Day 15 – Wonderful Grace of Jesus 

John 1:1-14

PAUSE – 

Take a deep breath, offer this time and your focus to the Lord with the Psalmist

      Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 

      Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.   

     When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long... 

     Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. 

      I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.”                Psalm 32:1-3,5

REJOICE in his goodness with Psalm 32:11

      And you forgave the guilt of my sin…

      Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing all you who are upright in heart!

Last week we looked at just a few examples of grace on display in the Old Testament.  We observed God’s grace extended to rebellious people who defied Him and his word. We looked at the story of Jacob and Esau and the grace of forgiveness between two estranged brothers. Then in the book of Ruth, we recalled the grace of loyalty and care Ruth expressed toward her mother-in-law Naomi, and the grace of hospitality and welcome Boaz extended toward Ruth, a foreigner, and Naomi, a widow. Today, we enter the New Testament and consider the Amazing Grace of the Incarnation.

Read and REFLECT on our passage for today –           The Gospel of John 1:1-14

       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 men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it… He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

         The Word (Jesus) was in the beginning…was Creator… and then took on flesh…and “tabernacled” among us.  Those of us who have walked with Jesus a long time can miss the wonder and awe of this proclamation. The image in John 1:14 is that what at one time could only be experienced by the High Priest in the Holy of Holies is now accessible to all humanity in fullness of glory – full of grace and truth. This is not just God revealing truth and holiness, but it is grace in human flesh and bones. As Jesus lived and walked on earth, we got a glimpse of the truth of God’s nature and righteousness and that truth was a present wrapped in grace – or as Paul described it – an indescribable gift. Or as hymnwriter John Newton declared – Amazing Grace!

Reread and REFLECT – by Reading the text aloud.

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 men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it… He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

What word or phrase stands out to you as you read this text again?

The word that caught my attention was “not”, or more specifically three phrases: 

      …has not understood it

     …did not recognize him

     …and did not receive him

Most of us believe there is no way we would have failed to recognize or receive the Glory of God in our midst - this gift of grace had we been among those who encountered Jesus in the flesh. Is there any chance I would have been one of those who did not understand, recognize or receive God in the flesh? “Surely not, Lord”.  What about now? What might I be missing about the priorities and values and presence of Jesus today? Here? Jesus was not recognized because he came in humility, servanthood, and traveled in circles nobody expected.

ASK – 

As part of our Wesleyan heritage we believe in God’s prevenient grace at work in the lives of all people. Think of someone you know that has not yet understood, recognized, and/or received the indescribable gift of God’s grace that is already at work in their lives. Pray for them to be awakened to the amazing grace of Jesus.

YIELD – 

Lord, I invite you to lead me into spaces and places where you and I may be misunderstood or not easily received.  Show me people or places that I have been avoiding that need to see your love in human flesh.  Fill me with your grace that I might share it with others.

         Amazing grace how sweet the sound 

         That saved a wretch like me. 

         I once was lost, but now I’m found

         Was blind but now I see.

Lord give me a generous heart for those I encounter today.