Christmastide
January 2, 2021
Scripture Reading:
John 1:(1-9), 10-18
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 1:10-18
The word world used here refers to the universe, worldly affairs, the inhabitants of the world*. Genesis 1 begins the world’s story coming into existence from God’s creative action of turning chaos into an ordered system placed under human care. God spoke, and the ordered system emerged. John indicates that Jesus Christ was the Word from which the world came into being. The world had drifted so far away from its righteous beginning; it no longer recognized the Word from which it derived. The Incarnation of Christ was necessary to correct that disconnection.
We humans have a history of not maintaining our relationship with God when things are going well. Rather than singing Praise God from whom all blessings flow**, we celebrate the good life as our achievement singing Oh Lord; it’s hard to be humble When you’re perfect in every way*** Evil enjoys destroying us through our privilege.
As we enter a new year, some careful self-evaluation may help us turn self-righteousness into God’s righteousness and inch us ever closer to a world ruled by love.
Prayer: Creator and sustainer of the world help us appreciate our creation’s gifts and responsibilities. Help us know you more nearly as we work on modeling our lives after your Word. Amen.
*https://biblehub.com/greek/2889.htm
**From a doxology written by Thomas Ken in the 17th century see at https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/8
***From It’s Hard to Be Humble by Mac Davis see at https://genius.com/Mac-davis-its-hard-to-be-humble-lyrics
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.