JOHN 1:1-18
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him 8 He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, 13 who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified concerning him and exclaimed, “This was the one of whom I said, ‘The one coming after me ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’”)16 Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, 17 for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
HEAR:
The book of John is written that we might believe. In John 20:31, it says “but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” In John 1, God the Son is revealed as the Word of God. When we hear from the word, we are hearing from Jesus himself.
Listen to the Holy Spirit and pray. Specifically think about:
See the person of Jesus and listen to his voice. Behold the one who created us and took on flesh to give us life (v.3,14). Observe his glory.
Are you living in the grace of God? See that we have received grace upon grace from the fullness of Jesus (v.16).
Where is the darkness in your own life? The Lord’s light has arrived and is powerful to overcome that darkness (v.5).
RESPOND:
The light came into the world not to judge it; rather, he would willingly subject himself to its rebellion and bear its sins. In the natural realm, light always overcomes darkness, so too in the spiritual realm, the light always overcomes the spiritual darkness that holds the world in its grip.
Respond back to God in prayer:
Who do you know today that is walking in darkness? Pray that God’s light would break through and give life (vv.4-5).
Pray for witnesses like John the Baptist to rise up and be sent out in Boston so that the name and light of Jesus would be revealed to everyone (v.7,12).
Ask God to reveal the Son to a lost generation (v.18). Pray that they would encounter the presence of Jesus through the word (v.1).
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