Not only is Jesus Christ “life”, He is “light”.
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Dead men need “life” and men in darkness need “light”. Jesus is that life which is the “light of men”. In the New Testament there are stark contrasts presented to show the difference between those who are in Christ and those who are not.
John 3:19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
John 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 12:46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.
Acts 26:18a to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God
Ephesians 5:8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
Colossians 1:13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son
Those men and women who are not in the “Light” (in Christ) are in certain darkness. So John continues in chapter 1 verses 6-9 to continue explaining this light vs darkness contrast and introduces John the Baptist.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
John the Baptist knew his role, his purpose was clear. He “came as a witness to bear witness about the light that all might believe through him”.
Jesus says later in John 8:12
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
The one whose birth announcement said his name would be Emmanuel or “God with us” has come into a dark, dying world with light and life. God sent John the baptizer to prepare the way for the Light that “All might believe through Him”.
John is a book about Jesus. Who he was, what he said, and what he did. He came into the world in flesh to make a gracious offer of himself, full of grace and truth, light and life. What will the people do? Will they believe and follow him or will the stay in the shadows of darkness?
Royce Ogle
Grace Digest 