Reading Plan:
John 1:1-18


Our Thoughts:

When I was a child, I used to be scared of the dark. I mean, who wasn’t? I’m certainly not ashamed to say that it took me quite a while to grow out of my spiderman nightlight stage. Reading through John 1:1-18 brought back some of those memories. Let’s check out verse five first.
“And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:5”

John describes this light in verse four as “the light of men.” In case you didn’t catch it at first glance, John is referring to Jesus here. Once I saw that, for me, this section of scripture became one of the most powerful in all of the gospel of John. Let’s take another look at that verse.
“AndJesusshines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend him. John 1:5”

We know that by nature, the world is a dark and scary place like that pitch-black room when we were children. Imagine Jesus’ arrival into the world as if someone turned on the sun inside of that dark frightening place. The light exposes what the darkness once hid. Just as the darkness couldn’t comprehend the light, the world didn’t comprehend Jesus and his knack for exposing hypocrisy and shattering expectations. Because of this, oftentimes the world doesn’t understand believers either.
“But a natural man does not accept the things of the spirit of God, for they are Foolishness to him. 1 Corinthians 2:14.”

So, in a world where we are totally misunderstood, where do we go for help? How do we get through life here on earth?

“My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:2.”

Our “help” comes from Jesus and Jesus alone. He alone is qualified to carry our sins and burdens.

Let’s move on to the end of this section of scripture. Verse 17 says:

“And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses but grace and truth through Jesus Christ. John 1:17”

Once we have received salvation from Christ, this scripture says that we then receive his fullness. Essentially, this means that we receive God’s satisfaction. If you remember back to Colossians 1, we read about how the entire fullness of God rested on Jesus. By design, once we partake in the salvation that Jesus gives, we also receive that fullness as part of our inheritance as children of God.

Reading on we see the phrase “grace for grace.” God is so rich in mercy that once we put our faith in Jesus we are showered with grace on top of unending and limitless grace. As believers, not only have we been given the complete fullness of God bestowed upon us by inheritance, but we also are recipients of grace that turns the crimson stain of sin white as snow. What a reason to give thanks!

So, how does all this tie together? In a world where we are misunderstood and our faith is incomprehensible, Jesus, through his rich grace and mercy, takes our burdens and in exchange gives us the fullness and complete peace of God. It’s almost too good to be true. That is who Jesus is. That is who we put our faith in and who gives us the confidence that in Him we can live a life free of the burden of sin and shame.


More Questions:
• How do you deal with the weight of the world around you?
• Do you allow the way people misunderstand you as a Christian to shake your faith?
• Are you steadfast in prayer for the lost people around you who don’t know Jesus?


Prayer:
God, thank you for loving us despite our flawed rebellious nature. Thank you for sending your only son to save us from ourselves and the world around us. Amen.



Author: Bailey Woods