Key Thought

What you see in creation that is beautiful, what you find marvelous in nature, and what astounds and bewilders you in our universe came into existence through the one who allowed himself to be born as a human baby and placed in a manger. His fingerprints are on all of creation. His power gave birth to the universe and his ongoing word sustains it. Ponder that last phrase and then realize both the enormity and the personal connection of it: the Word, Jesus, God come in human flesh, made everything in the universe... including you and me! He is great, awesome, beyond description, and yet he made you and me! He is powerful, yet he cares enough for us to come to earth and die for us. The Creator is also the one about whom we sing: "Jesus loves me this I know ...."

Today's Prayer

Get WJD by EMAIL!

Enter your email address above to subscribe to the email edition of What Jesus Did! Follow along FREE every day as we go through John in a year. More Info on Mailing Lists

Precious Jesus, thank you for knowing me and caring for me. You know my flaws, yet you died to redeem me from them. I know you made me special to do specific things for your Kingdom, so please help me be able to identify those things and fulfill your purposes for my life. Father God, please accept my undying gratitude and praise for your plan and the love that it took to send Jesus to earth for me. I offer these words of thanks in the name of Jesus, heaven's message and my Creator. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

Before the world began, the Word was there. The Word was there with God. The Word was God. He was there with God in the beginning. All things were made through him (the Word). Nothing was made without him. In him there was life. That life was light (understanding, goodness) for the people of the world. The Light shines in the darkness. The darkness has not defeated the Light. There was a man named John. He was sent by God. John came to tell people about the Light (Christ). Through John all people could {hear about the Light and} believe. John was not the Light. But John came to tell people about the Light. The true Light was coming into the world. This is the true Light that gives light to all people. The Word was already in the world. The world was made through him. But the world (people) did not know him. He came to the world that was his own. But his own people did not accept him. Some people did accept him. They believed in him. He gave something to those people who believed. He gave them the right to become children of God. These children were not born like little babies are born. They were not born from the wish or plan of a {mother and} father. These children were born from God. The Word became a man and lived among us. We saw his glory--the glory that belongs to the only Son of the Father. The Word was full of grace (kindness) and truth. John told people about him. John said, "This is the One I was talking about. I said, 'The One who comes after me is more important than I am. He was living before me.'" The Word (Christ) was full of grace and truth. From him we all received more and more blessings. The law was given through Moses. But grace and {the way of} truth came through Jesus Christ. No man has ever seen God. But the only Son (Jesus) is God. He is very close to the Father (God). And the Son has shown us what God is like.

— John 1:1-18 (ERV)

Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.