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.

12/20/10 John 1:3-5 Jesus the Light in the Darkness

 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.

Thoughts: As God in the beginning created light and life, so the Son (who is the beginner as God) is able to give light and life today.  He offers eternal life to us, and he gives us hope and truth (light).  In our world, it seems that despite the problems we have, we are turning away from our Greatest Help instead of toward our greatest Help.  We are purposefully and quickly becoming more secular.  Even religious leaders are acting like they are doing God a favor by being critical of Christianity and laissez faire toward the emptiness, and shallowness of secularization.  Yet the darkness does not overcome the light.  Light is more powerful than darkness- and God wins in the end. 

Prayer: Jesus, you are my life and my light.  Help me to trust that your resurrection will overcome death; your truth will win out in the end; your light will shine in the darkness.

John Calvin abridged: Having affirmed that the Speech is the eternal God, he now affirms His deity by His works.  There are many who agree that God is the Master Builder, but then they don't appreciate that God has said far more about Himself than that, and they fly off into firivolous speculation.  In saying that "In him was life" the writer also attributes the preservation of life to Him.  Our understanding has been plunged into darkness, but the power of Christ still allows some light to shine upon us.