#1121. Life is the light (14/8/24)

Welcome to the Come to Jesus Daily Devotional. Today, we consider how all life flows from God, and all forms of life - spiritual and natural - speak of the existence and nature of God.

To watch this devotional, follow the link below:

https://youtu.be/0qIifMl7QpY

‘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 all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’ (John 1:1-5)

John 1:1–5

Light reveals what otherwise could not be seen. Only when a light is turned on do we realise the room we are in is full of priceless pictures and antiques rather than a budget hotel room! Light reveals. In today’s text, we are told that ‘life was the light of all mankind’ - life is a light. What does it mean for life to be a light?

i. Natural life is a light

Firstly, this is about how life, only found on this planet, reveals Jesus. ‘In Him was life’ means that He is the creator of natural life (with The Father and The Spirit). The life that He’s created all around us is a light that reveals that there is a God. Added to this, to say ‘in him was life’ means that He is not only the originator, He is also the sustainer of all forms of life. This is why it is said of Jesus:

‘For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.’ (Colossians 1:16-17)

Colossians 1:16–17

ii. Spiritual life is a light

iSecondly, light is a life in the spiritual sense. When one gets spiritual life - is born again by the Spirit - we have light; in other words, those who are made alive by the Spirit see who Jesus is as Lord and Saviour.

iii. Jesus is the unique light

Thirdly, this is about the uniqueness of Christ. Only in Him is life - Only He can give spiritual life and salvation. This is what is meant by Jesus’ challenging words:

‘Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ (John 14:6)

John 14:6

iv. Jesus’ light will always shine

Fourthly, we are told that ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’ Even though this world is fallen into the darkness of sin. Even though men crucified Jesus who is the Light. Even so, Jesus has risen, and is at work to bring life and light to many.

John Piper writes on these verses:

‘So now we have three events that happen at the same time: new birth, new sight, new faith. In a sense, they are all talking about the same thing from different sides. So here is how you became a child of God (or may become one): We were dead and blind. As far as we were concerned, Christ was boring, unattractive, or just a good man; but he was not the light of life, not our Saviour or Treasure. We were blind and dead to all this. Then God sovereignly and graciously caused us to be born again. That is, he gave us life. But verse 4 says that life is in his Son. So the way God gave us life was by uniting us to Christ. There is no saving life apart from Christ. So in the new birth, God unites us to Christ who is our life. Now that’s all beneath our consciousness. The way we experience this event is that in the very act of coming alive, our eyes are opened, we see Christ for who he really is, and we receive him consciously. His glory streams into our hearts. We call this faith. From another side, we call it new birth. From another, we call it seeing with new eyes. And from another, we call it union with Christ. Now we have life—eternal life. There are no time gaps in all of this. Opening our spiritual eyes, seeing the glory of Christ, and receiving him—these all happen simultaneously. (John Piper

This life and light, imparted by the Spirit, cause sinners to say, with John Newton:

‘Amazing grace! how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch; like me! I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.’

In response, of John the Baptist it was said:

‘He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.’ (John 1:8-9)

John 1:8–9

Jesus is ‘The true light that gives light’; We cannot control the mysteries of how Jesus imparts life so as to give people the light of faith. However, we can imitate John and point to the true light - speak to people about Jesus. You and I can be witnesses to the Light.