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JOHN - The Light Shines in the Darkness
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to John
PART 1 - The Shining of the Divine Light (John 1:1 - 4:54)
A - The Incarnation of the Word of God in Jesus (John 1:1-18)

1. The essence and work of the word before incarnation (John 1:1-5)


JOHN 1:2-4
2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

Christ did not live for himself, but always for God. He did not become separated from his Father, but was always directed toward him, living with him, and remaining in him. This movement of Christ "toward his Father" was of such importance to the evangelist John that he repeated this meaning at the beginning of his gospel. This permanent unity between Christ and his Father is the secret of the Holy Trinity. We do not believe in three independent gods, separated from each other, but we believe in one God, full of love. Now the Eternal One does not live in seclusion and alone, but his Son was always with him, living with him in perfect harmony. If someone has not experienced the love of God through the pouring out of the Holy Spirit into his heart, he will not be able to perceive the truth of the essence of God. The divine love is what unifies the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as one God.

When God created the world in the beginning, he did not do this alone and silently, rather he brought it into existence through his Word. Since Christ was the Word of God, the world came into being through him. This means that Christ is not only the Savior and the intercessor and the Redeemer, but also the Creator. Since nothing exists without Christ having made it, he is almighty. Since nothing happens without him doing it, he controls all. Oh for the heart that could be wide enough to understand and to perceive who Christ is! All the modern scientific discoveries and all the elementary particles and stellar bodies are nothing but humble interpretations of the glory of Christ and of his power. Your voice, your muscles, your bodily form and your heartbeat together with more than that are all gifts of Christ to you. So when do you thank him?

All things were created, except God, his Word and his Spirit. He is in himself alive, eternal and holy. Just as God has life in himself, in the same way Christ is the source of true life, the faithful quickener, who raises us from the death of guilt and sin, and establishes us in his eternal life. This divine life in Christ overcame death; He left the grave by the power of his divine life. Christ is not only Creator, but he in himself, is the source of life. Inasmuch as he is holy, he will never die. No sin at all can be found in God or in his Son, thus he is alive forever. We find thoughts about the life of Christ repeatedly in the chapters of the gospel of John. This life is one of foundations of his principles.

The light of the sun gives life on our planet Earth. But as far as Christ is concerned, the opposite is true: His life is the cause for illumination and the revival we experience through him gives us hope. Our religion is not the religion of the law of death and of judgment, but the message of life and light and hope. The resurrection of Christ from the dead banished all despair. The dwelling of the Holy Spirit in us made us participants in the life of God.

The world is dark because of sin, but Christ is love in light. There is no darkness, no badness, and no evil in him. For this reason, Christ appears full of glory. He shines more than light. However, John the evangelist does not begin by mentioning the shining glory of Christ, rather he points out his strength and life. For knowledge of the holiness of Christ exposes us, judges us, and destroys us, but perception of his life makes us alive. Meditating on Christ truly comforts and refreshes us.

Jesus is the light of mankind. He does not shine for himself and he does not magnify his own name. Rather, he shines for our sake. We are not sources of light, but sources of darkness. All mankind are evil, but Christ enlightens us so that we can perceive him and realize our dark situation. Through his Gospel, we rise from the dead and enter eternal life. Christ attracts us and calls us through the light of his life to leave our desperate state. We approach him with determination and confidence.

PRAYER: O Lord Jesus, we bow to you because you and the Father and the Holy Spirit are one. You created the world in harmony with the Father. You granted me life. Forgive me all the darkness in my life and enlighten me through your Holy Spirit that I may truly live and leave the night of my sins and approach the light of your eternal life.

QUESTION:

  1. What are the 6 characteristics of Christ that John exposes at the beginning of his gospel?

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