john 1

It’s interesting to observe the picture John paints of the Messiah.  Right from the outset, He makes it clear that Jesus is God, who came into the world as the true light to offer life to as many as would receive Him.  And it’s a message the world today desperately needs to hear and receive. Today we’ll set our sights on verse fourteen through eighteen of John chapter one.

When we want to become an expert on something we need to learn everything that we can about it. We find everything written about it and read it, we try to observe what it is doing or has done. We get on the internet and search for all the knowledge we can find. Well, Pastor Jim is in the early stages of his study of the book of John and we are currently in the first chapter where we go back to the beginning.

On today’s edition of Growing in the Word, Pastor Jim Jarrett will continue a new series titled “Who is Jesus?”, as we take an in depth look at John chapter one. John the Baptist was one of the most important men in all of God’s word. He was the man chosen to announce to the world that Jesus was the Messiah that God had promised. Let’s get to know Jesus better by getting to know John the Baptist!

We are in the midst of a series called “Who is Jesus?” Our study is concentrated on John chapter one and today we’ll look at a man who knew Jesus about as well as anyone ever did - a man named John the Baptist, who was sent from God to prepare the way for the Messiah. Pastor Jim will show us that there is much we can glean from the life of John the Baptist, that will help us live for the Lord today.

Today pastor Jim returns to his new series titled “Who is Jesus?”. We are considering the first chapter of John’s gospel as we get to know who Jesus really is. He is the best friend you’ve ever had, and He knows everything about you. Should you like to get to know Him better? 

On today’s program we are going to take a break from our series through Ephesians to bring you part one of a special series Jim has titled “Who is Jesus?”. If you asked one hundred people that question, I reckon you’d get a wide variety of answers. Great teacher, loving friend, Jesus is many things to many people, but we are going to concentrate on who Jesus is according to God’s word. It is vitally important that we understand who Jesus is - God in human flesh. He is the only son of God, who came to this earth for one specific reason. Join us in John chapter one.

Today we bring you a timely Christmas message from pastor Jim titled “The Incarnation”.  So much of what we see about Christmas these days isn’t about Jesus at all!  It’s about Santa Claus, Reindeers, presents, lights and a lot of things that don’t have anything to do with Jesus.  As our society has pretty much taken Christ out of Christmas, we’re seeking to do just the opposite…. And really underscore the Christ of Christmas!

In this podcast, we explore the implications of John 1:1-14 for mission and evangelism. In this passage, we see Jesus come into the world as a human and his mission is to save people from their sin. As we explore this passage, you'll be inspired to go out and evangelize the world!

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TODAY'S EPISODE:

Are you ready to experience a life-changing transformation? Join us as we dive into living a life of trust in the promises of God. Discover how active trust leads to a fruitful and productive life, deepening our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let's move beyond just knowing about Jesus to experiencing a loving and transformative relationship with Him. Come and see for yourself the real heart change that comes from following Jesus every day. This is where the journey to knowing God in a profound and productive way truly begins. Tune in and experience the power of living in trust and following Jesus in real time every day.

TODAY'S PRAYERS:

Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.  

Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.  

And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen

And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray...

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, they kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen. 

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

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At the heart of the Advent season is the proclamation that God did not remain where he was, high above the misery of his creation, but came down into the midst of it. He was born in the darkness and lived with those who were in the darkness. He understands the pain and sorrow of this world. That a light has come into the world means that Jesus is with us in our moments of darkness. 

Whenever we gather together to sing carols, decorate homes, and stir up wonder in one another—it need not be tone deaf. We don’t have to turn a blind eye to the problems we’ve seen in the world. Actually, because of Jesus we can look in the face of darkness and proclaim, “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5.) The darkness never stood a chance and never will. The Light has won.

References:

• “Advent is the season that, when properly understood, does not flinch from the darkness that stalks us all in this world. Advent begins in the dark and moves toward the light—but the season should not move too quickly or too glibly, lest we fail to acknowledge the depth of the darkness. Advent bids us take a fearless inventory of the darkness: the darkness without and the darkness within.” Fleming Rutledge
• “For whatever reason God chose to make man as he is—limited and suffering and subject to sorrows and death—He had the honesty and the courage to take His own medicine. Whatever game He is playing with His creation, He has kept His own rules and played fair. He can exact nothing from man that He has not exacted from Himself. He has Himself gone through the whole of human experience, from the trivial irritations of family life and the cramping restrictions of hard work and lack of money to the worst horrors of pain and humiliation, defeat, despair and death. When He was a man, He played the man. He was born in poverty and died in disgrace and thought it well worthwhile.” Dorothy Sayers
• "Light is the aggressor." Larry Renoe
• True Detective: Rust reminds Marty of how things are, “You’re looking at it wrong, the sky thing. Once there was only dark. You ask me, the light’s winning.”

At the heart of the Advent season is the proclamation that God did not remain where he was, high above the misery of his creation, but came down into the midst of it. He was born in the darkness and lived with those who were in the darkness. He understands the pain and sorrow of this world. That a light has come into the world means that Jesus is with us in our moments of darkness. 

Whenever we gather together to sing carols, decorate homes, and stir up wonder in one another—it need not be tone deaf. We don’t have to turn a blind eye to the problems we’ve seen in the world. Actually, because of Jesus we can look in the face of darkness and proclaim, “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5.) The darkness never stood a chance and never will. The Light has won.

References:

• “Advent is the season that, when properly understood, does not flinch from the darkness that stalks us all in this world. Advent begins in the dark and moves toward the light—but the season should not move too quickly or too glibly, lest we fail to acknowledge the depth of the darkness. Advent bids us take a fearless inventory of the darkness: the darkness without and the darkness within.” Fleming Rutledge
• “For whatever reason God chose to make man as he is—limited and suffering and subject to sorrows and death—He had the honesty and the courage to take His own medicine. Whatever game He is playing with His creation, He has kept His own rules and played fair. He can exact nothing from man that He has not exacted from Himself. He has Himself gone through the whole of human experience, from the trivial irritations of family life and the cramping restrictions of hard work and lack of money to the worst horrors of pain and humiliation, defeat, despair and death. When He was a man, He played the man. He was born in poverty and died in disgrace and thought it well worthwhile.” Dorothy Sayers
• "Light is the aggressor." Larry Renoe
• True Detective: Rust reminds Marty of how things are, “You’re looking at it wrong, the sky thing. Once there was only dark. You ask me, the light’s winning.”

An 8-minute meditation with John 1:16

In this simple meditation we sit with the words of John 1:16: "From his fullness, we have all received grace upon grace."

May deep breaths and deep peace be yours, whatever else may be for you today.

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer - space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God's love for you today - drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

Sign up for Lissy's newsletter "The Contemplative Window" or join our Facebook group here

Support the show by sharing it with a friend, rating it on your preferred podcast platform, or by becoming a member for just a few $ or £ per month. Thank you so much!

All music by Pete Hatch. 

Dear Listeners,

Sometimes we struggle with purpose, wondering why we're here on earth and what God desires us to do for Him. Meet John the Baptist. He understood his God-given purpose, and he exemplified how to fulfill your purpose. 

Fascinating details like John's miraculous birth, life in the desert, and diet of locusts and honey don't even compare to the extraordinary way God used him to prepare people's hearts for His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. John the Baptist inspires us to love and serve Christ more.

When it comes to fulfilling your purpose, do you feel passionate or powerless? May God use this lesson about John the Baptist to guide you more clearly on His chosen path for you. Because you have a purpose only you can fulfill.

In Christ's Love,
Emily💕

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An audio meditation in John's Gospel using Lectio Divina and Imaginative Contemplation, John 1:39-42.

In these verses in John 1, we get a short glimpse of a brief, rather ordinary, and entirely transformative meeting.

I picture this story happening near the Jordan river where John is baptising, announcing that the Kingdom of Heaven has come near, inviting people to go down into the water as a symbol of readiness to step into a new, fresh movement of the spirit. Thousands of people come from all over to hear what John is preaching, to go down into the water and physically express their availability for this new thing.

Simon and Andrew, brothers and fishermen, have travelled across from the Galilee, Jesus has come from Nazareth. Perhaps there are hundreds of tents, or campsites, circled by various gatherings. A bit of a festival feeling.

And here we learn that Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter who would be among Jesus' 12 disciples, was first a disciple of John the Baptist. Andrew is right at the centre of this movement, staying close to John, following him closely, entirely ready to encounter the coming One John speaks of.

Andrew was one of the two who heard John say "Look, here is the Lamb of God", and it was Andrew who followed Jesus that day, asking where he was staying, and going to spend the day with him.

As the afternoon draws towards evening, Andrew is convinced that this Jesus is the Messiah (though his understanding of Messiah would continue to grow for decades to come), and he goes to his find his brother Simon in the crowd, and brings him back to Jesus.

Jesus sees Simon, identifies him, and there in that moment, gives him a new name: Cephas, which translates to Peter and means rock.

A few side facts and legends about Andrew:

Andrew, whose name is not Hebrew but Greek, as Pope Benedict pointed out, suggests that his parents were fairly broad-minded. Andrew was one of Jesus' closer disciples, and would eventually be subject to death by crucifixion. Legend has it that Andrew refused to be martyred in the same manner as Jesus, so his cross was turned a few degrees to be an X. This is reflected in the white X on the Scottish flag, as St Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland. Now you know!

Blessings, always, as you pray.

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer - space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God's love for you today - drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

Sign up for Lissy's newsletter "The Contemplative Window" or join our Facebook group here

Support the show by sharing it with a friend, rating it on your preferred podcast platform, or by becoming a member for just a few $ or £ per month. Thank you so much!

All music by Pete Hatch. 

A meditation in John’s Gospel, chapter 1, verses 35-39, using Imaginative Contemplation.

In this meditation we meet Andrew (the brother of Simon Peter) who is not yet a disciple of Jesus, but at this stage in the story, is a disciple of John the Baptist.

Andrew is standing with John (likely at the Jordan River, where he has been baptising, and preaching his message about the one who comes after him), when Jesus walks by.

And so the first encounter, the first dialogue with Jesus in John's Gospel unfolds.

"What are you looking for?"

"Rabbi, where are you staying?"

"Come and see"

For me this exchange holds both the soul-searchingly deep and the very ordinary, physical stuff of our everyday lives, a pairing that holds the essence of incarnation.

I hope this encounter will reveal something new to you as you pray with it. I'd love to know what you hear in it for you today.

Blessings, always, dear ones.

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer - space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God's love for you today - drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

Sign up for Lissy's newsletter "The Contemplative Window" or join our Facebook group here

Support the show by sharing it with a friend, rating it on your preferred podcast platform, or by becoming a member for just a few $ or £ per month. Thank you so much!

All music by Pete Hatch. 

An audio meditation in John’s Gospel, chapter 1, verses 19-28.

As an undergrad at Whitworth College, I took a class in John’s Gospel with F. Dale Bruner. I vividly recall Dale opening each session by translating the text into animated English out of the original Greek, which he held entirely memorised in his brain. I particularly remember his arm gestures as he put across the point: “he who comes behind me, ranks ahead of me, because he was before me.” (John 1:15, 1:30)

A final assignment for the class was to make some kind of representation of each chapter of John’s Gospel. I made a small book of water colour paintings. One of the very few University assignments that is still with me, today it sits on my desk to guide me as I travel through John’s Gospel with Contemplative at Home,

For the text in this meditation (which could be called John the Baptist's sermon on the identity of Jesus) I have used Dale’s own translation as recorded his Commentary on the Gospel of John (Eerdmans). I find the language to be full of life and I hope it will open a new door for you as you listen, with the ears of your heart open.

Every blessing as you pray.

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer - space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God's love for you today - drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

Sign up for Lissy's newsletter "The Contemplative Window" or join our Facebook group here

Support the show by sharing it with a friend, rating it on your preferred podcast platform, or by becoming a member for just a few $ or £ per month. Thank you so much!

All music by Pete Hatch. 

A meditation in John’s Gospel, chapter 1, verses 14-17

These words in my old paper Bible have so many little side notes, one word circled in the text with an accordion file of notes on the greek root and its myriad translations spilling into the margins. The unfolding possibilities in the meaning of these words is so rich, so beautiful and compelling that I have taken the liberty of adding them into my reading of the text for you today.

My added words, are all based on the notes of (a) a scholar in Seattle whose name I did not record, teaching circa 1998 (b) the footnotes in my Oxford Annotated NRSV and (c) Strong's notes on the greek in the MOUNCE translation on Bible Gateway.

May the unfurling of these words, as they try in their own limited way to speak of the Word, the original breath of all that is, nestle into your heart and ignite some small fire of insight, of hope, of love.

With every blessing,

Lissy

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer - space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God's love for you today - drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

Sign up for Lissy's newsletter "The Contemplative Window" or join our Facebook group here

Support the show by sharing it with a friend, rating it on your preferred podcast platform, or by becoming a member for just a few $ or £ per month. Thank you so much!

All music by Pete Hatch. 

A meditation in John’s Gospel, chapter 1, verses 1-5

In this meditation on John’s Gospel, I invite you to join me in taking a ‘long, loving look’ at a few verses of text, beholding the words as living, shimmering, life-giving containers which hold endless layers of wisdom, mystery, beauty and truth.

Just for these few minutes, I invite you to leave aside your dogma, your creed, even your thoughts, your rational mind, and become present to your deeper self, your true self or essential self. I invite you to behold these words from a place of deep being, a place of unknowing.

 John 1:1-5 In 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 light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Blessings, always, dear ones.

Contemplative at Home offers guided meditative prayer - space to slow down and listen to the truth that is being born out of God's love for you today - drawing on Ignatian spirituality and at times, Lectio Divina.

Sign up for Lissy's newsletter "The Contemplative Window" or join our Facebook group here

Support the show by sharing it with a friend, rating it on your preferred podcast platform, or by becoming a member for just a few $ or £ per month. Thank you so much!

All music by Pete Hatch. 

The Testimony of John

John 1:19-51

19 This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

20 And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”

21 They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he *said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”

22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”

23 He said, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.

25 They asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

26 John answered them saying, “I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know.

27 “It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”

28 These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

29 The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

30 “This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’

31 “I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.”

32 John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him.

33 “I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’

34 “I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

Jesus’ Public Ministry, First Converts

35 Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples,

36 and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

38 And Jesus turned and saw them following, and *said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?”

39 He *said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.

40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

41 He *found first his own brother Simon and *said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ).

42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of aJohn; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated cPeter).

43 The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He *found Philip. And Jesus *said to him, “Follow Me.”

44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter.

45 Philip *found Nathanael and *said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

46 Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip *said to him, “Come and see.”

47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and *said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”

48 Nathanael *said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

49 Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.”

50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”

51 And He *said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.