Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Christmas Story

CHRISTMAS STORY
  
 En el principio ya existía el *Verbo,  
 Él estaba con Dios en el principio.
    y el Verbo estaba con Dios,
    y el Verbo era Dios.    

 In het allereerste begin was Christus er a 
 Hij was bij God en was Zèlf God. 
 
 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
 and the Word was God. 
 The same was in the beginning with God.
  Por medio de él todas las cosas fueron creadas;  sin él, nada de lo creado llegó a existir.
  Alles ontstond door Zijn Woord. Zonder Hem is niets ontstaan; al het bestaande heeft Hij    gemaakt. 

 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 

 En él estaba la vida,
    y la vida era la luz de la humanidad. 
 
Zonder Hem is niets ontstaan; al het bestaande heeft Hij gemaakt. 

In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  

Esta luz resplandece en las tinieblas,
   y las tinieblas no han podido extinguirla. (NBD)
 
 Het licht schijnt in de duisternis
en de duisternis heeft het niet in zijn macht kunnen krijgen. (HTB) 

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended
it not. (KJV)  The Gospel According to John 1:1-5
 Christmas Holiday Winter Wreath - Vintage Christmas Wreath

No matter the language in which it is told, it is the Greatest Story ever told.  It is my favorite telling of the Christmas story.  Jesus Christ is the only name by which we must be saved. 
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”–Acts 4:12
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure— 
The saints’ and angels’ song.  --Frederick Lehman, 1917
A Blessed Christmas to you, for may the Love of God dwell ever in your heart.
Love,
vanilla and BBBH

4 comments:

Vee said...

St. John says it succinctly. Mom always contended that the Gospel of John was all people needed in order to know the Way. She memorized the entire book so that portion of the Scripture could never be taken from her.

I hope your Christmas is joyful and blessed as you reflect on the great love of God.

Secondary Roads said...

Blessed Christmas, Vanilla and JoAnn.

Sharkbytes said...

Loretta sang that song at our wedding

vanilla said...

Vee, I have for several years proposed this as my "favorite" of the Christmas stories. Some people think it strange, "Where are the shepherds? Where are the wise men?" Those are good stories too, but the depth of truth of the Way is told in John's gospel. I am with Mom; I believe everything essential to salvation is delineated in John's gospel.

Chuck, while my response here is a bit late for Christmas wishes this year, we nevertheless wish you joy in the coming year!

Sharkey, I surprise myself with the frequency of occasion when I hear myself singing this song. To myself, of course.