The Pressure of the Word (John 1:1-3)

Advent Devotion

Christmas is approaching quickly and it always seems to catch us off guard. Suddenly all of the decorations and trees appear and we get caught up in preparations for the season. Buying the gifts, humming the songs, baking cookies and pies. There is a sense of urgency to get ready for this mega-holiday that caps the end of another year on this earth. The pressure is on.

And good! It is fitting for the season to make us a little stressed and overwhelmed. It is the perfect time to think of the ones you love, and fear that you will spend this holiday alone. It is appropriate to empty your bank account for frivolous gifts and meals of mercy. ’Tis the season for our erratic and crazy traditions. Because the world is preparing to celebrate something insane.

Many people do not know why their hearts get heavy around Christmas, or why depression and sadness dampen their holiday. Many people do not understand why the atheistic world takes a break to openly worship the jolly gods of jingle bells. It’s crazy what happens inside of us around this time of year. Longing, wishing, wondering, lamenting, giving, receiving, decorating, preparing the earth. All of God’s creatures feel the weight of what is to come.

What has already come.

Advent leads us to Christmas as we are in the midst of already feeling this unshakable feeling of preparation. Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming.” And so it is fitting, that we reflect, wish, long, and lament for the coming of Christ, feeling the pressure of such an earth-shattering event. The Word is coming to dwell on the earth.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:1-3)

The Word was God. The Word was with God. All things were made through the Word. And this eternal Word collided with our trembling flesh when Jesus was born of Mary. This Word did not begin with Mary, however. The Word was with God from the beginning. But the Word touched His creation in a historical time and place, born of a virgin, in the little town of Bethlehem.

So the chaos of the season makes perfect sense to those who know God. The Word came into our timeline hidden as a weak baby boy, and something was different. The Word walked through the crowds, restoring, healing, forgiving, because something was here. The Word was sacrificed on a splintered cross for the sins of the world, and creation darkened and rumbled as it recognized her Lord. Someone had come. And you recognize Him.

We know this hurried season anticipates our Savior, the Word. He was in the beginning, He was born and crucified. And we all feel the pressure, because he will come again. We feel the pressure, because the next time He comes it will be in unmistakable glory.

Explore this season's uncomfortable tension. Enjoy it. Be crushed by it. Because you celebrate with hope. You know the Word has come and He is coming again!

---

MORE DEVOTION RESOURCES from Cindy:

Family Style Theology Podcast “The Word Lives With Us” Advent Devotion. Our goal is to focus your family on the true meaning of Christmas. Each week, Family Style Theology will inspire kids of all ages to hear the Word of God, discover WHO is the Word, and understand that He lives with us! This week we have a conversation about John 1:1-3 and who is “The Word.”www.familystyletheology.com

LISTEN: https://radiopublic.com/family-style-theology-8gv9PL/s1!2088d

Everyone Knows What to do in the Advent of a Truck: https://cindykochwrites.com/?p=2248

Something is Coming: https://cindykochwrites.com/2021/11/29/something-is-coming/