The Light of the World

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5

The Gospel of John starts immediately telling us who Jesus is. Jesus has always been. Jesus was with God. Jesus is God. Jesus is the Creator. Life comes from Jesus. Jesus is the Light of men. John, this beloved disciple is very straight forward in his proclaimation of the deity of Jesus. Completely God!

Skip down to verse 14 of the same chapter, John continues, “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.” Now John is introducing the humanity of Jesus. It is a concept that is incomprehensible that Jesus is all God, yet for thirty-three and one-half years, Jesus picked up humanity as well. Not 50/50, but 100% God and 100% man. Try that one on in your Math class.

Another mind-blowing concept. Jesus lived humanity without sin! Yes, Jesus as man lived, talked, taught, walked, ate with and befriended humanity. Jesus modeled for us how a man wrapped in flesh could please His Father. Those closest to Jesus could see it—the glory, grace and truth that radiated from Him. John is very certain that he had never seen another man like this man called Jesus.

At this Christmas season we are amazed how much the Father loved us to send His son in the flesh to us. God commissioned two unlikely parents to raise Him, Jesus humbly entering this world without notoriety, without title, without wealth, without grand accommodations—but with a promise that this child was on a mission to change the world. And, that my friend, is what Jesus continues to do every day.

Even though the humanity of Jesus has left the premises of earth and Jesus has ascended back to His rightful place at the right hand of God, through His resurrected power, John continues to say, “The light [still] shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Nor will darkness overcome the light of Jesus in a believer today.

Jesus birth in Bethlehem, with the sweet baby in the manager, was the beginning to the promised fulfillment, but we have opportunity to see the finished work through the resurrected Savior! Aren’t you glad because of Calvary, this promise light shall continue to shine forth?