From Ruin to Rescue: God’s Countermove — January 5 [Description]This passage paints a sobering picture of humanity under Satan’s influence—religiously corrupted, morally bankrupt, and spiritually blind. Satan had distorted worship, twisted truth, and used even God’s chosen people to misrepresent Him. Religion became a shell, void of meaning, with rituals performed mechanically and grace turned into self-righteousness. Humanity was trapped in sin’s grip, with people bearing the image of evil instead of God. But at sin’s darkest hour, God didn’t destroy the world—He sent Jesus. Christ came to reclaim lost hearts, restore God’s image in man, and flood the world with unstoppable, healing grace. This was heaven’s rescue mission in motion.Overview of John 1:1-18:This passage introduces Jesus as the eternal “Word” (Greek: Logos)—not just at the beginning of the gospel story but at the beginning of all time. The Word was with God and was God, active in creation, the source of life and light for all humanity. Though the world didn’t recognize Him, and many rejected Him, those who received Him were given the right to become God’s children. Verses 14—18 are especially powerful: they declare that this divine Word “became flesh” and dwelt among us—literally “pitched His tent” or tabernacled among us. Jesus reveals God’s glory, full of grace and truth. No one has seen God, but Jesus, the Son, makes Him known. This passage bridges eternity and humanity, presenting Jesus as the eternal God who became one of us so we could know Him personally.

Bible discovery

John 1:1-18365D 5.1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.365D 5.2

2 He was in the beginning with God.365D 5.3

3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.365D 5.4

4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.365D 5.5

5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not ^{[a]Or overcome} comprehend it.365D 5.6

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.365D 5.7

7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.365D 5.8

8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.365D 5.9

9 That ^{[b]Or That was the true Light which, coming into the world, gives light to every man.} was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.365D 5.10

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.365D 5.11

11 He came to His ^{[c]His own things or domain} own, and His ^{[d]His own people} own did not receive Him.365D 5.12

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the ^[e]authority right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:365D 5.13

13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.365D 5.14

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.365D 5.15

15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ^{[f]ranks higher than I} is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ”365D 5.16

16 ^{[g]NU For} And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.365D 5.17

17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.365D 5.18

18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten ^{[h]NU God} Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.365D 5.19

Spirit of Prophecy Reading

The Desire of Ages pp.35-37:365D 5.20

Satan was seeking to shut out from men a knowledge of God, to turn their attention from the temple of God, and to establish his own kingdom. His strife for supremacy had seemed to be almost wholly successful. It is true that in every generation God had His agencies. Even among the heathen there were men through whom Christ was working to uplift the people from their sin and degradation. But these men were despised and hated. Many of them suffered a violent death. The dark shadow that Satan had cast over the world grew deeper and deeper.365D 5.21

Through heathenism, Satan had for ages turned men away from God; but he won his great triumph in perverting the faith of Israel. By contemplating and worshiping their own conceptions, the heathen had lost a knowledge of God, and had become more and more corrupt. So it was with Israel. The principle that man can save himself by his own works lay at the foundation of every heathen religion; it had now become the principle of the Jewish religion. Satan had implanted this principle. Wherever it is held, men have no barrier against sin.365D 5.22

Sin had become a science, and vice was consecrated as a part of religion. Rebellion had struck its roots deep into the heart, and the hostility of man was most violent against heaven. It was demonstrated before the universe that, apart from God, humanity could not be uplifted. A new element of life and power must be imparted by Him who made the world.365D 5.23

With intense interest the unfallen worlds had watched to see Jehovah arise, and sweep away the inhabitants of the earth. And if God should do this, Satan was ready to carry out his plan for securing to himself the allegiance of heavenly beings. He had declared that the principles of God’s government make forgiveness impossible. Had the world been destroyed, he would have claimed that his accusations were proved true. He was ready to cast blame upon God, and to spread his rebellion to the worlds above. But instead of destroying the world, God sent His Son to save it. Though corruption and defiance might be seen in every part of the alien province, a way for its recovery was provided. At the very crisis, when Satan seemed about to triumph, the Son of God came with the embassage of divine grace. Through every age, through every hour, the love of God had been exercised toward the fallen race. Notwithstanding the perversity of men, the signals of mercy had been continually exhibited. And when the fullness of the time had come, the Deity was glorified by pouring upon the world a flood of healing grace that was never to be obstructed or withdrawn till the plan of salvation should be fulfilled.365D 5.24

Satan was exulting that he had succeeded in debasing the image of God in humanity. Then Jesus came to restore in man the image of his Maker. None but Christ can fashion anew the character that has been ruined by sin. He came to expel the demons that had controlled the will. He came to lift us up from the dust, to reshape the marred character after the pattern of His divine character, and to make it beautiful with His own glory.365D 5.25