Advent Day 5: John 1:1-5

Read & Journal

Read John 1:1-5. Let any or all of these questions guide your meditation on these verses.

• What do these verses teach you about Jesus? About His purpose?

• The Bible begins with creation and John begins his Gospel with creation. How does Jesus bringing light and life play a role in the re-creation of humanity?

• How have you seen Jesus bring light into your life?

• Read over John 5. How does the fact that the darkness of this world cannot overcome or extinguish Jesus’ light?

Ponder

Matthew began his gospel with the genealogy of Christ; Mark begins with John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Messiah; Luke begins with birth narratives. But the Gospel of John begins with creation. Jesus, the Word, our Life and Light, played an active role in creation and has now come to bring light to everyone (v. 4). Not just the Jews. Not just the good people, the people who deserved it. Not just those who follow all the rules and do all the right things. Everyone, all people, every last one of us.

In these opening verses of John, Jesus is shown to be the source of life. And the life He gives brings light that the darkness of the world—the darkness of sin, shame and destruction—cannot extinguish or overcome. Centuries before, through the declarations of the prophets, God had proclaimed the Messiah would come. Those who walked in darkness would see a great light. And now, in the fullness of time, the Light has come, John says. And no matter what, no matter how hard or how dark or how deep the sin, the Light of Christ cannot be snuffed out. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness cannot overcome it.

The day of salvation has come. Let the light of Christ shine in your heart today.