 Traditional Worship
9:30 Adult Bible Study and Fellowship (No Sunday School this week)
10:30 Contemporary Worship
December 22, 2013
John 1:1-18
Key Verse: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1
Time: about 30 CE
Background: The gospel of John differs from Matthew, Mark, and Luke in many ways. The three share similar stories. They have similar approaches to interpreting Jesus’ presence on the earth. John focuses more on God’s word and teachings than on the events of Jesus’ life. It looks more at who Jesus was, than on what Jesus did, specifically on Jesus’ relationship with God.
This first passage provides a lens through which we can view the rest of the book. It sets up images of light vs. darkness, belief, truth, and testimony. Jesus is the one who points toward God, emphasizing that God is the origin of all things and above all things.
Community: What imagery informs how your community of faith views Jesus? What images are limiting? What images are life-giving? What new images might your community of faith adopt to enhance your view of Jesus? How could these new images inform your community’s behavior?
At Home: Think about your life’s story. Which is easier to tell: who you are, or what you’ve done? How do both inform how you choose to live from here on out? What will you keep? What could you change?
Read This Week:
Monday, Dec 23, Birth of Jesus Foretold, Luke 1:26-38
Tuesday, Dec 24, Birth of Jesus, Luke 2:1-20
Wednesday, Dec 25, Shepherds, Matthew 2:1-12
Thursday, Dec 26, Jesus Is Presented in the Temple, Luke 2:21-32
Friday, Dec 27, Jesus Is Presented in the Temple, Luke 2:33-40
Saturday, Dec 28, The Boy Jesus in the Temple, Luke 2:41-52
Next Week: Sunday, Dec 29, A Voice in the Wilderness, John 1:19-34
