The Light

Welcome back to the second post in our One Thought series through the first 18 verses of John 1. This week, our one thought centers on one word that recurs seven times in the six verses of John 1:4-9. See if you can figure out the one word... (Hint, it's the word in bold.)

In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

John 1:4-9 (ESV)

The author, John the Apostle, would most likely be an avid fan of fireworks, because he seems to really like light. But he wanted his readers to know he wasn't talking about some amazing Christmas light display. Rather, he was talking about a person.

But to make sure his readers weren't confused, he explained that the famous prophet and cousin of Jesus, John the Baptist, was not the light. J.t.B. might have put on a spectacular show out in the desert with his preaching and baptisms, but he was not the "light."

Rather, John makes it clear that JESUS is the light.

So here is my one thought for this week. In verse 5, John said that the light "shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." If Jesus is the light, then no matter how "dark" things might get for you, it can't overcome or push out Jesus.

You might be battling the darkness of loneliness, or an addiction, or concern for a loved one, or worry about the future, or pain from the past, or a physical ailment in the present. But no matter how dark it seems, you can always see the light of Jesus, shining forth from a cross and empty tomb.

So may you look to the light of Christ this week, because that true light, which gives light to everyone, came into the world to give you spiritual life.