Advent: Born to Dwell With Bible Study FellowshipSample

Life and Light

John continues by declaring the superiority of the Son of God in verse 4. All fullness of life and personality comes through its original source—the Logos. In His earthly ministry, Jesus also connects “life” and “light.” For example, in John 8:12, He promises, “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Let’s study each phrase in turn:

In him was life. – The Word is the source of all life, spiritual and physical. True life is always a righteous life, for the Bible says everything that is not true righteousness is death. (1) Jesus Christ is Righteous Life. He came in human form and lived a sinless, righteous human life to offer payment with His blood for our sin. (2) When He was born to dwell on the earth, He provided abundant, full, eternal life through faith in Him. His life conquers Satan, death, and His people’s sin. (3) What a Savior!

That life was the light of all mankind. –John uses the metaphor (light) as a word picture to convey the truth about faith. Humans must be alive to be able to physically see. Likewise, we must be spiritually alive to spiritually see. We may wonder, “How long ago has Christ’s light been our light?” Verse 4 immediately follows references to creation in verses 1-3, so John may be referring to the time before sin entered the world. Moses describes this time in Genesis 1:31, when “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.”

Light and Darkness

In verse 5, John builds on his teaching about Jesus Christ’s almighty life and light. John layers in more truth by contrasting darkness and light to reveal the Word’s victorious person and work.

The light shines in the darkness – The present, continuous verb shines describes ongoing action. Throughout all time, Christ’s light shines. When Adam and Eve chose to distrust and disobey God, their sin broke humanity’s intimate union with God. As God had warned, sin’s darkness eclipsed all created life, resulting in spiritual and physical death. However, against this tragic backdrop, John powerfully announces the unconquerable Light of the World.

The darkness has not overcome it – What John announces is known by grace through faith: No darkness overcomes God’s glorious Light in the face of Jesus Christ. (4) Some Bible versions translate this phrase as “the darkness has not understood it.” Anyone who rejects belief in Jesus Christ also chooses to continue to live in darkness. Unbelief cannot understand the spiritual light that comes from Christ and is Christ. (5) And yet, the Light reigns supreme; He will never be overcome.

Light of Righteousness

True life from God is always associated with the light that shines from God’s righteousness. Because Jesus Christ created people to know Him, He has placed God’s unwritten law within every person. This is the natural light of conscience, though it often lies buried by sin. (6)

Light ultimately describes God’s dominion over all reality and His kingdom made known through Jesus Christ. If you have not yet trusted Jesus Christ for salvation from darkness into light, why not submit to His Light as your life today? As believers, will you add verses 4 and 5 to your memory? Allow the Holy Spirit to illuminate your life as a dwelling place with God. “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.”

Questions

1. What do the words “light” and “darkness” mean physically and spiritually in John 1:4-5, and how do you see these meanings reflected in your own life or the world around you?
2. Jesus Christ is the light that keeps shining in the darkness. True light and life come only through faith in Him. Where else might you (or people you love) look for satisfaction or safety apart from Him? As far as you can see, what are the consequences of moving away from the light?
3. What changes would you like to make in your life in light of the truths in these verses?

Related verses:

1. Death: Gen 2:17; Ps 49:13-14; Prov 7:27; John 5:24; Rom 5:17
2. Full life: John 10:10
3. Life and sin: John 4:14-18; 5:8-14; 8:10-11, 34-36
4. Unquenchable light: 2 Cor 4:6; 1 John 4:4
5. Spiritual light: 1 Cor 2:14; 2 Cor 3:16-18
6. Conscience: Rom 2:14-15