True Light

When our society and world seems to be full of darkness, we rest on the truth of God’s Word. Jesus our Savior, Redeemer is our Light, full of grace and truth! Passages from Berean Standard Bible and imagery created using NightCafe Studio. Including chapter titles and references for the related passages. This post considers the first chapters of John and Colossians.

God’s light fills His creation to warm us with a reminder of His Presence. The long dark nights are just temporary.

John 1:1-13

The Beginning
(Genesis 1:1–2; Hebrews 11:1–3)

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. 4In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John is linking Jesus to Genesis in the opening of his gospel. Paul also explains the Supremacy of Jesus in Colossians 1:15-20. Paul reveals Jesus’ part and purpose in creation. Explanations follow each passage in italics.

Colossians 1:15-20

The Supremacy of the Son
(Hebrews 1:1–14)

Commentary Source: https://www.gotquestions.org/He-is-before-all-things.html

15The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For in Him all things were created, things 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.

Jesus is the Image of God–part of the Holy Trinity. “Jesus Christ had to exist “before all things” (before the creation of the world) to be present and active with God at the creation of the world” Jesus is the source and purpose of creation-through and for Him. He is the Reason and Cause for all of creation.

17He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.

“He is before all things means Jesus Christ is sovereign and supreme: “The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven” (Hebrews 1:3, NLT). Jesus alone is the perfect image of God, expressing His character and glory. Paul reinforces the point that Jesus is God: “For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ” (Colossians 1:19, NLT).”

Because He lives we can face tomorrow as the hymn reminds us! Because He rose from the dead and ascended to God’s right hand, we have hope in the coming resurrection when He returns at the end of the age. His victory over sin and death brings us new and abundant life in Him!

19For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, 20and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross.

Indeed, He is the Creator, our source of life, and first in everything. Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior—the only One sufficient to reconcile us sinners to God. “And he is God, the one who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen” (Romans 9:5, NLT).

Our Merciful, Holy, Righteous God brings us back to Him through His Son! He is our Peace and Redeemer who calls us to trust in Him and live through His grace and truth.

God provides a witness: John the Baptist

The Witness of John

6There came a man who was sent from God. His name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe. 8He himself was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.

Explanation of John the Baptist, his identity, mission, and life

https://www.gotquestions.org/life-John-Baptist.html

9The true Light who gives light to every man was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. 11He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.

These verses reveal the tragic nature of a fallen world that refuses to recognize Christ as it’s creator. Even God’s people reject Jesus! Verses twelve and thirteen are the good news: that those who receive Him become children of God. God is the One who brings about this new birth.

Enduring Word Commentary on John 1:13

“John reminds us of the nature of the birth. Those who received Him are born of God, but not of human effort or achievement. . .This new birth is something that brings change to the life. “The man is like a watch which has a new mainspring, not a mere face and hands repaired, but new inward machinery, with freshly adjusted works, which act to a different time and tune; and whereas he went wrong before, now he goes right, because he is right within.” (Spurgeon)

Source: https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/john-1/

The Incarnation: God Arrives in Jesus!

John 1:14-18

The Word Became Flesh
(Psalm 84:1–12)

14The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Truth About Jesus Coming to Us

“God has come close to you in Jesus Christ. You don’t have to struggle to find Him; He came to you. Some think they go from place to place to try and find God, and continue their search. More commonly they stay at a place until God draws close to them – then they quickly move on.“

15John testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, “This is He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’ ”

16From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.

Commentary: What does the Incarnation Mean?

Summary Quote: Emphasis Mine

And this was God’s plan for the Incarnation: “When Christ came into the world, he said: ‘Sacrifice and offering [under the Old Covenant] you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me’” (Hebrews 10:5). Without the Incarnation, Christ could not really die, and the cross is meaningless.

God did an incredible work in sending His only begotten Son into the world and providing us with a salvation we do not deserve.

Praise the Lord for that moment in which “the Word became flesh.” We are now redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:19).

https://www.gotquestions.org/incarnation-of-Christ.html

God’s grace is sufficient for our troubles in this pilgrimage of faith. His Light shine upon and through you!