Thoughts on the Gospel of John (3) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 1:4.5

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (3)
John's gospel presents the Word first of all. We have seen who is meant: Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God. First He is seen in His relationship to God, then to creation, and now in our verse to mankind.

We now learn more about the Son of God: "In him was life". Life with Him did not begin at some specific time, in contrast to that of creatures. It is part of God's nature. It is not life, as we naturally understand it, but divine life. It has a particular quality: it is the "light of men", who already possess natural life.

Nor is natural, physical light meant here, but light that God has revealed fully in His Son. God Himself is a spirit. No man can behold Him. Therefore the Son of God became Man. In Him we understand something of God's nature, how He thinks and feels.

Physical light conveys something of God's power and greatness, but it cannot reveal God's heart. Nor can it reveal the heart of man. But that is precisely the purpose of the divine light in Jesus Christ: it shines in mankind's spiritual darkness.

Man is a sinner by nature. When the light shines on him, it shines in the darkness or ignorance of God. And what does man do with it? Instead of letting it in, he prefers remaining in the dark. With natural light the darkness would have vanished. Natural man, however, fears being exposed by divine light; he refuses to admit that he needs it.

(to be continued next Sunday)

Today's reading: Joshua 11:1-11 · 1 Corinthians 10:1-13