Ash Wednesday -- March 2
Read John 1:1-18.
Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season of Lent for many Christian churches. It is a day when we focus on repentance and prayer—in other words, we remember our need for Jesus and turn our hearts toward Him.

From now until Easter, we will be reading through the Gospel of John, walking with Jesus through His life. Today we begin with the first part of the first chapter remembering this about Jesus:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).
The Greek word translated as “Word” is logos, and it is generally used to emphasize the message of a spoken word. John didn’t have to explain his use of this term to the people of his day. His readers would have considered “The Word of the Lord” to be synonymous with God Himself. God’s spoken Word was a manifestation of Himself—the communication of the Divine Mind and Will with human beings. Jesus’ key role as the Second Person of the Trinity is this communication. He is Emmanuel—“God with us”—the living expression of all God has ever wanted to communicate to us about Himself. John is saying here that Jesus is the God of the Old Testament and yet distinct (“the Word was with God and the Word was God”). This is the mystery of the Trinity—One God in Three Persons.
God spoke the world into existence (Genesis 1). John tells us that all things were made “through” Jesus—the Word made flesh. He played an active role in creation and has always been One with the Father and the Spirit from the very beginning. This would have been a stunning concept to John’s readers, and it is difficult for all of us to comprehend.
Jesus is the Source of light and life. John’s Gospel regularly contrasts light and dark as representing the forces of good and evil, as well as reality and illusion. Even though Jesus is the Source of light and life and played an active role in the creation of the world, many of those He created did not recognize Him when He came in the flesh. But some did. And here is a central theme of John’s Gospel: Those who receive Jesus and believe in His name are adopted as children of God (vv. 12-13).
Consider the implications of the Word becoming flesh. What does this tell you about our God? How has Jesus’ coming into your life changed you?
Spend some time in prayer today, confessing your sins and weaknesses, remembering your need for Jesus. Then thank Him for the ways He is currently shining His light into your life and for the ways He has revealed Himself to you in the past.
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