The Presence of God arrived in earthly form in the person of Jesus. But Jesus’ story did not begin in Bethlehem. He has existed since before time began and his arrival in the earth was foretold from ages before. Bill Clark opens our Advent series, Presence, by looking at the poetic and powerful words of John 1.

Promised Presence

Presence | Week 1

December 2, 2018 | Bill Clark

We all need something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.


John 1:1-14 NIV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 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 testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 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.


John 1:1 NIV

In the beginning was the Word…


John 1:3 NIV

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made.


John 1:14 NIV

The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.


We all need something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.


Jesus came and gave us things to do.


What do you love?


John 1:16 NIV

We have received one blessing after another.


The third milestone of a healthy life is that we have something to hope for.