“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” — John 1:4
I am a repetitive song-singer. And it’s brutal.
I know I do it. I know it’s annoying. I try so desperately to catch myself and stop, but I regularly fail. Like really regularly. Sorry, friends. And lately (until I’m rightfully shushed) I’m singing this little ditty on-repeat: “light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings” (from Hark the Herald Angels Sing). Here’s why: our memory verse is all about light and life, and every time I say it, I can’t help but sing those words. They are so, so good. In fact, I’ve been sing-saying them both mashed up together: “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind…light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings.” Did you hear that? Thankfully, you don’t have to hear me sing-say it! But, did you hear it?!
This is the wonderfully, miraculous offer held out to us in those words:
Light to all! Life for all!
It’s what we all want for Christmas (and all year long), isn’t it? In fact, I guarantee if I asked any person on the street whether they’d rather have light or darkness, unless they were being cheeky, they’d pick light. And the same is even more true for life vs. death. Humans instinctively know and infinitely prefer light and life over darkness and death, even when presented as abstract concepts, unattached from explanation. But here’s the best thing: the light and life on offer in John 1:4 aren’t unattached concepts, they are the deep promises of God—elaborated on, filled-in, flesh-on-bone promises of a real reality. And in these next few moments, I want to give you just a small glimpse into this beautiful Christmas offer of light and life.
In Him Was Life
Our verse tells us that Jesus has life “in him.” And we might say, “yeah, me too.” True. We do have life in us. But here’s the thing: We only have life in us because Jesus has life in him and is pleased to give us life. The previous verses confirm this saying, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:1, 3, emphasis mine). Not only is Jesus the Co-creator and giver of all life (yours and mine included), Jesus is God (the second person of the Trinity), the eternal one who was before all things. So, yeah. Most certainly. You could say that, “in him was life.”
Jesus Is the Life and Light
Our verse goes on to say that this “life” in Jesus is “light.” And we know that this has to be a metaphor—one of many in John’s gospel about the life Jesus offers us (listen to this week’s podcast for more on those metaphors). Here, light is being used to communicate that the life of Jesus is on display for all mankind to see. The next verse continues the metaphor, saying, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). So if light is equal to life in this metaphor, then darkness (which is the opposite of light) must represent death. In other words, the life of Jesus overcomes death in the same way that light overcomes darkness.
Jesus is the Light of All Mankind
Our verse goes on to tell us that the victorious life of Jesus, which is symbolized by light, is on offer for all mankind. All—meaning you. All—meaning me. Right now, right here at Christmastime—the season of light. John goes on to say that Jesus is the “true light that gives life to all mankind.” And though many people don’t recognize him as such, to everyone who does—those who receive him and believe in his name—Jesus gives the right to become children of the living God (John 1:9-13). Jesus says later, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” This is the promise, the light that shines into our dark world, the light that overcomes and pulls us out of the darkness, the light of all mankind. All—meaning you. All—meaning me. We only need eyes to see it and hearts to believe it for it to be ours.
Let me close with this short Christmas prayer for me and you:
Oh Jesus,
May every twinkling light draw my heart nearer to you, the true light.
May the light of your life overcome the darkness in and around me.
May your light shine in me for all to see.
Amen.
