“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it.”

— JOHN 1:1–5

Jesus is “the true light that gives light to everyone . . .” (John 1:9). “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:3–5).

Jesus, the Word, “became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

Jesus made his dwelling among us. He dwelt with us; he lived among us, not as a distant one, but as one who built  relationships and did life with the people he loved. Every person is a person whom Jesus loves.

The Message version of the Bible says, “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish”
(John 1:14 MSG).

As people who have been sent to testify about Jesus, let’s “dwell” with people. Jesus was not—and is not—distant from us. We aren’t faceless, nameless people to Jesus. As we extend Jesus’ love in tangible ways, let’s “move into the neighbourhood” and do life with people.

SCRIPTURE TO REFLECT ON: JOHN 1:1–18

1. What does “dwelling” look like in your context? What could it look like?

2. What does John 1:1–18 say about justice and compassion? What does it mean for the church and for followers of Christ today? How can I apply this today?

Denise works in the Communications department of
The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada.