Wednesday, December 24, 2008

The Book of John

Though John doesn't contain the 'nativity' story found in Matthew and Luke, it has always felt the most Christmas-y to me. John chapter one means so much more to me than the other more traditional Christmas readings. I suppose because it contains the heart of the gospel, the heart of the Christmas story.
The Word Became Flesh

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
That is what Christmas is about. What you may or may not realize is that there are several resources available free for you to download. The publishers of the ESV Bible, for example, offer two mp3 downloads of the book of John. One is narrated by David Cochran Heath. The second is narrated by Max McLean. Both are COMPLETELY FREE! (Click only if you want to begin the 'zip' downloading). I've also found free mp3s of the gospel of John in KJV. And World English Bible. (These two links will take you to the place where you can listen online or download.) There may be others as well.

Give yourself a special holiday treat and listen to John!

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