There is a two-fold purpose in the Gospel of John: (1) that we might believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God and (2) that by believing in Him we might have life in His name (Jn 20:30-31). Only God is able to create and give life, because He is life. Only God is able to create and give light, because He is light (Gen 1:3; Jn 1:5). The Apostle John constantly connects these two terms, life and light, to the Savior Jesus Christ, indicating what should be obvious – only God can save and Jesus is God!
John’s Gospel is saturated with content that points to Jesus being God. For example, through the aid of the Holy Spirit, the author includes several series of “sevens” that point to the divinity of Jesus. Careful readers will notice that Jesus refers to Himself with the Old Testament revelatory name “I AM” of God (Gen 3:13-17) in seven distinct instances. For example, Jesus states, “I AM the bread of life” (6:35), “I AM the resurrection and the life” (11:25-26), and “I AM the light of the world” (8:12). Readers will also discover seven witnesses testifying to Jesus’ divinity. Finally, they will find seven miracles that demonstrate that Jesus is Almighty God. Neither the Apostle John, nor the Savior want to leave Jesus’ divinity in question.
What is so fascinating is that John begins his account of Jesus’ life in eternity past. John introduces the man, Jesus, as the divine Creator who has always been and through whom “all things were made” (Jn 1:3). He avoids a genealogy and a manger, but rather directs our attention all the way to “the beginning” (Gen 1:1; John 1:1). Our gaze speeds past the prophet Isaiah (Mark’s introduction), past the promised son of David and the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant (Matthew’s introduction), further past the creation of Adam (Luke’s introduction), and into the immeasurable, pre-existent Son, who has always been God, co-existent with the Father and the Spirit. In turn, John presents Jesus as truly great, transcendent over all that He has made!
Yet, Jesus is not simply the Creator of life and light, but He is life and light itself (Jn 1:4). Jesus’s divinity provides Him with the ability of being the Giver and Sustainer of physical life but, more importantly, spiritual life, because He is “the life and light of men” (Jn 1:4).
So, this Christmas, let His glory shine in. Let the Word shed light on what “abundant life” is – a life filled with peace, joy, and satisfaction found only in the ever constant, faithful, and loving Creator!
Genesis 1:1-3 (NIV) – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 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. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”