John 1:4, 5 - JESUS; The Light, Shines Through Darkness.
John 1:4, 5 (NLT) The Word gave life to
everything that was created, and his life brought light
to everyone. 5 The light shines in the
darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
INTRODUCTION
"The darkness can never extinguish it" means
the darkness of evil never has and never will
overcome God's light. Jesus Christ is the Creator of
life, and his life brings light to humankind. In
his light, we see ourselves as we really are
(sinners in need of a Savior). When we follow Jesus,
the true Light, we can avoid walking blindly and
falling into sin. He lights the path ahead of us so
we can see how to live. He removes the darkness
of sin from our lives. In what ways have you
allowed the light of Christ to shine into your life?
Let Christ guide your life, and you'll never
need to stumble in darkness. [Life Application
SB]
COMMENTARY PEARL
His Words Matter
Dictators fear the Bible, and for good
reason: it inspired Britain's Magna Carta and the
United States' Declaration of Independence. While
many nations disbelieve the Bible, it still
remains the most powerful book ever written because
it is the living Book.
There are those who argue this point, but
the universe is sustained by the Word of God
because it is the definitive Word of the Creator.
God and God's Word are inseparable. A man
and his word may be two different things, but
eternal God and the eternal Word are the same
yesterday, today, and forever. The Bible is a miracle
book because it comes from the Miracle Maker.
Most books live a few short years, are
put on a shelf, and are often forgotten. But the
Holy Bible has been ridiculed, burned, refuted,
and trampled on, yet it still goes on forever
because it is the living Word of God. "Heaven and
earth will pass away, but My words will by no
means pass away" (Matthew 24:3 5). His words
matter!
Do you think the Bible will still be a
powerful book a thousand years from now? [Peace for
Each Day by Billy Graham]
COMMENTARY
It was morning; the sun had just risen
above the Mount of Olives, and its rays fell with
dazzling brightness on the marble palaces, and
lighted up the gold of the temple walls, when Jesus,
pointing to it, said, I am the light of the
world.
By one who listened to these words, they
were long afterward re-echoed in that sublime
passage, In Him was life; and the life was the
light of men. And the light shineth in the
darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not.
That was the true light, which lighteth every man
that cometh into the world. John 1:4, 5, R.
V., 9. And long after Jesus had ascended to
heaven, Peter also, writing under the illumination
of the divine Spirit, recalled the symbol
Christ had used: We have also a more sure word
of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take
heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark
place, until the day dawn, and the daystar arise in
your hearts. 2 Peter 1:19.
In the manifestation of God to His
people, light had ever been a symbol of His
presence. At the creative word in the beginning, light
had shone out of darkness. Light had been
enshrouded in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar
of fire by night, leading the vast armies of
Israel. Light blazed with awful grandeur about the
Lord on Mount Sinai. Light rested over the mercy
seat in the tabernacle. Light filled the temple
of Solomon at its dedication. Light shone on
the hills of Bethlehem when the angels brought
the message of redemption to the watching
shepherds.
God is light; and in the words, I am
the light of the world, Christ declared His
oneness with God, and His relation to the whole
human family. It was He who at the beginning had
caused the light to shine out of darkness. 2
Corinthians 4:6. He is the light of sun and moon and
star. He was the spiritual light that in symbol
and type and prophecy had shone upon Israel. But
not to the Jewish nation alone was the light
given. As the sunbeams penetrate to the remotest
corners of the earth, so does the light of the Sun
of Righteousness shine upon every soul.
That was the true light, which
lighteth every man that cometh into the world. The
world has had its great teachers, men of giant
intellect and wonderful research, men whose utterances
have stimulated thought, and opened to view vast
fields of knowledge; and these men have been
honored as guides and benefactors of their race. But
there is One who stands higher than they. As
many as received Him, to them gave He power to
become the sons of God. No man hath seen God
at any time; the only-begotten Son, which is in
the bosom of the Father, He hath declared
Him. John 1:12, 18. We can trace the line of the
worlds great teachers as far back as human records
extend; but the Light was before them. As the moon
and the stars of the solar system shine by the
reflected light of the sun, so, as far as their
teaching is true, do the worlds great thinkers
reflect the rays of the Sun of Righteousness. Every
gem of thought, every flash of the intellect, is
from the Light of the world. In these days we
hear much about higher education. The true
higher education is that imparted by Him in
whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and
knowledge. In Him was life; and the life was the
light of men. Colossians 2:3; John 1:4. He
that followeth Me, said Jesus, shall not
walk in darkness, but shall have the light of
life. DA463-465
No other light ever has shone or ever
will shine upon fallen man save that which
emanates from Christ. Jesus, the Saviour, is the only
light that can illuminate the darkness of a world
lying in sin. Of Christ it is written, In Him
was life; and the life was the light of men.
John 1:4. It was by receiving of His life that
His disciples could become light bearers. The
life of Christ in the soul, His love revealed in
the character, would make them the light of the
world.
Humanity has in itself no light. Apart
from Christ we are like an unkindled taper, like
the moon when her face is turned away from the
sun; we have not a single ray of brightness to
shed into the darkness of the world. But when we
turn toward the Sun of Righteousness, when we
come in touch with Christ, the whole soul is
aglow with the brightness of the divine presence.
MB38-40
CLOSING THOUGHT
God was so determined to be with his
people that he finally became one of them. Jesus
came into the world so that the world could know
him. "The people who sat in darkness have seen a
great light. And for those who lived in the land
where death casts its shadow, a light has shined"
(Matthew 4:16). Jesus' "life brought light to
everyone" (John 1:4). Unfortunately, "the world didn't
recognize him. He came to his own people, and even
they rejected him. But to all who believed him
and accepted him, he gave the right to become
children of God" (John 1:10-12).
God desires to be part of your life. Let
his light shine into your life through his Word.
[One Year NLT SB]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
John 1:5 - JESUS; The Light, Shines Through
Darkness.
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210930-0926.html
John 8:12 - The Second I AM; Jesus the Light
of the World!
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230705-1013.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/
