Advent Words Day 2: Immanuel
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ." 1 John 1:1-3
In the Christmas story, told in Matthew's gospel, we hear of a significant title that would be given to the infant Jesus.
John tells us that "the Word was with God" from the very beginning. The Greek word John chose to use for "with" is pros. It is the most intimate form of the word "with". It indicates an intimate personal relationship; communion between God the Father and God the Son. This word could be translated that the Word was "face-to-face with" God. They share an eternal intimacy with each other. Pastor Don Fortner says of the Word,
"He was always with Him, and is with Him, and ever will be with Him."John opens his first letter with a similar message:
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ." 1 John 1:1-3
In the Christmas story, told in Matthew's gospel, we hear of a significant title that would be given to the infant Jesus.
"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”)." Matthew 1:21-23.
In this season of Advent, we join the multitudes of believers before us who waited for the prophesied arrival of the One who would be born to "save His people from their sins"; the One who would be called Immanuel. We look back at the words given to us by God through the Apostles - the ones who saw and heard and touched the Word of Life - their words bring us God's eternal life. We read in their words about the close fellowship of God the Father and God the Son, and the promise of that same fellowship is offered to us in Immanuel - God with us.
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." John 17:29-23
In this season of Advent, we join the multitudes of believers before us who waited for the prophesied arrival of the One who would be born to "save His people from their sins"; the One who would be called Immanuel. We look back at the words given to us by God through the Apostles - the ones who saw and heard and touched the Word of Life - their words bring us God's eternal life. We read in their words about the close fellowship of God the Father and God the Son, and the promise of that same fellowship is offered to us in Immanuel - God with us.
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." John 17:29-23
"This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them." 1 John 4:13-16
Join me in responding creatively to the Advent Words in John's prologue. You can share your creative response on Instagram using #adventwords2019 or join the Words Challenge Facebook Group and share your creative response there.
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