“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God… In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
“The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him)…
“And this is the testimony of John…He said, ‘I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord,” as the prophet Isaiah said.’ The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!.. For this purpose I came.., that he might be revealed to Israel.’ The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.” John 1:1-2,4-9,14-15,19,23,29-31,35-37
The life and person of Jesus captivated John’s attention, his very being, and his life-work. John was a herald in his time, harkening unto the Lord Jesus and proclaiming who He was and what He had come to do. He was called by God as a witness, a voice, a ‘herald angel’ who would point anyone and everyone to the Lamb of God who brought freedom from sin and the peace of reconciliation.
“Hark! the herald angels sing,
‘Glory to the newborn King:
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!’
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th’angelic hosts proclaim,
‘Christ is born in Bethlehem!’
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
‘Glory to the newborn King'” ~Charles Wesley (1739)
Am I so besotted with Jesus that He is in the beginning of my day? Has His saving grace compelled me to be caught up with herald angels glorifying Him? And where is He sending me? To whom in the wilderness of my neighborhood, workplace, or commercial interactions has He given me a voice? How clearly am I exemplifying and proclaiming His unique divinity, His grace and truth, His indescribable peace? (John 14:27; Philippians 4:6-7)
How are we singing glory to our newborn King in facial expressions and tone of voice? Are there ways and situations where we can pause, point a finger upward, and say ‘Hark! Hail the prince of peace!’ What evidence are we displaying that He is reigning as our Prince of Peace? (Isaiah 9:6)
Lord, catch me up with the angels to proclaim, in all I feel and project and say, that You are established as my Prince of Peace. Draw others to follow.
As the rain and snow 