MONDAY

1 John 1:1–10

On Sabbath, we focused on how Jesus was God’s Word made flesh. How does a Word become flesh? In 1969, John Powell described 5 levels of communication in his book, “Why Am I Afraid To Tell You Who I Am?” The lowest was “Cliche Conversation,” in which nothing of real substance is shared (“How are you?” “Fine.”). The next is “Reporting the Facts,” in which data is shared, but nothing about us. Next is “My Ideas and Judgement,” in which we share what we think, which reveals a little more about us. This is followed by “My Feelings and Emotions,” which is a much greater level of vulnerability in which we share more of ourselves. The final level is “Peak Communication,” in which we fully share everything there is about us—full selfdisclosure with nothing held back.

This is what is so amazing about what we celebrate in the incarnation of Jesus. The advent of Jesus was not just a holiday cliche, or even just a source of information about God or God’s judgments and feelings, as profound as those might be. Rather, it was God fully sharing himself with us! Nothing was withheld. In Jesus, God is fully revealed!

Today’s passage reflects how the early church embraced this. Take a few moments to listen to how John proclaimed this message in his letter to the church.

• What do you think about the sense of excitement that you hear reflected in the opening verses of this passage? Take a few moments to appreciate what it must have felt like for them to proclaim this message in this way.

• What do you notice about the imagery of light and darkness in this passage and the way John uses it to convey that Jesus was himself the message?

• How does this passage invite us to view ourselves as we respond to Jesus? What does this imply about the way we are invited to view God?

• To what extent do you live in the awareness of Jesus being alive and with you in every aspect of your life?

Take a few moments to talk with God in prayer about what you are noticing in this passage. Think about what you would like to take with you from this time of reflection.