John 1:2-5 - Lesson #3

This lesson continues with John's introduction of the One about whom the entire book is written. Verse 1 introduced us to the Word, who will soon be clearly identified as Jesus; "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). The Word always was with God and the Word was God.

John 1:2-5
"He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it."

The Word is the agent of all creation. This is confirmed in Genesis where creation is accomplished by the word of God; "Then God said...and it was so." Jesus reveals the character and nature of God, and we should understand that His role as Revealer began at creation; "since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made" (Romans 1:20). Creation reveals God! Creation is never to be worshiped, but God made ALL to demonstrate His glory. This ought to fill us with awe, respect, and a sense of responsibility to care for what He has created.

Next we see Jesus being referred to as life and light. This will be a common theme throughout the book. He is the giver of all life. Again, we see this confirmed in Genesis when "God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life" (Genesis 2:7). Without Him we would still be a lump of dirt - without physical life. But even more important, without Christ we are void of any Spiritual life - a condition referred to as darkness.

If we live in darkness (which is really just existing and not living) we are sure to keep bumping into obstacles without direction or purpose. But when we are made truly alive in Christ, our path becomes clear and filled with hope, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

Jesus came shining His light into a Spiritually dark world which did not understand. They could not comprehend who He was because they could not even recognize their need and did not want to turn from the comfort of their darkness; "men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19). Even the slightest bit of light begins to expose the deeds of a darkened heart; and for most, this is simply too difficult to bear so they keep out the light and therefore never really live.

We must receive Jesus exactly as He is presented. He is the creator of ALL and the giver of real life to those who allow His light to expose the sin which only He can then cleanse. Let's refuse to live another day with even the hint of darkness. Let's open our heart to the light and receive the newness of His life.