Pastor Bell's Words To Live By

John’s gospel does not start with the birth narrative like Matthew or Luke nor does it go straight into the work of Jesus. He takes us back to the future. “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 was made by him and without him nothing was made that was made. In him was light and the light was the light of men. The light shone into the darkness but the darkness did not understand it” (John 1:1-5 paraphrased).

John is presenting us with a pre-existent Jesus, one that holds all things together, made all things and then left his glory to come in humility to redeem his fallen creation.

He was born to an unmarried teenager whose fiancée nearly abandoned her (became flesh)

Born in a smelly stable where animals lived during winter

Spent his formative years as a refugee asylum seeker in a strange land (Egypt)

Grew up in a n obscure village called Nazareth

Trained as a carpenter, making rough timber smooth

At the age of 30 went on a preaching tour for three years that started a movement which continues today

Was betrayed by a friend (Judas)

Left to die on a rough piece of wood (became a curse for us. “Cursed is anyone who hangs on a tree” Gal 3:13)

Rose from the dead

Ascended to heaven

And is coming soon!

What a saviour! And like John all we can say is “those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe in him are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only son of God (John 3:18).

Amen