Advent 2024 Devotion: December 21

Scripture: John 1:1-5
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 nothing was made that was made. ⁴ In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Devotion: The opening verses of the Gospel of John are a profound and awe-inspiring description of the Lord Jesus. These verses emphasize the divine nature of Christ and the significance of His incarnation. However, even the previous sentence may give the wrong idea. When the apostle John under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit affirm the divinity and eternality of Jesus, the Word (Logos), he is affirming that the Lord Jesus was not only with God but that He is God. Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second member of the Trinity.  I recently started using the phrase "God the Son" instead of the "Son of God" to describe the Lord Jesus because many misunderstand the latter phrase to mean the Father is big God and Jesus is the small God who is subordinate to the Father. This heretical understanding contradicts the two thousand years old Christian faith. Rather, Scripture is clear that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are coequal and coeternal.  They are one in essence and equal in glory even though they are distinct as Persons. All of this highlights the wonder and mystery of the incarnation.  The eternal God, who created all things, stepped out of eternity to take on flesh and be born as baby in Bethlehem and become one of us. The creator God condescended to bring light and life to a world in darkness. As the source of all life, both physical and spiritual, now His life reverses the curse from the Garden of Eden. As the light, He illuminates our minds and shines in the darkest of human hearts.

Would you let His light shine through you, illuminating the world around you with the love and grace of our Savior?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, the eternal Word, to bring light and life to our world. As we celebrate Christmas, help us to remember the incredible gift of His incarnation. May His light shine brightly in our hearts, dispelling darkness and filling us with hope, joy, and peace. In His name, we pray. Amen.