In the beginning

Read: John 13-21, Sing: Not in Me.

The book of John opens with this, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men." The very last passage of John reads in chapter 21 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were everyone one of them written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written."

These are two of my very favorite passages in Scripture. The simplicity of the message but the vastness and magnitude of what is being stated, is overwhelming. Now as we study in chapter 14-17 the next few weeks, we will get the privy and intimacy in hearing the last teachings of Christ to his beloved disciples hours before His death.

A.W. Tozer says, what a man thinks about God is the most important thing about him. I often reflect on this, because there was a rather lengthy season were I had a very low view of God, thought works is was kept be on His good side and had zero understanding of His glorious mercies and grace. A high view of God, one were we can't even begin to comprehend His goodness, and our unmerited favor, and His lavishing love, where we can stand in awe of His attributes, and humbly sit at His feet, is a great place to get to. Where we can say- not I but Christ. 

This weekend I would encourage you to read or listen through 13-21 and prepare your hearts for a seat at the table. We will get to hear Jesus. This Jesus, the One through whom all creation flows, and the one who is so great the entire world could not contain all the goodness He has done. Are you ready for this journey? Are you ready to submit to the Word and His teachings and be changed? Be molded into a follower of Christ, to walk the road to Calvary and then rejoice at the empty grave? 

We get the honor of reading this after. We know where the road will take us... and that is victory over death and sin. Jesus Christ died the death we could not, to make atonement for us. And now, as joint heirs of the kingdom when God looks at us, He sees us not as sinners but as redeemed. We sit under the banner of Christ righteousness! Can there be anything greater?!

I look forward to meeting you in John 14 on Monday.