Gospels Part 054
In today’s lesson, we continue with the opening words of John’s Gospel and the remarkable truths revealed about the Word.
Today we begin with John 1:2-3 (NET):
“The Word was with God in the beginning. All things were created by Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.”
As we have discussed previously, one of the meanings of Logos (translated “Word”) is that of a revelatory agent, one that reveals God. We know that Jesus Christ came to reveal the mind, character and love of God. We see here another important aspect about how Christ revealed God—through the creation. As the One through whom God created all things, Jesus Christ reveals God through the creation. Does this bring any scriptures to mind?
Romans 1:20 in the New Living Translation says,
“From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.”
The apostle Paul explains that one of the most obvious ways of knowing God and His existence is by and through the creation. This says that the creation reveals “his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature.” In other words, we can tell what a great, awesome, perfect and powerful God we worship by looking at what He has made!
The Word, the One who reveals and who became Jesus Christ, revealed the greatness, power, glory and grandeur of Almighty God through the magnificent creation that we see all around us. Jesus Christ not only revealed the Father in His teaching while on earth, but He also revealed a great deal about God by His creative work in creating all things. This is something we should think about every time we are outdoors and see the works of His creation!
We will continue in John 1:4 where John continues with the explanation of the Word who was with God and who was God, the One by whom “all things were made:” “In him was life and the life was the light of men.”
Knowing Christ was the Creator, what was the most amazing aspect of His creation? He made the earth, seas, heavens, planets, stars and the universe, all of which are incredibly astounding. But what is the most amazing creation of all? That He took that raw material, a lump of dirt in the case of mankind—and He gave it life. Scientists, for all they know, have no idea how life began. For decades they have tried everything imaginable in labs to create life from non-living matter, but they simply cannot do it. They cannot create life from nothing. Only God can create life from non-living matter.
Jesus is not just the Creator of all things; He is also the Creator and giver of life. Not just this physical life, but more importantly, eternal life! As Jesus says three times in John 6, He can give eternal life to those who follow and obey Him:
“And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:40).
“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44).
“Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:54).
We see Jesus can give physical life as the Creator of all things and also by the miracles He performed in raising people from the dead. But more importantly, He can give the gift of eternal life to His faithful followers. We can see that, “in Him was life” on multiple levels. Of course, He was the perfect, sinless life offered up as a sacrifice so that we might receive that gift of eternal life.
Looking at the second half of John 1:4 (NET) we see another remarkable truth, “and the life was the light of mankind.”
Life and light are two of the repeated themes of the Gospel of John. “Life” appears 39 times in John’s Gospel, and “light” appears 16 times. That is a total of 55 times in only 21 chapters. Each of these two themes are worthy of detailed studies just in themselves, but we will not dive into those now. We will just note briefly that “light” is a synonym for truth—for God’s truth and way of life. Again, this is something that the Word came to reveal—the light of God’s truth, God’s plan, God’s way of life, God’s plan of salvation, God’s light in every aspect of our existence.
Continuing in John 1:5 (NET) he explains further,
“And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it.”
Other Bible versions translate this as “the darkness did not overcome the light” or “overtake” or “overpower” or “extinguish” the light. The darkness John refers to here is an active force opposing the light. This darkness is something very real and powerful that tries to extinguish the light.
Was such a dark, opposing force at work against Jesus Christ? Absolutely. He was only an infant when that force tried to kill Him by having Herod slaughter all the young boys in Bethlehem. His parents had to be divinely warned in a dream to flee to Egypt lest He be killed before He could even begin His mission. What force was behind the attempts to stone and kill Him that we read about in the Gospels? What force finally possessed Judas Iscariot and led Judas to betray Jesus and have Him executed by crucifixion?
There was indeed a powerful force of darkness at work all of that time trying to extinguish and overpower the light. That force still opposes the light 2,000 years later in our day, working to deceive the entire world. It is Satan and his demons who work very hard, but they cannot conquer the light that Jesus Christ has brought and reveals. (To learn more, read our study guide, Is There Really a Devil?)
If you have not done so yet, be sure to download the free ebook A Harmony of the Gospels: The Life, Ministry and Teaching of Jesus Christ.
Click here for an overview of this valuable resource.
© 2026 Scott Ashley. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
UYA Team | uya@ucg.org
United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of the young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.
Course Content
Scott Ashley
Scott Ashley was managing editor of Beyond Today magazine, United Church of God booklets and its printed Bible Study Course until his retirement in 2023. He also pastored three congregations in Colorado for 10 years from 2011-2021. He and his wife, Connie, live near Denver, Colorado.
Mr. Ashley attended Ambassador College in Big Sandy, Texas, graduating in 1976 with a theology major and minors in journalism and speech. It was there that he first became interested in publishing, an industry in which he worked for 50 years.
During his career, he has worked for several publishing companies in various capacities. He was employed by the United Church of God from 1995-2023, overseeing the planning, writing, editing, reviewing and production of Beyond Today magazine, several dozen booklets/study guides and a Bible study course covering major biblical teachings. His special interests are the Bible, archaeology, biblical culture, history and the Middle East.
