The old man had finally decided. He would write his record of all that had happened. Long ago, some of his friends had written their account, each in his own way. And though he was known as a bold speaker, he had never written about their adventures together.

Now, his beloved brother had long been dead. Now, even his friends were all gone. Now, he was the sole survivor of the Twelve. Now, more than ninety years had passed since it began. And in all that time, he never wrote his story. So what changed. Why…now?

His book was the last of the adventures to be written. In fact, the writings of John the Apostle were the last of all the books in the New Testament. So, what took him so long? I believe it’s what plagues all writers…the beginning. And this one had to be perfect.

In the beginning was the Word who was with God and was God.

Unlike the other Gospels who began with Jesus’ birth or ministry, John went to the beginning of all things and placed Jesus in the heart of it. In the very first chapter, John says that He is God, the One and Only, the true light of the world, and the Messiah.

Yet the world did not recognize Jesus. His own people rejected Him. He offered life to the full but they chose to live in darkness. His light shone, but that darkness refused to accept it. What greater pain could Jesus know? But not all the pain was His.

John knew what happened to Jesus…betrayal, torture, death. He knew how deeply He loved those living in darkness…He died for them. And John knew he had once lived in such darkness…when the Light stood before him and he did not understand.

In Him was life, and that life was the Light of all people.

John finally had his beginning…what he saw with his eyes and his mind. Perhaps he did not write of Jesus’ birth because he could not bear to look upon the baby without weeping. Perhaps he could not face the innocent child who had come to die for him.

But he knew what Jesus’ birth is really about: The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. We understand because God’s Spirit reminds us. We have joy because Jesus is Joy to the world. We have love because God is love.

As he wrote those words, John would have cherished one more moment with his Lord and Friend. So as you worship that child born one silent night, remember those you love. Hold them in your heart. And may God’s peace, joy, and love fill your life for all to see.

Merry Christmas!

Take care & be God’s,

 

Chuck

 

Chuck Graham is Founder and Executive Director of Ciloa , an international ministry devoted to sharing God’s encouragement and teaching others how to “encourage one another as long as it is called Today!” He is an author, speaker, teacher, and encourager. Chuck and his wife, Beverly, live in Lawrenceville, Georgia, USA. You can learn more about Chuck and Ciloa at www.Ciloa.org .

Read John 1: 1-18 and Romans 5:6-11

Banner Photo: From Paul, Apostle of Christ, Affirm Films, ODB Films, 2018
First Photo: A fragment of the earliest Book of John
Second Photo: From The Passion of the Christ , Icon Productions, 2004