Scripture Reading
1 John 4:2–3
2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
John 1:1–14
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Reflection
John teaches that every true message points people to the real Jesus—fully God and fully man. Throughout history many have created a version of Jesus that fits their own preferences, but only the Jesus revealed in Scripture has the power to save.
The better we know Jesus, the easier it becomes to recognize counterfeit versions of Him.
Reflection Questions
Am I pursuing a relationship with the Jesus revealed in Scripture?
Have I ever believed ideas about Jesus that weren't rooted in God's Word?
What does knowing the real Jesus change about my life?
How can I continue growing in my understanding of Christ?
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for revealing Yourself through Your Word. Guard my heart from false ideas and help me know You more deeply. May my faith rest in who You truly are and not in a version of You created by culture or my own preferences. Amen.