John 1:1-18
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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. [...]
It's All in the Packaging!
Cartoon Cool Stuff
The plan certainly isn't anything we can really comprehend,
but we can understand the main point: God's incredible love for
us.
John 1:1-18
John the Baptist Testifies to the Light
[...] 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.
[...]
Lighten Up
Cartoon Cool Stuff
John, the writer of this Gospel, goes cosmic on us
and has caused many a theologian to split hairs over Jesus' relationship
to God ever since. Fortunately salvation doesn't depend on us
getting it right, but rather on God setting it right! Jesus shows
us God's grace, teaches us about God's love and gives us the perfect
example of living in relationship with God. Let's hope that we, as Christians, can
be humble in espousing our understanding of God and Jesus, and
focus on the unity that brings us all together!
John 1:1-18
Grace 101
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. [...]
Before the Beginning
This explanation of the "Word" (or in Greek Logos - meaning reason) of God is less about geneology and more about how the relationship God has for God's creation - love. That is the good news - the Gospel. Not some formula derived out of highly symbolic language.
The book of John has perhaps the highest view of Jesus divine status, suggesting that Jesus was not adopted by God at his baptism (per Mark) or created divine at his birth (per Matthew and Mark) or through his resurrection (per Paul and pre-literate traditions), but before the beginning of time. Theologians have quite a challenge sorting it all out, but for the average Christian the important thing is what Jesus came to teach us about the love of God. However for John, with his deep metaphor and grandeous symbolism, suffice it to say the Jesus is the ultimate sign of God's love.
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