Kelly Day, Director of Coffee Break
Kelly Day 0:07
Welcome to Elmhurst CRC's daily dose of the Word of God. Today is January 9, and I'm Kelly Day. I serve as Director of Coffee Break Bible Study. This week's Alpha question is: "Who is Jesus?" I'll be reading from John 1, 1 through 5, and 14. While I read these verses, note that each time you hear the word, 'word", it is capitalized.
Kelly Day 0:30
The Word became flesh. And the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning, through him, all things were made. Without him, nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The line shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 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.
Kelly Day 1:08
In these first verses of John (who was one of Jesus' first disciples), we go back to the beginning of Jesus's story. Most of the time, we think a story starts back in Bethlehem in a manger, but John takes us back even further - to the very beginning - the same words that begin Genesis 1. In these passages, the word represents Jesus. In the beginning was Jesus, and Jesus was with God, and Jesus was God. Jesus was with God in the beginning. Pretty interesting that John wanted to start out his gospel, letting everyone know that Jesus has always been around, since the very beginning.
Kelly Day 1:51
In verse 4 and 5, John speaks of life, light and darkness. And Jesus is life (spiritual life) and is the light of all mankind. Jesus says that light pushes away darkness (or what can be described as sin or spiritual darkness). Light helps you see clearly, light guides you to where you need to go. Light can bring you new life. John 14 speaks of Jesus becoming human, dwelling among us as God's one and only Son. The verse ends saying that John was full of truth and grace. I love these descriptors of Jesus. If you study Jesus's life and any of the Gospels, you'll see he can only speak in truth, and he is passionate about the truth of God and his mission as Savior.
Kelly Day 2:38
And how about grace? Grace is undeserved favor. That means not getting what we deserve, or have earned. Jesus shows abounding grace to those he encounters. He delivers grace radically in some instances. Through his death and resurrection he has shown us all incredible grace that we don't deserve. So to answer the question, "who was Jesus?" From these verses, I would say he's been around since the very beginning. He brings new life and light to those who believe. He provides truth and grace to our world struggling with each.
Kelly Day 3:14
Let's pray. Dear Lord, thank you for these beautiful truths about you in John 1. I pray the more we know you, the closer in relationship we will have with you . May we take these truths and live out as your disciples in the day ahead. In Jesus name, Amen.