Tag: light of men
The Light of Men!
Scripture reading for October 16th: John 1, Psalm 56, Proverbs 20
John 1: 1-5 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. 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, the beloved Apostle of Jesus Christ, begins his Gospel account focusing on Jesus Christ as the “Word.” The Genesis account of creation is the record of God’s creation through speaking His Word. Out of nothing, at His Word, the various elements of creation were formed. “All things were made through Him” is John’s proclamation! This includes life itself, the living creatures great and small as well as man made in God’s image and likeness. But death came on the scene through man’s disobedience and men were plunged into darkness. But God sent His Son to reveal God’s light and life in each human life: “His life was the Light of men.” Jesus Christ, born of a woman, but the Son of God, reveals grace and truth through the light of His perfectly obedient life. He gave His life to reveal the Father to all in darkness!
Psalm 56:12-13 “I must perform my vows to You, O God; I will render thank offerings to You. For You have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Jesus Christ, the Word of Life. In the light of His life, my inner darkness has been revealed and chased away by His glorious Light. You have delivered me from darkness, kept my feet from falling, and enabled me to walk before You in the Light of Life! Use me this day to testify to those still in darkness of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, the Light of Life to all mankind!
Proverbs 20:24, 27 “A man’s steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?” . . .”The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.”
The Word made Flesh!
Scripture reading for October 22nd: John 1
Key Scriptures: John 1:1-5 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. 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, the beloved, was one of the youngest of the apostles. He was the only one not to die a martyr’s death. He was one of Jesus’ inner circle and one of the ‘sons of thunder’ who wanted to call down fire from heaven. In one of the depictions of the apostles at the Last Supper, John is pictured with his head on Jesus’ chest and the one to whom Jesus assigned care for His own mother from the cross. As a result of John’s love for Jesus and his faithfulness, he was given the assignment of writing this Gospel account. John exalts Jesus as existing from eternity with God. He equates Jesus with the “Word” of God and states that through His Word, all things were made. Jesus alone is the source of eternal life–the very life of God Himself, and the light of mankind in the truth taught and displayed. His life, truth, death, and resurrection shine brightly in the darkness of human sin and ignorance to reveal the Father and His plan of salvation!
John 1:11-13 “He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did 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.”
Faith confession and prayer: Father God, thank You for Jesus Christ, the Word of God, Creator, Life-giver, the Light of the World and my Lord and Savior! By faith I have received You and have been born again from above by You. I thank You that I am Your child and desire to reflect Your love and life and light to this world, bearing fruit for Your kingdom and glory!
John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.” vs 18 “No one has ever seen God; the only God, Who is at the Father’s side, He has made Him known.”
Jesus made His home with us!
Scripture reading for October 30th: John 1-2
John was the youngest disciple and along with James was one of the “sons of thunder” brothers. These brothers were in the inner circle of disciples and John was the one resting his head on Jesus’ chest in the famous picture of the Last Supper. John was also the disciple Jesus asked from the cross to take care of His mother. (John 19:26-27) The theme of his Gospel is “Jesus, the Son of God” and John goes back to Genesis as he begins his account.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; and without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.” (John 1:1-4)
John started with a revelation of the Son of God! He was and is the eternal Word! He was with God in the beginning! The beginning spoken of by John was the beginning of created things, not time, for God is from everlasting. By speaking His powerful Word in faith He created the visible world and heavens. When we think of how vast and huge these creations are, we are humbled by the power of that Word!
But at the right time, this Word became flesh and dwelt among His people! The word for “dwelt” is the same word used to describe the pitching of a tent. God dwelt with His people when Israel was in the desert after Mt. Sinai. Moses was given instructions to build a special tent and furniture as a place for God to dwell in the midst of His people. This tent was called a “tabernacle”. God’s presence marked His people as separate and blessed above all others on the earth. No enemy could defeat them as they marched with Him, no sickness could attack, and even clothes and shoes did not wear out! (Nehemiah 9:19-21)
Jesus Christ came to His own people, but they did not receive Him! (John 1:11-12) But to those who did receive Him, Jesus gave the power to become children of God! They would be “born again” and become “living tabernacles” of God’s presence! Why not invite Him to pitch His tent in you?