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complete acceptance of the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is, however,
a more immediate blessing stated by our Lord in John 10: 10 "I am come that they might
have life, and that they might have it more abundantly". This blessing of more abundant
life is an experience that the believer can expect to enjoy as he becomes so free from
concern for himself that he allows the Spirit of Christ free rein in his daily living. Thus it
will make every thought and action a most satisfying contribution to the glory and the
will of God. When we consider this latter aspect of life, we remember that it can cover
mental ability and judgment as well as the physical functions of the human body. The
O.T. has many examples where this same aspect of more abundant life was given to men
for the special purposes of God. Some of these were:
"Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was
delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged Him faithful Who had
promised" (Heb. 11: 11). See Gen. 18: and 21: for the story.
"And his master (Pharaoh) saw that the Lord was with him (Joseph), and that the Lord
made all that he did to prosper in his hand" (Gen. 39: 3).
"And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness
of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore" (I Kings 4: 29).
Deut. 28: lists the blessings and curses that God has in His power to bestow to
reward the actions of His people Israel. Do we realize that these and many other
examples of life bestowed are in the hands of the Son of God, Who is the same yesterday,
today and forever, and that this power is as potent as ever?
Associated with `life' in the context of John 1: 4 is `light'. This word like `life' has
implications in this physical world as well as the mental and spiritual. Its physical
properties teach us mental and spiritual truths. Where light is absent we see nothing. All
objects become visible and assume colour and character by the reflection of the prime
source of light. With light we can see obstacles, find our way, observe the face of our
neighbour and judge his pleasure or anger or other emotion. We can observe the marvels
of nature. Taking our picture book into the adult realm of the mental and spiritual, we
begin to understand what Christ can do for us when He claims and the Scriptures declare
"He is the light of the world".
"He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not"
(John 1: 10).
Here is the plain statement that the Creator of the world visited the world in person
and the world did not recognize Him as such, and the next verse records that His own
people, who should have been ready to recognize Him because of their teachers and the
reading of the O.T. in their synagogues, also failed to discern the arrival of the long
prophesied Messiah or the appointed One of God. John, writing his Gospel so many
years after Christ's visit could still say, "The world knew Him not". Of how many today,
alas, is this still true? Although Christ is preached the message is ignored by so many.
"But to all who received Him, who believed in His name, He gave power to become
children of God" (1: 12, R.S.V.).