THE WORD BECAME FLESH

The apostle John, the beloved, at the age of about 95 plus, after having been tortured by being thrown in a container of boiling oil, and being banned to the isle of Patmos, when he after some years returned to Ephesus, reflects on the life of Jesus and writes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit:

            "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 nothing was made that was made. In Him was life,
             and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the
             darkness did not comprehend it." John 1: 1-4

             "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory,
              the glory as of the only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."
              John 1: 14

At the time when he wrote this, he probably had all the various books of the Bible, as we know it, at his disposal, although it was not yet bound as one Script, as none of the other authors of the Scriptures lived to his ripe old age.

He was one of the three disciples in the inner circle of the close companions of our Lord, and was therefore present throughout the years of Jesus's ministry. He was there when a number of the disciples were called, he was there when Jesus performed all the miracles, he was there on the mount when Jesus was glorified, he was there when Jesus taught them to pray, he was there at the triumphant entry into Jerusalem, he was at the last supper, when Jesus was betrayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, at the cross, at the grave, at the ascension, when the Holy Spirit was poured out on them....he was there all the time... he heard everything, saw everything, learnt everything...

              "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have
               seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled,
               concerning the Word of life-  the life was manifested, and we have seen, and
               bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father
               and was manifested to us- that which we have seen and heard we declare to
               you, that you also may have fellowhsip with us; and truly our fellowhip is
               with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ." 1 John 1: 1 - 3

And as Jesus taught all his disciples, so He also taught us everything through the Scriptures which we have in our hands, through the Word that is being preached to us, through our own personal experiences of the renewing power in His Name, through miracles that we see and hear that are still happening today.

When He became flesh and lived on this earth, by His life, He set us an example of how He wants us to live and what He wants us to be doing to build His Kingdom.

So why don't we go and out spread the Word? Why don't we go out and perform the same miracles?

             "Most assuredly, I say to you He who believes in Me, the works that I do he
              will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My
              Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father
              may be glorified in the Son." John 14: 12-13

So why don't we?

Is it because we carry around guilt about the way we live or the things that we do? About the sin in our lives? Well, then we should repent and accept forgiveness and live according to His Word.

Or is it that because we think that we are to perform the miracles that we feel unworthy or unable, or incapable of performing miracles and therefore do nothing instead?

Why don't we just realise that it is in fact God who performs the miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit. Then it would be easy to leave it up to Him to do what He wants, when He wants, for whom He wants, as He wants. All he asks of us is to obey His commandments to go out, be witnesses, teach people about Him, pray for the sick, feed the needy, comfort the mourning, assist the helpless...

             "...Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you."

Thank You, Lord, that you have taught us all we need to know to obey Your commands. Thank You that you are able and willing to perform miracles even in this day. Please help us to overcome our own feelings of inadequacy and to go out there and help those who are seeking You to find You, those who are hurting to mend, those who are sick to be healed.