Our fifth Advent reading is John 1:1-18:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
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. (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.’”) Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 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.
In God’s plan, hope is always realized.
It might arrive later than we wanted, but it is better than we expected.
And it is better than we deserved.
In the hymn “Brokenness Aside”, the group All Sons and Daughters sings,
Will your grace run out
If I let you down
'Cause all I know
Is how to run'Cause I am a sinner
If it’s not one thing it’s another
Caught up in words
Tangled in lies
But You are a Savior
And You take brokenness aside
And make it beautiful
Beautiful
One reason we struggle to hope is our own sin. Our guilt, shame, and fear.
But The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. He is full of grace and truth.
He knew we would neither recognize nor receive him. But still — he came.
Personal Reflection and Community Discussion Questions:
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What - inside of you - makes it hard for you to hope in God’s love?
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How does John 1 build your confidence that God will meet your needs?
You are encouraged to share other reflections on these passages.
The introductory post for our Advent 2021 series is here: