God has been at work throughout history, in Israel through Moses and now in Jesus, trying to make himself known to humanity. 

The gospel of John was written “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). Today’s scripture highlights that membership to God’s family is based on belief rather than ethnic descent or human effort and provides a cautionary tale to illustrate what disbelief can look like. 

The Jews are anticipating the arrival of several leadership characters—Christ, the anointed one, a king from the house of David who would overthrow all injustice and usher in an era of global peace (Isaiah9:6-7); Elijah, who would return to herald the day of the Lord’s coming, when the Lord will destroy the wicked (Malachi 3:1, 4:5); and the Prophet, a figure who would lead God’s people like Moses did(Deuteronomy 18:15-18). When John the Baptist appears, baptizing and preaching, they are not sure what to make of him.

Advent, Day 1. Today's reading: John 1:1-5.

"In this poetic cold open to the fourth Gospel, the Apostle John takes the audience back to where it all started—Genesis 1 and the creation of Heaven and Earth."