In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
When John wrote, “In him was life,” the “him” that John was referring to is Jesus. In Jesus was life. This seems to reiterate the words of verse three, “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” In other words, Jesus gave you life. He made you and me. He is the creator.
This flies in the face of some modern understandings of Jesus. In particular is the false belief that Jesus was nothing more than an influential Nazarene Jew. What matters in this view is his example as a good person. Jesus is admirable, but not ultimate. This is the kind of Jesus that Gandhi agreed with when he said, “I regard Jesus as a great teacher of humanity.” No doubt, Jesus was a great teacher and good person; but this does not encompass all of who Jesus was.
If you have ever climbed a mountain, flown on an airplane or visited the top of a skyscraper, you may recall that breathtaking experience of seeing the world in a different way from that which is experienced on the ground. Perspective changes everything. John comes from the perspective that Jesus was more than a mere human. Jesus is the creator of all things.
Paul and the writer of Hebrews confirms this in their own writings:
“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” Colossians 1:16
“yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.” 1 Corinthians 8:6
“For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist” Hebrews 2:10
The good news is that this influential Nazarene Jew was more than just an influential Nazarene Jew. Jesus is the source of all life. Furthermore, Jesus is also a light; which is to say that he alone can reveal the truth that he is life. Or more simply, through John’s gospel, God is revealing himself as God in Jesus Christ. This is great news because the one who created us also wants us to know him! He didn’t just create us and leave us to fend for ourselves. He continues to be a light for us.
If Jesus is mighty to create, then he is also mighty to save. In the latter parts of the gospel, John uses the words “life” and “light” to also refer to salvation rather than creation:
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live” John 11:25
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
“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 8:12
“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:5
What we have here is the truth that Christians are doubly blest! Jesus created us and he saves us from our sins! John wants us to remember this reality. He wants us to reflect on these truths about Jesus so that our relationship with him will deepen. Perhaps now is the time to worship.
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