Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.
Do you think of John’s gospel? Some like it because it’s more philosophical than Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Others prefer Mark’s style: short and fast-moving stories with little commentary.
Back when I was middle aged, John’s was my favorite gospel. I fancied myself as philosophically and spiritually sophisticated; John appeared to ride the same wave. Alas! Life burst my bubble and I discovered I’m just a simple man who understands little philosophy and only basic spirituality.
But guess what? Now, at the beginning of 2026, John’s gospel calls me. Not sure what it’s saying. But maybe if I reflect and pray on John’s message, my hearing will sharpen and my understanding will deepen.
Let’s try listening together.
The start of John’s gospel says, “In the beginning was the Word” (John 1:1).
John must have read Genesis. It also starts, “In the beginning” (Gen 1:1). That points to God creating the heavens and earth. How did he do that? By speaking. That’s all: by speaking! To an empty universe, God’s first word was, “Let there be light ” (Gen 1:3).
John’s beginning is also about speech, about words. He says, “In the beginning was the Word . . . All things were made through him” (John 1:1,3). The Word. A new name for Jesus, not found in the other gospels. Only in John.
I see three parallels between Genesis and John.
First, where Genesis says, “In the beginning GOD”, John says, “In the beginning was the WORD.” God was there and the Word was there, in the beginning.
Second, in Genesis, God is the creator. In John, all things were made through Jesus, the Word. So who is the creator? God? Jesus? Maybe both?
A third parallel is light. God’s first words in Genesis are, “Let there be light.” John says, “In Jesus was life, and that life was the light of human kind” (John 1:4).
Something momentous is happening here. Something bigger than creation. God, who created the world with his word is speaking again, sending his Word (Jesus!) into the world. He is sending light to everyone.
Are we ready for this? Are we listening to the word? Are we looking for that light?
Let’s pray.
O father, we hear John say, “In the beginning was the Word.” Help us hear the word you spoke at the beginning. Help us hear the word you spoke in Jesus. Help us hear the words you speak to us.
We worship you who said, “Let there be light.” We worship you for sending Jesus, the light of the world.
In our winter-dark northern January, we need more of the sunlight you created. In our sin-darkened world, we need more of Christ’s light. May he shine in our hearts, may he shine in the world, driving away sin’s night.
Walk with us as we read John’s gospel. Stir our minds to contemplate the Jesus who John knew and loved. Stir our hearts to believe in the Christ John preached. Stir our lives to follow the savior John followed.
Amen.
I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.
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