The Gospel of John: Chapter 1

Baccoli, Italy, July 2011: photograph by Tammy C. Smith

"The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." I find such peace in these words that begin John's gospel 1:5. The darkness does "not" overcome the Light! It always, always, always overcomes the darkness! No matter what the situation, no matter how dark, bleak, dismal, or devastating it may seem, the Light will overcome it!

It is a challenge for me and so many of us to wait for the darkness to clear.  We are impatient, we want peace  and comfort immediately, not understanding that the Light is fighting a battle with darkness that needs to be fought. During these times we just have to put on our seat belts and ride it out, often re-tightening them to the point of  restraint. There comes a point when we realize there is nothing we can do; all faith must be placed in the Light.

John the Baptist is revealed as the first messenger of the "True Light" in the first chapter of The Gospel of John. Little Information is given in this passage about John before his mission began, but we know that he was sent by God to bear witness to the Light. People didn't seem to understand what John was all about. The Jews sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was and John simply said, "I am the voice of the one crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord" (John 1:23).

When John first saw Jesus coming toward him near a town called Bethany beyond the Jordan River where he was baptizing, he knew right away who Jesus was, the Messiah (Christ). John saw what he was foretold, a spirit in the form of a dove descended from Heaven and remained with Jesus. John began spreading the message right away that the "Lamb of God" was indeed Jesus. John lead many followers to Jesus in those first few days: Andrew, Peter, Phillip, and Nathanial are but a few. Nathanial, however, questioned Phillip about Jesus. He snidely remarked, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" (John 1:46).

Jesus, who was not innocent to sarcasm, baffled Nathanial upon their meeting with his greeting, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" (John 1:47). Nathanial was astonished that Jesus knew his name and immediately conceded that Jesus must indeed be the Son of God, the King of Israel. However, as Jesus revealed himself to the group of followers, he promised them greater things to be seen. John's gospel ends with a prophetic verse that may even have frightened Nathanial and the others, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man" (John 1:51). Jesus foreshadowed his own resurrection and ascension into Heaven.

The darkness is a part of our world, it is always present. It is outside of us, around us, in our physical world, but it also lies within us, lurking. Jesus does not want us to fear this darkness. He wants us to have complete faith that He, the Light, will always overcome it. What we must do is make the right choices in our lives, choices that keep us on the path of Light, living each day in the Light, following the Light. Think of the Light as a beacon in the journey of life. He ever shines leading us out of the darkness to the safety of our heavenly home.