The prologue to John 1 is a unique twist to the Christmas story. In my post on Monday, I talked about how God’s great story of redemption started with the foundation of time. John was intentional in using “In the beginning…” in the first verse of his Gospel – a clear connection to Genesis 1:1. God’s plan from the beginning to save his people.
Now, in the verses 9-13 he continues the motif. Look at the use of light in these verses.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet(O) the world did not know him. 11He came to(P) his own,[b] and(Q) his own people[c](R) did not receive him. 12But to all who did receive him,(S) who believed in his name,(T) he gave the right(U) to become(V) children of God, 13who(W) were born,(X) not of blood(Y) nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Isn’t that cool? In Genesis, God brought light into the darkness – and in the same way, John describes God bringing the ultimate light into the darkness. With the birth of Christ, the light and hope for our salvation pierced into the black chaos of a world gone wrong. A black-pitched world of sin.
The only thing that could shatter the sin-cloaked darkness was Heaven’s light – and so God came.
But even with such a light, some would still be blind to the truth. Some would choose to wander in the dark – but not everyone.
Those seekers, like shepherds and fisherman and outcasts and the fallen ones…the ones who knew they were in darkness, saw the light.
What a beautiful verse here: “But to all who receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
The only hope for those lost in the dark, is to be found.
And Isaiah foretold in 9
The people(F) who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of(G) deep darkness,
on them has light shined.
Rejoice! The Light of the World has come – and we can walk as children of the Light.
Merry Christmas
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