Advent

December 18, 2021

Scripture Reading: John 1:1-14

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 came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

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.

We are each a combination of our genetics, life experiences, cultural influences, as was Jesus when he came to dwell among us. The Scripture above describes his beginning present at the creation of the world. The book of John delves into the mystery, might, and majesty of Jesus, the Christ. Matthew, Mark, and Luke shared more about his human experiences and dwelling with other humans. Star Trek may have borrowed from those scenarios when it had a series of shows that place the ominous Q in the experience of being a human without his supernatural powers. It was very tough for him. His reactions were more like those of Moses, raised in the Pharaoh’s palace when he struggled to accept his identity as an Israelite, having been raised as a royal. He killed a man and ran for his life. Moses spent some time as a shepherd trying to find himself until he found the burning bush. Jesus had the advantage of being born and raised in human form. He knew what it meant to work hard and perhaps be hungry. He knew who held power and who did not. Jesus’s trip to the wilderness with John the Baptist was designed to immerse him into life as the Son of God.

During Advent, let us consider how well our humanness meshes with our faith. Does our genetics, culture, or life experiences define our faith, or have we immersed ourselves in the ways of the living God? One of the greatest gifts God gave us was a baby born in a manger who, from the beginning, knew personally the struggles we face, who taught us how to love one another because of or despite our genetics, life experiences, and cultural influences.

Prayer: God of Grace, we thank you for the gift of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Open our hearts and minds to life as he taught us. Amen.

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.