Lenten Reflection - April 12th

Written by: Austin Bechtold

Reading: John 1:10-14

10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 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.

Our rebirth as children of God and life eternal is Jesus’ priceless gift, not something that we, with all the powers on earth, could ever willfully attain on our own.

How amazing it is that an all-powerful Creator would choose taking human form to bring us into the light. The majority of the Jewish people at this time could not accept anything less than a physical superhero of a king who would wipe away all the ills that had befallen them with a wave of a hand. A simple carpenter who walked and ate with sinners and preached “love your enemies” was the antithesis of what they envisioned for a messiah. He subtly made his point that he was truly one of the common folk. He was the embodiment of “grace”, the gift of unconditional love for all humankind. His “truth”, was evidenced through words and miracles that his being one with the Father was divinely undeniable to those who witnessed and accepted Him.

Lord God, as your children let us carry your message of grace and truth in everything we do and say in our daily existence. Help us to give then humbly and sincerely with our sole reward being Your delight in Your creation. Amen