12/18/09 John 1:2,3

(square in Bethlehem- with Ben and Kay)

Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

12/18

2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:2,3)

Calvin Abridged: The Speech always was and he was with God; so that it may be understood that the beginning was before all time. He now proved the Divinity of the Speech from his works. The Father made all things by the Son, and that all things are by God through the Son. Nothing can be taken away from the credit of Christ. He has made all things without exception.

Thoughts: If Jesus is eternal and Jesus created the world, then Jesus is certainly God. Jesus once said, “Before Abraham was, I am.” For that people picked up rocks to stone him because as they saw it a mere mortal claimed to be God. To claim to be eternal, in itself was a claim to be God. Yet there is also a distinction made between the Father and the Son. Being with God means you were there, but it also implies you are different from the other person. It makes no sense to be with yourself. Jesus is God, but He is separate from the Father. These verses give us a glimpse into the most powerful being in the universe: his eternity, his power to create, and how He operates in cooperation with the Son.

Prayer: You are worthy of our worship and adoration. You are from forever and have made all things form eternity.

I John 1:2

(Witness stand)
Devotional using scripture, quote from John Calvin and thoughts for the day each day- on the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth.

NIV- “For the life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.”
Calvin’s translation: (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us.) (I John 1:2)

CALVIN: “The life appeared” The sense of this may be twofold, that Christ who is life and the beginning of all life, has appeared; Or that life has been openly offered to us in Christ. The two interpretations are related as cause (former) and effect (latter). When the writer says “shew” (or “proclaim it”) he speaks of the effect. So we see that when Christ is preached the kingdom of heaven is opened to us so that having been raised from the dead we may live to God.
“Which was with the Father” Eternal life has always been with God- for he has always existed and is the fountain of life and has the power to give (vivify) life in his eternal wisdom. The power of God is now spread throughout all created things. In the Old Testament believers depended on the hope of revelation. But we have already had it revealed to us, like it was in our hands. Jesus has been with the Father. This is not a new idea, for He was always with the Father.

Calvin does not downplay experience, and neither should we. If we have experienced God in our lives, we need to pass that experience on. For Calvin, God glorifies Himself in the world and experience. But the revelation of Christ to us is more specific. When we have experienced Christ in our lives, we need to pass that on to another out of love for our fellow human being.

Prayer: Thank you that you did not leave us blind and alone, Lord. You have appeared to us. Help us to testify to your appearance and the difference you make in our lives.