The 12th Day of Christmas!

John 1:1-18
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Over the past 4 years we have all been reminded on just how infections spread. A disease can go from one body to another-to many others-and grow. Sometimes the spread of a disease can help build immunity, but generally speaking, infections are bad. We don’t want them to spread.

In today’s passage, Jesus is described as “life and light”. More than that, Jesus is “the only begotten Son” who makes “as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” 

It is as if Jesus is a reverse infection. He comes into a dark and fallen world, a world that is the enemy of the good God. And everywhere He goes, the light spreads. God’s enemies are infected, not with bacteria or a virus, but with son-ship. 

Think about it. Jesus encounters a leper, reaches out and touches him. Rather than Jesus contracting leprosy, the leper contracts Jesus’ cleanness. Jesus touches the sinful and His righteousness fills them. Jesus meets the dead, and they are infected with His life. 
​
Jesus is at work among us still today, spreading light and life, infecting sinners and doubters with forgiveness and faith. When you hear His Word, it enters your very soul and begins to work, spreading light to the dark corners, planting forgiveness, and growing faith. May Jesus infect you with His life and light, and may you be a vehicle for its spread to others. 

​