The Eternal Word: Source of Light and Life

Continuing in the theme of Genesis, John declared that Jesus is the Creator of all things. Look at the parallel between Genesis 1:3 “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’” and John's account,

All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. [John 1:3-4]

Here is God the Son at work, He is Logos, Debar, the eternal Word, the force behind the universe, speaking into being what the Father has conceived and designed. Everything that was made, the material and spiritual worlds, were made by Jesus and for Him.

Jesus is the source of life and light. All other life depends on Jesus as the source of life. Think about life. What is life? You can tell the difference between life and death, but define exactly what life is without using that contrast.

In fact, life is one of the great mysteries of science and philosophy. No one really knows what life is, what it is that animates all these carbon-based enzymes and basic elements that make up life. But here is John saying that life is Jesus, He is the source of all life.

And with life comes light. Light, as John used the word, is a symbol of knowledge, understanding and truth, and it points to the kind of life that goes beyond our physical, temporary life. Understanding and truth point to eternal life.

Then John introduced a hint of the struggle that would happen when light came into the world

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. [John 1:5]

The original Greek word that is translated “overcome” actually means “to lay hold of, to lay hands on, to seize.” That can mean either as a hostile act, or in order to possess, so sometimes it’s translated “to understand.”

John was saying that darkness can’t get a hold of the light, darkness can’t possess light, it can’t apprehend or comprehend light. Think of what light does in a dark room. Darkness just can’t win. No matter how tiny the light is, darkness has to recede. Darkness and light cannot exist together.

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