Light and Life – John 1:1-5

What is light? Wikipedia describes it this way:

“Light or visible light is electromagnetic radiation within the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that can be perceived by the human eye. The primary properties of visible light are intensity, propagation direction, frequency or wavelength spectrum, and polarization, while its speed in a vacuum, 299,792,458 meters per second, is one of the fundamental constants of nature. Visible light, as with all types of electromagnetic radiation (EMR), is experimentally found to always move at this speed in a vacuum. Like all types of EM radiation, visible light propagates as waves. However, the energy imparted by the waves is absorbed at single locations the way particles are absorbed.”

Light is an apparent contradiction, being both wave and particle. What is darkness? No light.

He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and nothing that came into being came into being without him. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light is shining in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome him. (John 1:1-5)

To be “with” someone is to be distinct from that someone and yet close. To be with God in the beginning is to be at least immortal, but for the one who was with God in the beginning to be God means he is infinite and in every sense equal to God, infinite, eternal and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth.

There are thus at least two persons making up the divine being, and this second person is the agent of creation and the source of life in all humans. His life and light is the unconquerable enemy of the darkness, and though the darkness may try, it will never overcome the light of Jesus.

And so John begins his gospel with the main character, about whom he has much yet to say. And I must already make a decision about Jesus in light of John’s opening remarks: Will I fight him or follow him? The darkness has tried to fight him and cannot win. But why would you fight life? Because such a light demands your whole life. He made you, made all of us, and everything that exists.

Discussion Questions

What is the brightest light you have ever experienced?
What do you think John means when he says Jesus was the life that was the light of men?
What is the darkness that John is referring to and how does it relate to us?
What does it mean to you that the darkness cannot overcome the light of Jesus?
How do you feel about asking God to direct you to do anything He wants to with your life?
What are our greatest fears about completely submitting our lives to God?

About the Author Randall Johnson

A full-time pastor since 1979, Randall originally graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (ThM) in 1979 and from Reformed Theological Seminary (DMin) in 1998. He is married with four grown children and a pile of epic grandchildren.

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