Testifying to the Light

John 1:6  There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7  He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8  He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9  The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10  He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11  He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12  But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13  who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14  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 opens his Gospel with poetry and philosophy. These are beautifully evocative words of light and darkness, of embracing and rejection, of blood and flesh and of spirit.  This is the story of power to become children of God, and of the glory of the son of the father, and of ‘grace and truth’.

Jesus-followers invite our world to enter into the mystery, the glory, the imagination and the majestic poetry that is Christmas.     

First Sunday in Advent

2. Preparing the Way

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 20.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.