This is the Light you are looking for.

Christine DiGiacomo

13 hours ago

4 min read

Watch the expanded version of my teaching of this lesson from John 1:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv6a9bDn1Eo&t=222s

podcast: https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/2a3a0ce7/this-is-the-light-you-are-looking-for-john-no1

THIS. IS. LIGHT.

One thing I know, one thing that is sure - we all need a gigantic dose of JESUS...whether we realize it or not. While many areas of life seem uncertain, Jesus was, is and ever will be the purest source of light.

Let’s go toward that light, aye, let us pursue that light daily. Come with me, will you, to the gospel of John. If you will--take the time to look at it in your own Bible; if not now, then later take five minutes and read the first chapter of John from your copy of God's Word.

Starting with John 1.1-5.

Wait just a minute--there are many who receive these Morning Briefings who do not own a Bible, others who do not know the basics of understanding it; some fell into a Bible study, came to know Jesus Christ as Savior, but missed Bible 101. So, for those who do not know what a reference such as John 1.1-5 means, it refers to the gospel of John in the Bible; the numbers refer to chapter 1, and then verses 1-5. Elementary? Maybe. But only if you are acquainted with the matter.

And did the author, John, give it these numbers? No, Ma'am. The first major division of the Bible into chapters came in the 13th century. Stephen Langton, a professor at the University of Paris and later Archbishop of Canterbury, is widely credited with devising the chapter system in the early 1200s.1

Now then, here is John 1.1-5, English Standard Version.

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

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.

Right out of the gate, John used the term 'Word’ to describe Jesus, which has confused many a reader. No wonder! The Greek word translated ‘word’ is logos which means ‘the outward expression of the mind and will that rules the universe.’ Again? logos" - the outward expression of the mind and will that rules the universe. Wow.

Now consider these same verses from another Bible translation, as the comparison often opens up our understanding of the author's meaning:

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

2 He existed in the beginning with God.

3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.

4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

from the New Living Translation.

Think of it--God has given us the written WORD, of which I gave us an overview in my last Morning Briefing, "You've gotta get your hands around this," https://conta.cc/3UOcu2Z . . . and

in Jesus Christ, God the Father gave us the living WORD of God--

as a human being.

How many times have I read the words of John, how long have I known that Jesus came as a baby to earth, and yet failed to realize that

"a human being is the only kind of creature God can become."2

As only the inimitable brilliant John Lennox could communicate and then remark, 'that, to my mind, is staggering.'

And so our author John, the beloved disciple, not to be confused with John the Baptist, opens his gospel by taking us to another familiar opening, the beginning.

“In the beginning, God created the Heaven and the Earth.” Genesis 1.1

John tells us the Word, Jesus, was there, but read carefully as Jesus was not just present at that ‘beginning,’ Jesus created.

“For by him [Jesus] all things were created: things in heaven and on earth,

visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;

all things were created by him and for him.”3 Paul, to the church at Colossae

Just how did Jesus create? Did Jesus have a potter’s wheel, a gigantic laboratory? Was he the originator of the first planetarium, where he concocted the plan of stars, planets and galaxies? The psalmist says,

“The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created.

He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.”4

Jesus Christ was not just there at the time of Creation, but he spoke all that was created into existence. Such power in the words of Jesus Christ! And as John said, “God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.” To which I say, 'Do it again, Lord, do it again!'

A Prayer

Lord Jesus, we need you to breathe new life into our world - to bring order to what oft seems to be spinning out of control. We are in need of your light right now - to show us the way to go, to show us how to live! In turn, remind us that we are meant to be the light in the world. Cause us to rise up and be a source of light and encouragement to those around us. May we influence others by being way-pointers to You. Amen.

Dig a little deeper:

With More Than A Carpenter5 in hand, please read chapter 1, My Story, and chapter 12, He Changed My Life--very inspiring, to say the least. I first heard Josh McDowell in 1980 at the University of Minnesota. I was slack jawed. You see, I was raised to know Jesus--why, there was never a doubt in my mind that he was the Son of God! And yet, it turns out there is all of this scientific and historical evidence that indeed that is just who Jesus was. And then write down your story with Jesus. You might begin with this outline: My life before Jesus, How I Came to Believe in Jesus, How My Life has Changed...