John 1:1-14 English Standard Version
The Word Became Flesh
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,[a] 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,[b] and his own people[c] 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[d] from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Psalm 19:1-4 New American Standard Bible
The Works and the Word of God.
For the music director. A Psalm of David.
19 The heavens tell of the glory of God;
And their expanse declares the work of His hands.
2 Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words;
Their voice is not heard.
4 Their [a]line has gone out into all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.
In them He has placed a tent for the sun,
Isaiah 55:10-13 English Standard Version
10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
12 “For you shall go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall break forth into singing,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall make a name for the Lord,
an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”
The Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Let us take a moment or two and parse out specific verses from Psalm 19:1-4 and Isaiah 55:10-13 ….
The World Resonates with God!
The World Resonates with Jesus!
The World Resonates with the Holy Spirit!
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above[a] proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
4 Their voice[b] goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
and it shall make a name for the Lord,
an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
The gospel narrative of John opens with an astonishing declaration: the Word, who is Jesus, the Son of God, has broken into our world full of grace and truth.
As verse 14 beautifully proclaims, the Word “made his dwelling among us.”
If ever there was a moment when the earth could resound with joy and song, it was when the Son of God took on flesh, entered, walked, into our human story.
No wonder the skies were filled with the sound of a heavenly choir: “Hark! The herald angels sing, ‘Glory to the newborn King!’” (see Luke 2:13-14).
John 1:1-14 reveals the fulfillment of Isaiah 55:11—the Word went out and did not return empty.
John 19:30 New American Standard Bible
30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
Jesus accomplished his mission as the Father had intended.
He took on the debt of our sin and rebellion in this world; paid its terrible price through his death on the cross.
He was buried in a tomb, and then he rose from the grave three days later just as the Lord of life and salvation promised.
Later he also returned in victory by ascending to his rightful place in heaven.
Isaiah had prophesied truly about the Word of God, Jesus, who achieved all that God had sent him to do.
Across the centuries, the power of Christ’s work has echoed to every corner of the earth.
2 Corinthians 3:15-18 English Standard Version
15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one[a] turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord[b] is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,[c] are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.[d] For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:15-18 discusses how a veil covers the hearts of those who do not turn to the Lord, but when they do, the veil is taken away, allowing them to see the Lord’s glory and experience transformation through the Spirit. This passage emphasizes the freedom and change that comes from a relationship with God.
2 Corinthians 3:15-18 highlights the stunning transformative power of turning to the Lord. The passage illustrates the glory to glory spiritual journey from being veiled to experiencing freedom and transformation through the Spirit.
Key Themes
- Veil Over Hearts: The scripture states a veil covers the hearts of those who do not turn to the Lord. This veil symbolizes a lack of understanding and spiritual blindness.
- Turning to the Lord: When individuals turn to the Lord, the veil is removed. This act signifies a shift from ignorance to enlightenment, allowing for a deeper connection with God.
- Transformation: The passage emphasizes that believers, with unveiled faces, can contemplate the Lord’s glory. Such contemplation leads to transformation into His image, reflecting an ongoing process of spiritual growth, maturity.
- Freedom Through the Spirit: The text asserts where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom. This freedom is not just from sin but also from the limitations of the old covenant.
Pondering these truths, I am wondering what are the implications of freedom in 2 Corinthians 3:15-18 for modern believers?
2 Corinthians 3:15-18 highlights that believers experience freedom through the Holy Spirit, which transforms them into the image of Christ.
This implies modern believers are called to live in such a way which reflects this transformation, embracing their identity in Christ and the freedom and liberty that comes from the Holy Spirit.
What this Freedom means
• Freedom from the condemning power of the Law of sin (Romans 8:1-2) • Freedom from sin’s mastery (John 8:36; Romans 6:6-7)
• Freedom to draw near to with unveiled faces (2 Corinthians 3:18)
• Freedom to serve in love, not mere obligation (Galatians 5:13)
Life is here.
Salvation is here.
Forgiveness is here.
Mercy is here.
The God who loves you is here.
By His resurrection, through Christ we have an eternal future.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, Amen
Praying …
Psalm 8 Christian Standard Bible
Psalm 8
God’s Glory, Human Dignity
For the choir director: on the Gittith. A psalm of David.
1 Lord, our Lord,
how magnificent is your name throughout the earth!
You have covered the heavens with your majesty.[a]
2 From the mouths of infants and nursing babies,
you have established a stronghold[b]
on account of your adversaries
in order to silence the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I observe your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you set in place,
4 what is a human being that you remember him,
a son of man[c] that you look after him?
5 You made him little less than God[d][e]
and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:
7 all the sheep and oxen,
as well as the animals in the wild,
8 the birds of the sky,
and the fish of the sea
that pass through the currents of the seas.
9 Lord, our Lord,
how magnificent is your name throughout the earth!
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 