....darkness

"And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." John 1:5

Careful readers of Scripture have noted that the book of Genesis and the Gospel of John begin the same way: “In the beginning.” John used Genesis as a template for introducing Jesus Christ to his readers. God began overcoming the chaos and darkness of the pre-creation world by speaking light into existence (Genesis 1:3). Using the theme of light overcoming darkness, John portrayed Jesus as the Word of God that brings spiritual order into a spiritually dark and chaotic world John 1:1-4

But, John writes, the world did not recognize John 1:10 or understand John 1:5 the light that God sent into the world in Jesus Christ. In translating John 1:5, interpreters differ as to whether the world did not “comprehend” the light or “overcome” the light — the original text allows for either translation. Actually, both translations are true! Not all the world has comprehended the light of God, and the world (“the darkness”) has certainly not overcome the light which is Christ.

Both in Creation and the Incarnation, God’s light in Christ has penetrated and conquered the darkness of this world. Give thanks today that God’s light can overcome every darkness.

- david jeremiah