Devotion - December 11, 2023

 John 1: 6-8 -- There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. ⁷He came as witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. ⁸He himself was not the light. He came only as witness to the light.

John 1:19-27 -- Now this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. ²⁰He did not fail to confess but confessed freely. “I am not the Christ.” ²¹” Then who are you? Are you Elijah?’  He said, “I am not.”  “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” ²² Finally they said, “’then who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”  ²³ John replied in the words of the Prophet Elijah, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert.  Make straight the way for the Lord”  ²⁴ Now some Pharisees who had been sent then ²⁵questioned him. “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” ²⁶ “I baptize with water,”  John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. ²⁷He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

When I purchased my first Bible, I chose a Student Bible of The New International Version (Scripture taken from the Holy Bible). Two writers, Philip Yancey, and Tim Stafford wrote introductions for every Book in the Bible. In addition, brief explanations would sometimes appear prior to a chapter. I have paraphrased some of the notes which I felt were relative.

Were you to take a dose look through each of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), you would see that there are both similarities and differences, and each writer has his own style of writing. I think that may be attributed to their personalities and their personal goals in writing their Book. There’s no doubt all of them may have been nervous as they thought about and determined what they might write about Jesus. Three of the writers included their version of the birth of Jesus. Rather than just stating facts in his writing, John liked to think things through and really figure out the meaning of what Jesus had said and done.

Three of the Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, and Luke all included the story of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. They were all somewhat similar, but each put his personal touch in his story. Clearly, John broke sharply from the other Gospel writers. He did things his own way, and John chose not to include the birth of Jesus in his Gospel. Or did he? While it is not at all like the approach of the other three Gospel writers, I believe our scriptures do tell the story. Read the scriptures again, carefully. John’s version is The Coming of Christ. The others are the birth of Christ. But they all, in their own way, are preparing us during this Advent season for Christmas and Jesus’ arrival!

Diane Feaganes