October 2, 2026

Scriptures: Psalm 106, John 1:4–14 |

Psalm 106 looks back across Israel’s history and tells the truth about it. God rescued His people, provided for them, protected them, and repeatedly showed them mercy while they repeatedly forgot Him, complained, chased idols, and turned away. The pattern is exhausting: God is faithful, people wander, consequences follow, they cry out, and God shows mercy again. But Grace shows up in God's willingness to keep rescuing people who keep forgetting Him.

Then John opens the New Testament by revealing where this entire story has been heading. “The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.” After centuries of humanity stumbling through darkness, God does not simply send another prophet with instructions. The Light Himself enters the darkness!

John says something almost unimaginable after everything we have read: “So the Word became human and made his home among us.” The God that Israel repeatedly rejected came to live among them. The God whose presence filled the tabernacle and temple now walked among His people in flesh and blood. Jesus is not God's decision to give humanity one more chance to get things right…He is God coming to do for us what we could never do for ourselves.

After walking through the entire Old Testament story, John 1 should hit us differently. Every rescue, sacrifice, covenant, king, prophet, temple, failure, and promise has been preparing us for this moment. The waiting is over. The Light has entered the darkness, and His name is Jesus.

Challenge Questions:

Looking back over the Old Testament, what repeated human failure has most clearly shown you why we need Jesus?

What changes about the way you see Jesus when you realize the entire biblical story has been moving toward His arrival?