I am reading, "Following Jesus," by N.T. Wright. Our Bible study is reading through the gospel of John and I love hearing the continual theme of light and life. Wright devotes a single chapter of the book to John's gospel and I want to share (without Wright's permission of course) his use of John 1:14 - "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."
It is so well put and so worth sharing.
On talking about Jesus being invited to the wedding in Cana, Wright says:
"The Word became flesh, and celebrated a friend's wedding; and we beheld his glory, glory as of one who takes the ordinary and transforms it into the extraordinary."
Jesus heals the centurion's servant; "The Word became flesh, and healed the sick; we beheld his glory , glory as of the sovereign giver of life."
The glory of God is ultimately revealed on the cross; "The Word became flesh, and died among us; we beheld his glory, glory as of the one who lays down his life for his friends."
"The Word became flesh, and was crowned king in our midst; we beheld his glory, glory as of the human, bleeding figure, the one given by the Father to save the world."
The Word became flesh, and pitched his tent among us; "We beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son of the Father."
On Good Friday, the light was out and darkness covered the world; "The Word became flesh, adn slept among us; we beheld his glory, glory as of the loving God who has finished the work of redemption."
We are to follow Jesus - the ONE - for us he was sent, by the Father, full of grace and truth. As Jesus said to Peter, "You must follow me."
The Holy Spirit lives within us and therefore; "The Word may become flesh once more and dwell among us and within us; and we, having beheld his glory, we must then reveal his glory, glory as of the beloved children of the Father, full of grace and truth."
This is the One whom we follow, full of grace and truth, the Son of God, pointing back to the Father.
