St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 24. …full of grace and truth.

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 24. …full of grace and truth.: Truth is an important word in John’s Gospel. “You will know the truth and the truth will make you free,” says Jesus (John 8.32) Truth, in J...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 22. And we have seen his glory...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 22. And we have seen his glory...: Glory is a very important word in John’s Gospel, but it often doesn’t look as people might expect it to. The Hebrew word which is translated...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 21...and lived among us...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 21...and lived among us...: ...AND LIVED AMONG US… We are often surprised when anything extraordinary – good or bad – happens close to us. We are proud of our own loca...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 20. And the Word became flesh...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 20. And the Word became flesh...: This is perhaps the most extraordinary part of the Prologue, the part John has been leading up to. He has told us about this Word, God himse...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 19. ..who were born, not of blood or of the will o...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 19. ..who were born, not of blood or of the will o...: John’s Gospel speaks of the need for us to be born again (John 3.3.) if we are to live as the children of God we are meant to be.  John is c...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 18. ...he gave power to become children of God,

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 18. ...he gave power to become children of God,: “To all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God,” says John. Children of God; that’s a powerful ...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 17. …who believed in his name...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 17. …who believed in his name...: “Believing in Jesus” or “believing in his name” is such a familiar phrase that it can become mere jargon. (A person’s name stood for the wh...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 16. But to all who received him...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 16. But to all who received him...: What might it mean to “ receive ” Jesus? “Receiving lines” are a feature of formal occasions – weddings for example. They give a chance fo...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 14. …yet the world did not know him.

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 14. …yet the world did not know him.: After two thousand years of Christian history, Jesus has become probably the most famous person who ever lived. Whatever people believe abou...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 13. He was in the world, and the world came into b...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 13. He was in the world, and the world came into b...: The Word of God was “in the world” says today’s phrase. John has already told us that the Word was with God, and was God, and had created t...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 12. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 12. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was...: The word Advent means coming . Advent is a time when we think about three different ways in which God comes to us, according to the Bible. A...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 10. He came as a witness to testify to the light,...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 10. He came as a witness to testify to the light,...: Paintings of John the Baptist, whether as an adult or a child often portray him pointing towards Jesus, or to a symbol of Jesus – the Lamb...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 9. There was a man sent from God, whose name was J...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 9. There was a man sent from God, whose name was J...: John the Baptist, the “ John ” referred to here, is described as a man “sent by God” . The Gospels all give John high honour as a prophet,...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 8. …and the darkness did not overcome it.

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 8. …and the darkness did not overcome it.: Most human beings are at least a little wary of darkness. It is a survival mechanism to be afraid of the dark. Darkness can be dangerous. We...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 7. The light shines in the darkness…

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 7. The light shines in the darkness…: In John’s Gospel Jesus often seems to shine a light on what is happening around him. This does not necessarily make him popular!  John says,...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 5. What has come into being in him was life,

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 5. What has come into being in him was life,: In John’s Gospel, Jesus says that he has come to bring “life in all its fullness” or “abundant life” (John 10.10) Shortly afterwards we hea...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 4. All things came into being through him, and wit...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 4. All things came into being through him, and wit...: Words can make things happen. “Will you marry me?” “Would you like to accept this job?” “Will you forgive me?” “I’ve got something to tell y...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 3.…And the Word was with God, and the Word was God...

St Peter and St Paul, Seal: 3.…And the Word was with God, and the Word was God...: John’s Gospel makes very big claims for Jesus. He is not just a good teacher, or even just God’s Messiah, who could have been another prophe...