The author outlines the entire gospel message in these five short verses; the true light comes into the world and dwells among us; mankind rejects the true light—which points to Christ's death on the cross; and finally hope exists for those who receive and believe in the true light: our Lord Jesus Christ.
John picks up a number of themes from the first five verses (John 1:1-5) throughout the following passages and must be considered when expounding this text. Likewise, truth and light are woven into these passages and careful reading of the whole gospel will help us to understand these passages.
Meaning of John 1:9
A first-time reading of this verse may beg the question as to whether the true light could be understood John also believed there existed a false light. And while it's plausible enough for our consideration—for we know there were false prophets, gospels, and antichrists—John presents darkness and wickedness as contrasts to the true light. As can be seen below:
The light shines in the darkness but has not been overcome (John 1:5), the people loved darkness instead of the light (John 1:19), everyone who is wicked hates the light but whoever does what is true comes towards the light that it may be seen their works are in God (John 3:20-21), and finally we read that Jesus came into the world as light and whoever believes in him may not live in darkness (John 12:46).
Having therefore established that John does not intend for us to debate true and false lights, what then does he intend? It appears to me that John wants two points to dawn upon us, revealed through his two clauses:
The true light gives life to everyone
The true light is coming into the world
The first clause picks up a theme from earlier in the gospel: the Word of God was life, which is the light of men (John 1:4). We must connect that the true light which gives life to everyone is the Word of God. It is clear throughout the gospel according to John; Jesus gives the light of life (John 8:12) and he gives light to the world (John 9:5).
The second clause picks up another theme about the Word of God: that the Word was a person and could be referred to with a masculine pronoun (John 1:2). Here we must connect that the Word of God and the true light are the same person. Yet the most profound mystery of all eternity is here too revealed: the Word of God, who is God, was coming into the world to dwell among us.
If you hold any doubt as to whether the true light and the Word of God are the same; you need only turn to the next verse. The Word of God made everything (John 1:3) and the true light made the world and all that lived therein (John 1:10).
Therefore, in summary, the author's claim is that Jesus is the Word of God, who is God. He intentionally connects truth and light as attributes of Jesus throughout his gospel, and in doing so, he claims Jesus is the true light and authentic radiance of God, which is affirmed to us by God also in the book of Hebrews (Hebrews 1:3).
Meaning of John 1:10
The author, having written true light was coming into the world in his previous verse, writes here that the true light already dwelled in the world unbeknownst to its inhabitants. Some protest whether the Creator would ever demean himself by entering creation, and yet here is a more scandalous claim that the Creator would came unrecognisable. Nevertheless, this clearly is what the author has written.
Jesus, Word of God and true light of mankind, yet to be revealed in full glory, humbled himself and entered creation. While we often cite him emptying himself and dwelling in flesh from within the epistles (Philippians 2:7), we read it here too. He veiled his glory and withheld his judgement, but a day is coming when he returns in glory and every knee shall bow to the King of Kings.
Therefore we comprehend—in faith—his true and radiant glory through personification and theological statements:
The true light is a person; hence light is personified. Yet, the author's true claim reveals Jesus as God. It was God's presence which left light shining on the face of Moses (Exodus 34:29). His presence will be the light of the new creation (Revelation 21:23, 22:5). Isaiah—foretelling of Jesus—wrote that nations and kings will come to his brightness (Isaiah 60:3).
Meaning of John 1:11
It is most likely that the author intends us to see that Jesus, the true light that walked among mankind, came first to the Jews and was rejected by them.
This view that Israel received the good news before the nations is explicit elsewhere in scripture (Matthew 10:5-6, Acts 10:36). However, it is also implied by the following two verses which—if he was rejected by his own people and they were those that received him—would be a contradiction. Instead, it seems proper to interpret this as I have: God first walked among the Jews, and they did not receive him.
It is with some degree of perplexment that the disciples eventually realise that Gentiles were also to receive the gospel (Acts 10:17, 10:28). Paul reveals in his letter to the Philippians that the dividing wall of hostility is broken down; Jews and Gentiles are now reconciled to God through Christ (Ephesians 2:11-22).
Meaning of John 1:12-13
We defied God and in doing so condemned ourselves to eternal ruin. Yet God, who judges justly and rightly, pardons those who receive his son Jesus and believes in his name. To them the author of this gospel calls the children of God.
Much debate exists on whether the author teaches free-will or unconditional election by God. Yet he writes in this passage that the actions of mankind are to receive and believe, and the action of God is to give the right to be children of God.
The responsibility and capacity to receive and believe sits with us. We rebelled against God and by our own action are guilty. Now we must humbly receive our only Saviour. Yet, this is not a meritorious work; the believer who receives Jesus must confess that he or she is deserving of nothing but judgement. There is no merit in our confession. It is only by the Grace of God we become his children.
Afterwards he expands upon the means by which we are born children: not by blood, not by flesh, not even by our own will—but by God! While we are not begotten children of God like Jesus, we nevertheless are his children, and this is by his authority.
Yet we are a fickle creature in our sinful state, so we find conflict and tension where none exists. Jesus Christ, the true light, shines within the darkened world but he is not overcome by it (John 1:5). What doubt is there then that mankind can see and respond to the light of life?
Final Thoughts
These five verses are like a fertile ground bursting with life each time we listen to God. It is like a well which never runs dry, always able to quench your thirst. We can gaze upon the wonderful deity of Christ revealed to us as the true light of God. And while the world was made through him, it denied him.
We should despair at the depth of our disobedience. Upon entering the world we despised him and nailed him to a cross—stricken for our sins. Yet on that harrowed cross, Jesus conquered sin and death.
These five verses eloquently capture the gospel message. The work of the Holy Spirit is clear in arousing an acknowledgement of our sin and the need to receive with faith our only Saviour—the Lord Jesus Christ.
Comments