Names of Jesus | Advent DevotionalSample

Friday, December 6
John 1 | Word of God
Author: Dr. Joel Satterly

Many of us have favorite passages of Scripture. John 1 is one of mine. That has not always been the case, but these verses have become dear to our family over the years, particularly as part of Advent. Like most families, the Satterlys enjoy certain Christmas traditions. Some of those were established intentionally, such as opening presents on Christmas morning, not Christmas Eve, while others just kind of developed. Our love for John 1 fits into the latter category.

We first became acquainted with John 1 as an alternative to the more traditional Christmas reading of Luke 2 mainly because of over-exposure to A Charlie Brown Christmas and also a desire for our children to have a more unique family experience. Later, we were exposed to A Service of Lessons and Carols during one of our stops in Christian school leadership. Traditionally, the Ninth Lesson, John 1:1-14, was read by the Provost of King’s College, Cambridge. As Headmaster of the school, this reading became mine. As a result, it afforded an opportunity to deeply read and meditate on the passage.

For many years, and now, when we have the privilege of being with our children and grandchildren on Christmas morning, we read and pray through John 1. It is a rich passage highlighting the wonder of Christmas and the majesty of The Christ.

The opening verse … “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God …” powerfully opens the book and sets the stage for all that follows. John retells the creation story in just a few words. Here, Logos refers to the unique revelation of God as Jesus. Wisdom personified. In his commentary on John, D.A. Carson makes the case that John's opening verses connect God’s self-expression in creation, revelation, and salvation depicted in the Old Testament with God’s self-disclosure in Jesus – the Word was with God and was God.

The verses also describe Jesus as the true light, the means of salvation, who is rejected by many, and as one who gives the right to those who believe to be children of God. Here, we are told that Jesus is the means of salvation—the way, truth, and life. Salvation also means that we are restored to a right relationship with God; we are sons. This is Good News!

Two final beautiful elements are revealed toward the end of the passage—gifts worthy of Christmas morning. First, our status before God is not of our own doing or any other person's; it is because we are born of God. In other words, God does it! It is His gift.

The second is incredible. It separates Christianity from every other religion. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus is made low. He comes to us, lives with us, and is known to us. Hallelujah!