John 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. I love the Spring. Seeing the beauty of the flowers, the smell of fresh green grass being cut evenly across the yard, birds singing a new melody – what a creative God we serve. Have you noticed how many birds are out and about? It seems like there are more this year than last. Maybe I am just noticing them more this year. The Easter season is all about Jesus coming down to earth to save us from our sin. The Apostle John refers to Jesus as the Word (or Logos in the original Greek). John says that he was with God in before all of creation, that Christ was with God, and that he is God. We also learn from this passage that the Word created the world, or was God’s agent of creation, and that “without him not one thing came into being.” The word Logos speaks volumes about the sacrificial nature of God. John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. In the third chapter of John, we see the wonder of the incarnation. Imagine it this way: Jesus is God (the only begotten Son) who exists before all worlds, and who, by his work, creates the universe. Jesus is not only present at the moment of creation, he brings it into being. He makes galaxies, moons, stars, animals, the trees, and then one day Jesus decides to become human and go through the birth cycle to enter the world. The God who made air is now dependent on air to survive. The God who made humans must now be dependent on two humans (Mary and Joseph) to feed and care for him. Only a holy God would choose to put himself through something he did not have to endure. It is his nature. We serve a God of love and this love is self-sacrificing. He emptied himself of his power and authority as God, and humbled himself and became obedient to a cross to pay our sin penalty. Jesus sacrificed himself because of his great love for us. It was the only way. It was love that drove him to the cross. It was not a weak moment, it was his way of life. This Sunday we will gather together and celebrate the power that lives within us. It is that power that enables us to walk in victory as a way of life. It will be worth inviting your neighbors to come and see what God has done for them. The first service begins at 8:30am and the second service begins at 10:45am. There will be a breakfast in between the services. Some of you need to make a call this very minute and give an invitation to come and experience Jesus like never before. On Thursday, I want to encourage you to come and participate in Maundy Thursday Communion. We will have 20 minute segments of communion starting at 5:30pm and going until 7:00pm. We want to actually step into the Upper Room and experience that very last night Jesus shared the bread and cup. Let’s continue to experience the God of grace and truth as we travel in this Holy Week. Joy in Jesus! Pastor Mike
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
Rev. Mike McClurgSenior Pastor, Findlay First Church of the Nazarene Archives
March 2020
Categories |