The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 1:4-5,
"In him [the Word, Jesus Christ] was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
The term "overcome" in verse 5, "the darkness has not overcome it" carries a sense of the words "comprehending" or "attaining" or "lay hold of" or "appropriate". If you are interested in looking at other uses of the Greek term, look at it in Romans 9:30 ("obtained"), 1 Corinthians 9:24 ("to get"), Ephesians 3:18 ("to grasp"), Philippians 3:12-13 ("obtained").
I suspect you "get" the idea of the Greek term. (If you do, then you just accomplished what it means... pun intended.)
Anyway, John is saying Jesus Christ came as a great light into the darkness of mankind and that darkness has not (and select your favorite term here, the translators of the NIV -- whom I hold in very high regard -- have chosen the word "overcome") the light. The spiritual state of existence of mankind is referred to as darkness. Mankind is so far removed from God that the estrangement we exist in from him has left us blind to God, to his existence, to his purposes, to his kingdom. Mankind exists in darkness.
This was prophesied by Isaiah seven centuries prior, "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned." Isaiah 9:2. Here we see that the "great light", Jesus Christ, was to come into the world and provide a way out of the darkness, to restore our relationship to God, to enlighten us to the things of God, his kingdom, his purposes.
Some refuse to come into that light as Jesus told Nicodemus, "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed." John 3:19-20. However, Jesus came as the"great light", "But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God." John 3:21.
"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12.
"In him [the Word, Jesus Christ] was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
The term "overcome" in verse 5, "the darkness has not overcome it" carries a sense of the words "comprehending" or "attaining" or "lay hold of" or "appropriate". If you are interested in looking at other uses of the Greek term, look at it in Romans 9:30 ("obtained"), 1 Corinthians 9:24 ("to get"), Ephesians 3:18 ("to grasp"), Philippians 3:12-13 ("obtained").
I suspect you "get" the idea of the Greek term. (If you do, then you just accomplished what it means... pun intended.)
Anyway, John is saying Jesus Christ came as a great light into the darkness of mankind and that darkness has not (and select your favorite term here, the translators of the NIV -- whom I hold in very high regard -- have chosen the word "overcome") the light. The spiritual state of existence of mankind is referred to as darkness. Mankind is so far removed from God that the estrangement we exist in from him has left us blind to God, to his existence, to his purposes, to his kingdom. Mankind exists in darkness.
This was prophesied by Isaiah seven centuries prior, "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned." Isaiah 9:2. Here we see that the "great light", Jesus Christ, was to come into the world and provide a way out of the darkness, to restore our relationship to God, to enlighten us to the things of God, his kingdom, his purposes.
Some refuse to come into that light as Jesus told Nicodemus, "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed." John 3:19-20. However, Jesus came as the"great light", "But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God." John 3:21.
"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12.
Just how wonderful is that?!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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