John 1:1-18 | Sandro Botticelli | A very merry Christmas to you all.

John 1:1-18   The Word was made flesh, and lived among us

The Mystical Nativity,  Painted by Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510), Painted circa 1500, Oil on canvas, © National Gallery, London In the beginning was the Word: and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things came to be, not one thing had its being but through him. All that came to be had life in him and that life was the light of men, a light that shines in the dark, a light that darkness could not overpower. A man came, sent by God. His name was John. He came as a witness, as a witness to speak for the light, so that everyone might believe through him. He was not the light, only a witness to speak for the light. The Word was the true light that enlightens all men; and he was coming into the world. He was in the world that had its being through him, and the world did not know him. He came to his own domain and his own people did not accept him. But to all who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to all who believe in the name of him who was born not out of human stock or urge of the flesh or will of man but of God himself. The Word was made flesh, he lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory that is his as the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. John appears as his witness. He proclaims: ‘This is the one of whom I said: He who comes after me ranks before me because he existed before me.’ Indeed, from his fullness we have, all of us, received – yes, grace in return for grace, since, though the Law was given through Moses,grace and truth have come through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; it is the only Son, who is nearest to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.   READ MORE     “The Son of God became a man to enable men to be sons of God.” - C.S. Lewis   A very merry Christmas to you all. Through the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ our infinite God entered our finate world in Bethlehem. On a cold, clear night lit by luminous stars, the incarnation of perfect love was born! “Christus natus est nobis: venite, adoremus”. “Christ is born for us: come, let us adore him”. May the joy of Christmas, which sings of the birth of the Saviour, be a special day for you all, your families, friends and loved ones. May beauty, peace, warmth and joy surround you! Merry Christmas! Patrick by Patrick van der Vorst