Jesus ~ Light and Life.  John 1.1-9

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.   John 1.1-9, NIV

By all standards, John-the-Baptizer or John-the-Baptist, was a most unique man--chosen by God for a particular purpose—to get people’s attention that they needed to repent of their sins—to make them aware that Jesus was coming on the scene.  Apparently, God had a keen eye for marketing, with the wild and wooly, most outspoken cousin of Jesus being the one to point the way to him.

John, the beloved disciple, emphasizes two themes in these several verses, those of light and life, which replay throughout this beautiful gospel.  It does not just begin with life! but it also ends with it—turn to John 20.31--But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. 

Don’t you just love that Jesus is the very source of life?  I mean, he said of himself, I am the way, the truth, and the Life… which also means he is both the sustainer and restorer of life, and don’t forget—the great physician, too!  Therefore it is incumbent on you and me to stay connected to this life source if we are to remain vital.

Interestingly enough, John then imbues this ‘life’ with greater significance by saying that it is also ‘light’ in verse four.  While darkness is the absence of light, it also symbolizes everything that is not light—evil, injustice, sin, ignorance, and unbelief.  Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness … hmmmm, yes.  Light is stronger than darkness and overcomes it.  John uses the term ‘light’ 21 times in his gospel, and Jesus even says of himself, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." 8.12

One thing I know about light is that it attracts.  Jesus attracts.  Religion repels, but Jesus attracts.  Man-made constructs divide, but Jesus unites.  Reminds me of the man, Charles Templeton, who was a contemporary of the young Billy Graham in the 1950s and 60s, but later denounced his Christian faith.  In an interview conducted while in his 80s, knowing he did not have long to live, Templeton had this to say about the Jesus he had walked away from:

   “He was the greatest human being who has ever lived. He was a moral genius. His ethical sense was unique. He was the intrinsically wisest person that I’ve ever encountered in my life or in my reading. His commitment was total and led to his own death, much to the detriment of the world.”

The interviewer, Lee Strobel, commented, “You sound like you really care about him.”

“Well, yes,” Templeton acknowledged, “he’s the most important thing in my life.” He stammered: “I . . . I . . . I adore him . . . Everything good I know, everything decent I know, everything pure I know, I learned from Jesus.”

Strobel was stunned. He listened in shock. He says that Templeton’s voice began to crack. He then said, “I . . . miss . . . him!” With that the old man burst into tears; with shaking frame, he wept bitterly.*

People do not forget the feeling of light… of life… of love… or who brought it into their lives.  Just give people Jesus.

Christine