Genesis 1:1-5
God Said Let there be Light
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
John 1:1-13
The Word Become Life
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
John 8:12-20
Jesus is the Light
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
13 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”
14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”
19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”
“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.
John 12:35-46
Jesus is the Light
35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 36 Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
“Lord, who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:
40 “He has blinded their eyes
and deadened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
nor understand with their hearts,
nor turn—and I would heal them.”
41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.
42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
44 Then Jesus cried out, “When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
1 John 1:5
Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
In the beginning the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters...And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light...God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness...So the Light is separated from darkness...Light exposed the darkness of the universe...Light was created before life, because Light is necessary for life...
I believe that Light makes us feel better, is good for our health, and makes us more alert...God saw these things in the Light and knew that they are good...We need Light to live, and we need Light to see...
In St. John's writings it is said that Jesus is the Word and the Word was with God from the beginning and the Word is God, and the Word is Light...St. John writes in his first epistle that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness...The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it...The true Light that came to dwell on earth gives Light to everyone came our world...He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him...He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him...Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave us the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God...He is the Light...Whoever follows Him will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life...The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going...There is no meaning in life without the Light...So we must put our trust in the Light, so that we may become sons of Light...The Light came and illuminated the whole world for everyone to see...But some did not see and some just did not recognize the Light...Some like the Pharisees, just rejected the Light of this World...
When Jesus said He is the Light, He wanted us to take note that He is different...The Light is there, but maybe some do not want to see it...Maybe they do not want to look for Light...People who follow Jesus are (also) maybe a little bit different...They believe in this Spiritual Light...The one who does not believe, walks in the darkness and does not see this Light...Have you ever believed that an acquaintance, maybe a family member, friend, or co-worker think you were a little different?...They sort of see this little bit of difference...They note you do follow a Spiritual Light that they do cannot see or do not want to see...Therefore, you are treated with this little bit of difference or maybe rejected just a little...They maybe are even a little uncomfortable around you and your Light...
The Prophet Isaiah knew Jesus would come one day...Isaiah wrote, “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”...For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: “He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.”...Isaiah said these things because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about Him...
Light takes away darkness...We are gently touched by the Light...There is this feeling of hope in the Light...We learn that when we move away from darkness and into Light, we feel better...As Jesus walked the world we see that the Light reigns over the darkness...He is the Light of this World and before creation itself...In Jesus is life, and that life is the Light of all mankind...The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it....Because He is the Light we are and can be called Children of God...The Light shows us the potential of what mankind can be...