Today’s Passage: John 1:4-5
In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. — John 1:4-5
The first thing God created was light. On day one. By speaking. When God started time and created the universe, He started by making light. Light has lots of value: it provides comfort to a child in bed, it helps plants to grow, it shows imperfections, and it guides people. Light provides heat and makes life possible. In the Bible, light stands for what is good and holy, and darkness stands for evil. The themes of Jesus being life and light are often reiterated throughout the book of John. In John 3, Jesus explained to Nicodemus how He provides eternal life to those who believe in Him. He said that people love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil (John 3:19). Jesus said in John 14:6, “‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” Jesus is the source of eternal life. He is the light that points people to God. Just like the light shone into the darkness on day one of creation, so Jesus’s light shines in the world to point people to God. He shows us how to be forgiven and have a relationship with God.
On the day of Jesus’s crucifixion, Satan thought he had won. Jesus was dead. The Messiah had failed. Darkness had won. However, as you know, Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day. He conquered death and the grave. Darkness did not overcome the light. Good won, and evil lost. Jesus shone the light that pointed people to God, and nothing was able to stop Him and His victory over sin and death. Jesus is the only way to heaven (Acts 4:12). The only way we can be forgiven for the sins we have done is to repent from our sins and believe that Jesus died to take the punishment for our sins.
As we get closer to Christmas, may we never forget the real reason Jesus came to earth. He came to earth because He loves each and every one of us and wants us to have a relationship with God. He came to die on the cross to take our punishment so that we can be forgiven. He came to give us life.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for showing me the way to God and for taking my punishment by dying on the cross. In Jesus’s name, amen.