Reading the Word

John 1:1–18 (ESV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

Understanding and Applying the Word

As we read through the life of Jesus throughout this year, we will be taking a chronological approach. Three of the four Gospels, Mark being the exception, speak of Christ coming into the world. Matthew and Luke give us the events surrounding his miraculous birth. The opening words to John’s Gospel also tell us of Jesus coming into the world, but in a much different way.

John tells us that Jesus is divine. He is the eternal Word who became flesh and dwelt among us. How amazing is that! The eternal Creator came into the world as a man to reveal to us the truth about God (v. 18). It is through Jesus that we know definitively that God exists, what he is like, what he desires from us, and how much he loves us.

Jesus, the man who lived, died, and rose again from the dead, confirmed that our Scriptures are the word of God. He taught us that God is loving and gracious and will forgive those who repent of their sins. And he went to the cross to show us just how great a price God was willing to pay for our salvation. The Resurrection confirmed that Jesus was who he claimed to be and that what he taught was true. God really came and dwelt among us! That makes all the difference in the world!

**Shaped by the Word is a daily, Bible-reading devotional. Please subscribe to this page so you can follow along each day. We will be reading through the life of Christ as recorded in the four Gospel accounts in 2019.