Reading

John 1:1-18 (ESV)

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 was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'”) 16 And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

Meditation

I have only recently begun wearing reading glasses when I read.  Obviously.  I have also grown accustom to looking for my glasses only to find them resting on my head.  Does that happen to you?  You have something you are looking for and can’t seem to find it but then you realize it was on your person or right in front of you the whole time.  Car keys that you have in your hand, a cell phone you can’t find when you realize you are telling the person you are talking to on the cell phone that you can’t find your cell phone.

Or there are those times that you aren’t looking for something and then you find something you thought was gone for ever.  Maybe it was a special letter and it falls out of a book you haven’t read in 3 years.  Maybe it is a $20 in a pocket of pants you haven’t worn in a while.  It’s a bonus!

Maybe you are at a place where you have lost something, misplaced and know that you won’t see it again. I did that in the seat back on a flight to Disney with a bunch of DVD’s.  Right now at our house we can’t seem to find some books, baking supplies and other memory things.  It is heart breaking.

When we find the lost thing it can bring great joy.  It is like Christmas day.  It is a huge bonus!  When Jesus appeared, the Messiah they had longed for, they do not recognize Him.  They still think they are to be searching.  The glory of God is present and they can’t see it.

Many of us have been in that place.  Looking for an answer to our lives; believing that something has to be better or answer our heart desperation.  Jesus appeared to us through others many times and we couldn’t see it.  We were blind and still searching.   Many of us have relations with people who are searching and can’t see Jesus yet.

We should take great joy in that He has appeared and that those who are to know Him will.  There is hope because the Glory of God has appeared.  We no longer need to search, we get to party and revel and reveal Christ to all those who watch around us.    The crazy thing is we become His appearing to the world now.  Some will not see it but others will and they will be born of God

Prayer

Father, we thank you for revealing your grace and truth through Jesus Christ and saving us through Him.  Let us be ambassadors for you in order that those who are searching will find you. Sprit call those who are part of the family to Jesus.  Amen.

Lenten Action

Continue to memorize John 1:1-14.  Through a party to celebrate finding Jesus (remember He really found you) and invite those who are still searching to come along to hang out with you.