Life and Light

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March 15
John 1:1–14

“In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Illustration by Gustave Doré

Prior to the coming of Jesus, the world was lost and in darkness. The Jews were anticipating the coming of their Messiah but were beginning to think that nothing would ever change. Then out of no where, Jesus entered the scene. In John 1:1–14, the apostle John shares some powerful truth about Jesus. John tells his readers that “in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Later he goes on to say, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). What an incredible reality. John uses the Greek word, logos (i.e., the Word), to identify Jesus. He says incredible things like the Word was in the beginning before anything existed, and the Word was with God, and even more shocking, the Word was God. All of this is to point to the unbelievable reality that Jesus is God. But it becomes even more incredible in verse 14—the Word “became flesh and dwelt among us.” Jesus, though he was God, humbled himself, became a human, and lived on earth. For many of us, this is not new news; however, it still should shock us. It should still amaze us. God came to us!

But why? Why would God choose to come to us? John offers one primary reason: for those lost in darkness to become children of God (John 1:12). When Jesus came to earth, he brought light and life. He shined into the darkness and brought those dead in sin to life in God. There is no greater blessing than to become a child of God. Jesus came reversing sin’s curse and removing the alienation that stood between us and God. While orphans, Jesus bought us back by his blood and adopted us into his family. As we approach Good Friday and Easter, may we be reminded of what Jesus endured for us to be brought back into the family of God.

Reflection

  1. How did Jesus coming to earth more fully reveal God?
  2. How was Jesus light and life?
  3. What does it mean for you personally to be a child of God?