Collect: Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen
Collect for Advent (said daily): Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to life immortal, through him who lives and reigns with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.
Wednesday, December 9 ... John 1:9-17 The child Jesus came as the light of the world. He came as light so we would not walk in the darkness of our sin.
How easy is it to make our way in the dark? Could you keep to a path in complete darkness? Find your way in the dark without knowing where you were going? In darkness we are confused and disoriented. Jesus is the Light of the world and the Light shines in the darkness and overcomes it.
9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 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 saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John *testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’” 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
How is salvation compared to light?
Jesus is the Word become flesh. V14 actually says that the Lord “tabernacled among us.” Much like the Old Testament Tabernacle, Jesus comes to dwell in our midst. He is the place, if you will, where God is to be found and worshiped. John 1 also says that “we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. In Exodus 33:17 Moses asks God to “show him [Moses] thy [God’s] glory.” God says to Moses in verse 20, “you cannot see my face.” When, then, St. John says, we beheld his glory” what is it that they saw?
JSH+