Full of grace and truth

Here's this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc:

It’s still Christmas season – let’s talk about another Christmas story. This time without the manger.

John 1:14: And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.

There you have it! The Word became flesh and lived among us!

Word = Logos in Greek
Word = dabar in Hebrew

Both carry with them something much stronger than a word. Logos and dabar are power, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Jesus – the power, wisdom, knowledge and understanding of God became a person.

And there is much more. But here’s just one thing.

Full of grace and truth.

Grace = charis in Greek
Truth = aletheia in Greek

Charis kai alethia (grace and truth) is a Greek translation of a similar phrase in Hebrew: Hesed we 'emet. It’s not exact, but that phrase carrys with it the ideas of steadfast love and truth. Or maybe unconditional love and truth.

Jesus – the power, wisdom, knowledge and understanding of God became a person. And that person was full of God’s steadfast, unconditional love – and truth.

This is the same Jesus that reminds us to love God and to love everyone.

No exceptions. No loopholes. No excuses.

Merry Christmastide!