Comprehending the Light.

Comprehending the Light. 

“And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” John 1:5 

Sometimes we get so hung up or busy that we don’t see the light of Christ. We even give credit to things such as luck or karma to the things Christ has laid before us.

Just like the Israelites of the time of Jesus’ first coming I believe we today don’t see the light thru the darkness in our lives. 

Israel knew “the Messiah” (Jesus) was coming and while some sought diligently for his coming others couldn’t concern themselves with it. It’s not that they were unaware of this possibility because they were being taught this since birth. They chose to occupy their time with what they believed to be more important things.

We today are following after the same path as the Israelites. We know that “the Messiah” (Jesus) is coming again. We hear this from multiple sources on a daily basis. We even see it in the signs of the times. Like the Israelites do we take time to comprehend or understand these facts? 

Our context verse says “the light shines in the darkness and the darkness understood it not”. (Paraphrase mine) the word shines here is a present tense verb meaning it is currently happening. It’s not a past tense verb like “shone” where it happened and has ended nor is it a future tense verb as in “will shine” pointing to something to come.  The light is shinning now as it shone then and will shine tomorrow. 

The light here isn’t just any light. According to verse 1:1 this light is the Word of God. Look at Psalms 119:105 “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” This light is life as seen in verse 1:4. Jesus himself proclaims this in John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:”. And this light is the Son of God as seen in verse 1:14. Compare “For God so loved the world the he gave his only begotten Son.” John 3:16

The word darkness here refers to the unrighteousness, the fleshly, and the unrepented sinner. It refers to those individuals who don’t have a relationship with God through Christ. It also refers to those who are walking out of fellowship with God and Christ.  1John 1:5-7 "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

“And the darkness comprehended it not”

Those who didn’t / don’t have a relationship with God through Christ understood it not. They cant grasp the light or the meaning of having the light because they are are so full of darkness. Another way of describing this darkness is that they are o full of pridefulness, selfishness, and self-centeredness that they didn’t want to acknowledge the light. 

In our world today we have become so full of pride and self that we no longer seek Christ (the Light). There are a lot of individuals that claim the title of Christian without comprehending the meaning of the term. 1John 1:6 says “if we say we have fellowship (that we are christian) with him, and walk in darkness (our pride, selfishness, etc), we lie, and do not the truth.”

You see you can not claim to be a christian because you live in a Christian country (there is no such thing – this country was founded on christian principles but is far from a christian lifestyle), because your parents or grandparents were christian, because you attend a church service, or because you try to live a good life. The only way of truly claiming to being a Christian is by having a true blood bought saving relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Read 1John 1:7  "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."  

To comprehend the light you must be born again and in a saving relationship with God. "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."  Rom 8:8-11

The Bible instructs us on how to be saved today. "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."  Rom 10:8-10

The greatest promise is this Salvation is for all, including you and me! "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."  (Rom 10:13)