In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:1-14

Growing up, I often would hear the following saying, “Sticks and stones may break my

bones, but words will never hurt me!” Parents and teachers, in their desire to help, would

use this phrase to soften the impact of verbal bullying. But we all know it is not true. Words have power. “Be careful with your words. Once they are said, they can be only forgiven, not forgotten” -Unknown. 

We have all experienced the deep wounds of hurtful words and the joy of encouraging words. If we are honest with ourselves, we have lashed out at family and friends during times of stress or defensiveness, which has caused the wound. At Christmas time, we get the chance to pause and reflect on words we want to say but leave unsaid —words that wound and words we so desire to share with those we have lost in past years —words of joy, words of encouragement, and words of love.

John 1:1-14 is not your typical birth story of Jesus. There is no manger, no inn, no shepherds, no wise men, and no gifts. There is just this deep expression of the reality of Jesus’ birth into the world. John 1:1 states, “In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John, the disciple, goes straight to the heart of the matter, equating Jesus with God and calling Jesus the Word. In Greek, the word used for “Word” is logos, which is where we get the word logic from. John describes Jesus as the Word who brings light into the darkness. Jesus brings light into the world and invites each of us to know God and to be known by God. His Words are clear and illuminating. They bring wholeness, joy, and peace to those who accept His words.

John 1:14 states, “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.” Jesus became the ultimate expression of God’s thought to save us. God did not leave any words unsaid, and God did not deal harshly with humankind. God loves every one of us and has spoken the final word by sending Jesus into the world. Often, we ascribe weight to the one who directs words towards us. A critical word from my wife hits differently than one from a stranger. Make sure to give the proper weight to God’s words about you---we are His beloved!

Merry Christmas---“The Word became flesh!” So, this Christmas, I encourage us all to reflect on our words—words said and unsaid, words we can no longer speak because our loved ones are no longer here, and words we remember that have hurt us and that have healed us. May we, in the remembering, never forget Jesus—the Spoken and Final Word. Word Up!

Chris Cooper