Interwoven Bible

Day 1 of your reading

Beginnings

Luke 1:1-4 (WEB)

Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,

even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,

it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus;

that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.

John 1:1-18 (WEB)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made through him. Without him, nothing was made that has been made.

In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it.

There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.

The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him.

He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light.

The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him.

He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him.

But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name:

who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

The Word became flesh and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the only born Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John testified about him. He cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’ ”

From his fullness we all received grace upon grace.

For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

No one has seen God at any time. The only born Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared him.

Everything has a beginning, except for God! Today we read the beginning of the gospel of Luke. We also read the beginning of the gospel of John. They begin very differently. What is the main difference between these two gospels? Remember that each gospel writer has his own style. So, when we weave together the four gospels it becomes a conversation between four people. Each person will be speaking about some of the same events, but in their own way. If you want to see what happens when we weave the gospels even more, you can read PDF files by clicking here. But these PDF files are only in English, unfortunately. So, if you speak another language, you will have to use a translation program. If you decide to translate the PDFs files into your language, please let us know by clicking on this contact form. We will upload your translations for other people to enjoy!

John says that there is no beginning to God. He also says that there is no beginning to Jesus because Jesus is God. This was a strange idea for Jewish people 2000 years ago. By the time John wrote his gospel, he was an old man. John saw many of the miracles that Jesus did and the miracles his followers did after Jesus returned to God. Maybe it was easier for him to believe that Jesus was God because of all of those miracles. But the real reason it was easier for him is because the Holy Spirit, who is also God, was living inside of John. We will read later how the Holy Spirit is the one that teaches us everything. The Holy Spirit can teach amazing things. He can even teach the strange idea that Jesus was a man living on earth but was also God – the word made flesh!

Today's key verse portions are, "The Word was God… The Word became flesh," (from John 1:1 and John 1:14). And the Old Testament verse portions are, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth… And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." (from Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:3). Today's questions are, "Why is it important to have eyewitnesses?" and "What was John the Baptizer's role?" Finally, today's prayer beginning starts like this: God, I want to truly believe what the Bible says about the Word; today please…

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