1/2/11 John 1:3 Maker of Heaven and Earth

 ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

(Black Hole in space- apod.nasa.gove 9/04 bthorus)

Thoughts: John was writing this in part against the Gnostics (or proto-Gnostics) who believed that the world was evil and that an evil emanation from God created it.  But here John is saying that the loving, pure, forgiving, healing Jesus was the One who created the world. We should not blame the evil in the world on God, but rather on sin that has polluted and distorted the world.
As we begin a new year, it is important to know that the loving God is in control- for He made all things and cares for all creation enough to come down and be a part of it. 

Prayer:  Help me, O Lord, to make your world that has been distorted a better place  Thank you for making the world, but also caring for it enough to come down to it.

John Calvin Abridged: John proves the divinity of Christ by His works. Paul says that "all things are of God" (Rom. 11:36).  But here the Son is given the glory for creation.  The Father made all things by the Son, and that all things are by God through the Son. The Son or Speech of God became practically known by the effect of his power over creation.  God is not just the Master Builder as some philosophers say, but also has revealed Himself to the world so that we do not need to speculate about Him.  The writer insures that no glory be taken away from Christ by saying, "without him nothing was made that has been made." 

P.S.- Pray for the Christians in Egypt, Iran, the Sudan who are being persecuted.  Pray also for the Christians in America who are being eroded by an increasingly secular and immoral society.