Tag: Jesus

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 apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it . . . There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.  (John 1:1-5, 9-13, NASB)

The Apostle John wrote his gospel with the Jewish people in mind.  It’s no mistake that he begins with, “In the beginning . . . ”  These are the same words that lead in the book of Genesis.  “The Word” is Jesus Christ, Who was in on the Creation.  Two of John’s themes in his writings are “Light” and “love.”  In his first chapter, John talks about Jesus being the Light:  “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”  The world was waiting for Messiah to come, but they missed their opportunity to enjoy Him. 

Further, John calls Jesus “the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.”  Every human being has the opportunity to receive salvation through Him.  Although Jesus created the world, “the world did not know Him.”  Who would’ve expected God to come to the earth in the form of a man?  It made no sense to those who observed.  “He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.”  Israel, which was looking for Messiah, didn’t recognize Him, and even rejected Him. 

However, there is good news:  “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”  This was God’s plan of redemption all along, that whoever would believe in His Son would be reconciled with Him!  

In this time of Advent, we pause to reflect on Jesus’ incarnation, His arrival on the earth He created, on the greatest rescue mission in history.  He was, and is, the true Light of the world!  Do you walk in the Light, or in the darkness?  Are you a child of God?

. . . you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.   (Ephesians 4:8-13)

ALS Update:  Yesterday, December 2nd, was the third anniversary of my tracheostomy.  I also had a feeding tube installed.  The neurologist who made my diagnosis wanted me to do the trache and feeding tube immediately.  Her rationale:  The sooner we do it, the quicker I would recover.  I waited a year-and-a-half, and I’m not sorry.  We left her office in a hurry. 

I’ve about run out of muscles to fail.  My facial muscles work, but not very well.  My lips are no good for lip reading.  I can’t swallow all my saliva (at a recent visit to the ENT doctor, he told us that it takes many muscles to swallow, and eventually they will fail; that makes sense!).  I can still raise my eyebrows somewhat.  When I yawn it’s an adventure to see where my tongue ends up; I usually bite it either on the front or the left side. 

God has blessed me far beyond what I deserve, and far beyond measure!