Jesus is the Light

John 1:1–14
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John, who presents Christ as the Son of God, begins his gospel in eternity past. He says that when time began, the Word (Christ) was already in existence (v. 1). Having established the eternity of the Word, John then pro­ceeds to give a witness about Jesus’s involvement in creation (v.3). He states that Christ was the creator and not the created. Life is a key theme throughout this book. The word is used 36 times. John explains how Jesus not only has life and gives life, but He is life (4). Through this life He brings light to the world (5). Christ is the shining light in contrast to the darkness (unbelief and sin) of this world. You might expect the blind to welcome the light, but they do not. The people chose to interpret Jesus’s teachings in material and physical ways rather than as spiritual truths.

John the Baptist was “sent from God” as a witness for Jesus Christ (v. 6), and like the Old Testament prophets he was equipped for a special ministry that all men might come to trust in Jesus (vv. 7-9). Christians have a similar ministry today. We are to give a personal witness of Christ so that others may believe. John states that though Jesus created the world, the world did not recognize Him. He came to His own, but His own did not receive Him (vv. 10-11). Those who accept the Light, who believe in the message Christ proclaimed about Himself, are given the “right to become the children of God” (v. 12). To be born into the kingdom of God is not something achieved by human energy (v. 13) but by the grace of the living God through Christ Jesus (Eph 2:8-9). This is to be balanced by the emphasis on the need to “receive” Christ. We bring nothing to God and contribute nothing to our salvation. Christ who is God, came to earth as man. He did not merely “appear” like a man; He became one (v. 14). “We have seen” implies that the author was an eyewitness.

Application

I want to make sure I am doing the Lord’s will. I have promised the Lord that anytime I get an opportunity to speak or preach, I will try to make a clear presentation of the gospel and an invitation to trust Christ. And if opportunity opens up in my conversations with people, I will give my testimony and share the gospel.