God has made himself known – Can you see Him? (John 1: 1-9) – Terry Nightingale
The first sentence in John’s Gospel is devastatingly clever!
From the first second, ancient readers would have been drawn into both sacred history and deep mystery−at the same time: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1).
Even for us today, in just a few words an obvious parallel is drawn to one of the most famous opening lines of any book: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1); we are introduced to a bewildering and intriguing new character – who apparently has been around all this time and nobody knew it – the Word; who is somehow with God and is God at the same time.
What on Earth…?
And that’s how John introduced his contemporaries to Jesus.
The shock intro is not wasted on us either. Especially if you read the rest of it.
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 1:2-5)
Although Jesus isn’t referred to by name yet (it will become obvious we are talking about him very soon), what are we being told about Him here?
- He is not just a human that was born in Israel around 6BC−He has, sort of, always been there. Since the beginning of time.
- Somehow, every part of the universe came into being through Him.
- Physical, Spiritual and Eternal life originates in Jesus. There is no other source because that life is the light of all mankind. It is for everybody who will receive it.
- Jesus as the light, exudes truth, revelation, a way out of the darkness and the world’s darkness has not extinguished it.
- God consists of more than one being. This is one of the earliest references to God being a “Trinity” − Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In verse 18, John writes, No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. (John 1:18)
Jesus has made God known.
The Word has spoken.
Let me introduce you to… John the Baptist
In verse 6, John the apostle and author of this book, draws attention to another John. The first readers of this book would have been very familiar with the ministry of John the Baptist. He was calling the Jewish people to repent of their sins before Jesus was even heard of. We are told, He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. (John 1:7-8)
More about John the B in the coming weeks, but like the moon reflecting the sun’s light to our planet, he had no light of his own. The Baptist pointed to Jesus−the light of all mankind.
I wonder if you feel like I do sometimes that I am not good enough to call myself a follower of Jesus. The truth is we aren’t (sorry!), but it was a huge deal for me one day when I realised that I can never attain to any sort of goodness by my own efforts. Only God can change me over time. But I can point people to Jesus. Like John the Baptist. That we can do.
I have seen the light
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. (John 1:9)
According to the Farlex Dictionary of idioms[1], the phrase “seeing the light” today means to “…understand or come to accept something, especially something that one was previously confused about or skeptical of.”
Too wordy? How about this: “to understand something clearly at last.”[2]
The Jewish nation in Jesus’ day finally had a chance to see something they had been waiting for. Centuries before, the Psalmist had declared The LORD is my light… Psalms 27:1 and the prophet Isaiah had announced that the people walking in darkness will see a great light (my paraphrase, in Is 9:2).
Now the light was in the world in and through the person of Jesus Christ.
Jesus has made God known. The Word has spoken.
Get your head around this one
If you are a Christian reading this, you know this stuff. Right? But my question is this: If Jesus is the light of all mankind, making God known, what does that mean for you? In your daily life?
How does that influence the way you conduct business today?
What does that tell you about raising your kids?
If the light of the world lives in your heart, how is that making you different to the world around you?
I would love to know your thoughts in the comments below.
Jesus has made God known. The Word has spoken. That means He can speak to you and help you live the life you were meant to live.
Discovering God in a Crazy World
4-min Devotions this year invites you to join us on a guided journey through the Gospel of John. A new devotion will be shared every Tuesday morning (Australian Western Standard time: UTC/GMT +8 hours).
I don’t want you to miss anything!
[1] Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
[2] McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
