The beginning of the Gospel of John reads like a hymn or poem that paints the story of creation and humanity with the knowledge of Jesus as a central figure of history. When considering the Genesis story and the creation of humanity and subsequent fall of humanity, it is tempting to think that God has to create a new plan for mankind's redemption. However, in today's reading, it is clear that God's plan for the Incarnation (God becoming human through Jesus) was always His first plan. He already knew from the beginning that He would come to us through Jesus.

Yet several times in this passage, humanity does not accept Jesus; His own people reject Him. Amazingly, God understands rejection. When we carry the baggage of rejection, we know that God can relate to our feelings. And when we listen to God and do not do what He asks us to do and yet He still loves us, we can learn how to handle rejection of others by how He accepts us back to Him.

"And the Word became flesh and lived among us..." The word "among" would be best translated as "in." The problem with "among" means that God is still separate from humanity. The actual Greek word meaning "in" means that God is choosing to be intimate with humanity. It can also have a dual meaning since the Holy Spirit now represents God dwelling IN us. And as He is in us, He will never leave us.