Devotion 38 – Fourth Day of Christmas

Opening Prayer

Lord, let grace and truth shine in our soul. Amen.

Text: John 1:14-18

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 bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.'” And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

Devotion

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” that is: God’s Son became Man and lived as one of us here on earth. His divine nature took on a human nature and united with it in one Person, without mixing the natures together or changing them. It is God’s Son, the true God who is born of the Virgin Mary. It is God’s only-begotten Son who grows up in Nazareth, is baptized in the Jordan, goes about teaching and healing, is hated and suffers and dies. “God sent forth His Son, born of a woman” (Gal 4:4), and again: “God purchased the church with His own blood” (Act 20:28). And John says: “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1Jo 1:7). Christ is true God and true Man in one Person. In the Man Jesus Christ God’s Son reveals Himself. John speaks of this in our text: “We beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” On this high and holy doctrine we should stand immovably firm, for it is the rock of our salvation. God be praised, it is eternally founded against the attack of all lies and false doctrines.

Because Jesus is God and Man in one Person, He possesses all the fullness of grace. Just think! The eternal God became obedient to the Law and fulfilled it for us. Just think! God Himself died as Man: how valuable this must be! What is the magnitude of your sins against the magnitude of His merit? What becomes of the spark of fire in the sea? Here is grace enough for all. Here all can receive healing and salvation. Here is forgiveness for all your guilt, and life enough for your poor heart, dead in sin. Come then, poor and thirsty sinner, and receive from His fullness grace for grace. But don’t ask to see. Believe the testimony of John and the Apostles! You believe the Word of the Law, and it confirms itself in your conscience. You believe Moses, although you have not seen him. Shouldn’t you then believe the Gospel? Shouldn’t you believe Jesus, who came with grace and truth? Take note of what it says: “The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” Not as though the Law were not truth, but the Gospel that says that we lost sinners are saved in Jesus’ grace, that is the truth that outshines all truth. Shouldn’t you believe the truth? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed (Joh 20:29). The truth confirms itself then in our conscience. You have the testimony in yourself that He is faithful, and then you have learned to know God.

Closing Prayer

Merciful God, give us Your Holy Spirit for this, whom You have promised to all who pray to You concerning this. Amen.

Hymn

Hast Thou, O Holy One, deigned of my need to be thinking?
Chosen me, called me, the waters of life to be drinking?
Shall not my mind Fullness of blessing here find,
Deep in humility sinking?

Faithful Immanuel! Let me Thy glories be telling;
Ever, my Savior, be Thou in mine inmost heart dwelling.
With me abide; Teach me to stay at Thy side,
Where the love-fountain is welling.

Friend of the sinner! Lord Jesus! My spirit is soaring
Where Thou art throned, on Thy head the sweet spikenard still pouring.
Take me above, There will I sing of Thy love,
Ever Thy Person adoring.

Tersteegen: Triumph, ye heavens! rejoice ye with high adoration L 135:4.6.7 LHy 187:4.6.7 tr. Unknown;
tune: Lobe den Herren (ELH 65); alternate hymn: Faith is a living power from heaven ELH 361:4-5