The Light shines in the darkness

John 1:1-5 (NASB)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.  In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.  The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. 

Matthew wrote his gospel to the Jews, Mark wrote his gospel to the Romans, and Luke wrote his gospel to the Gentiles.  John wrote his gospel to everyone in the world.  John started his gospel with the same three words that Moses used to start Genesis---“In the beginning”. John describes Jesus as the Word (Greek: logos) that means “the spoken word”.  Note later in verse 14 that the “Word became flesh and dwelt among us” so it is clear that the Word (Logos) means Jesus Christ.  He is God in the flesh that lived on the earth and taught who God is and what His kingdom means. 

Note also in these verses that Jesus was also referred to as God (Word was God), life, and Light.  Whereas Matthew emphasized Jesus as King and the Promised Savior, Mark emphasized Jesus as Servant and the Powerful Savior, and Luke emphasized Jesus as the Perfect Man, the Perfect Savior, John emphasized Jesus as the Son of God, as our Personal Savior.  Jesus equated Himself with God several times in John’s gospel (5:17-18, 10:30, 8:58, 17:5, 17:21-24).

Jesus is life.  All things came into being through Him.  He said in John 10:10b that He came to give people an abundant life.  In John 14:6 He said that He is the “way, the truth, and the life”.  And in John 11:25 He proclaimed that He is the “resurrection and the life”.  In fact John use the word “life:” 36 times in his gospel.  The Greek word use for life is “zoe” that has a deeper meaning than just life; it means “life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last for ever”.  That is what real life means, not just to exist, not just to live each day like some kind of robot, but to live life full of vigor, full of devotion, full of blessings, and full of hope. 

Jesus is Light.  He is the Light of men.  His Light shines in the darkness.  Darkness cannot comprehend His Light.  The word for light is “phos” where we today use the world phosphorescence to describe illumination of light.  Jesus said that “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).  Jesus also said in Matthew 5:13-16 that all His followers are lights of the world and your light must shine before others because of your good works.     

The word for darkness means “ignorance of divine things”.  Darkness in the Bible is the same as wickedness or evil.  So when John says that darkness did not comprehend the light, indeed he is affirming that wicked people are ignorant of divine things.

I think about the contrast between the light of Christ and the darkness of evil when the power goes out at night and I cannot turn on a light to see anything; when it is daylight at 9 pm in the summer and dark at 10 pm; when I cannot see anything dirty through a window when it is dark outside, but how dirty that window is when the sun shines through it.  If you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior you are experiencing His Light.  If you have not invited Jesus into your heart, you are living in the darkness.  Decide right now to escape the world darkness and enter the life of light.  Choose to be a light for others in your life.  "Like the light of a bright candle and the warmth of a fire's glow, we brighten every corner when we let God's love show."  -- Joyce C. Lock