Jesus Christ, John 1:1-18

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. 15(John testified to him and cried out, ‘This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” ’) 16From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.


When I read this text the section that jumps out at me is this THE LIGHT SHINES IN THE DARKNESS...AND THE DARKNESS DOESN'T OVERCOME IT. I think it jumps out at me because that phrase seems to tell our story.

Know what I mean?

Each and everyone of us has a story...especially of the things that have been hard, those things that could really break our hearts if we let them. But...the light shines in the darkness and the darkness doesn't overcome it. We lose a job, a relationship ends, a loved one passes away...and the light shines in OUR darkness...and the darkness doesn't overcome it. I'm so glad that all of the ways that Christ is portrayed in the scripture, in the very beginning of the book of John Jesus is potrayed as "LIGHT".

*What part of the above text jumped out at you today...why?
*Do you have a story of Jesus being the light in your darkness?
*How can you shine the light of Christ in another's life today?