John – The Word of Life!
First and foremost, principal, highest, greatest, paramount, top, uppermost, prime, chief, leading, main, major, overriding, predominant, prevailing, central, core, dominant; informal number-one, “our first priority”. These are all synonyms for first. I looked it up. These are also perfect descriptors of the One Who was first, at the beginning of time, with a plan to save us.
We enter now into the gospel, the good news, the narration of John, the “beloved” disciple of Jesus Christ. “In deliberate parallel to the opening words of Genesis, John presents God as speaking salvation into existence. This time God word takes on human form and enters history in the person of Jesus. Jesus speaks the word and it happens: forgiveness and judgement, healing and illumination, mercy and grace, joy and love, freedom and resurrection. Everything broken and fallen, sinful and diseased, called into salvation by God’s spoken word.” (Peterson)
By meditating on these words, we begin to realize that our words are more important than we ever realized. Saying “I believe”, for instance marks the difference between life and death. Our words accrue dignity and gravity in conversations with Jesus. For Jesus doesn’t impose salvation as a solution; he narrates salvation into being through leisurely conversation, intimate personal relationships, compassionate responses, passionate prayer,
and—putting it all together–a sacrificial death.
We don’t casually walk away from words like that.
John 1, The Message
The Life-Light
1 1-2 The Word was first,
the Word present to God,
God present to the Word.
The Word was God,
in readiness for God from day one.
3-5 Everything was created through him;
nothing—not one thing!—
came into being without him.
What came into existence was Life,
and the Life was Light to live by.
The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness;
the darkness couldn’t put it out.
John begins with worship of the One Who is First. Let us begin each day with first thoughts of the One Who saved our souls!
Dear Heavenly Father, You are God and we are not. You are first and foremost and we are not. You are our first priority! We bow to You and You alone, for only You are worthy of our priase and adoration. All else is meaningless in Light of You. You gave us Light in the dark. You gave us true Life. Forever Life. You paid our debt. You cleanse our hearts, minds and souls. You are God and we are not. Continue to be with us. In Jesus Name, Amen. I believe.
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 