Sunday: In Him Was Life
Daily Lesson for Sunday 24th of November 2024
In John 1:1, the apostle clearly states that Jesus is God, the divine Son. Consequently, in John 1:4—“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (NKJV)—the reference to life here has to be divine life, underived eternal self-existence. Because He has life within Himself, He can lay down His life and take it again (John 10:17). And, because He has life within, He can give life to whom He will (John 5:21; compare with John 14:19).
Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com
This term life (zoē) appears 36 times in the Gospel of John, about 25 percent of the uses in the New Testament. In John 1:4-5, besides referring to the Source of life on our planet, the word is also linked to salvation. Throughout the rest of John, this idea of life (zoē) is most often expressed as everlasting life, the promise of salvation (see John 3:15-16,36; John 4:14,36; John 6:27,40,47,54,68; and John 10:27-28). Thus, the One who gave life at Creation is the same One who brings salvation, eternal life, to a lost world.
Why did Jesus come to this earth? John 1:29, John 3:16, John 6:40, John 10:10, John 12:27.
“ ‘As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life’ ” (John 3:14-15, NKJV).
Just as the bronze serpent took the place of the Israelites who had been bitten by serpents, so Jesus took our place, we who have been struck down by sin. He took the penalty that was ours so that we might have the life that was His.
Christ also desires that we have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). Thus, for “as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13, NKJV).
Christ came to reveal the Father to us. For, “no one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him” (John 1:18, NKJV). By seeing the character of Jesus, we can see the character of the Father.
|
What can we learn from the life of Jesus about the character of the Father? Why is this revelation such good news? |
(24)
According to the United Nations (2022), there were 670 million people living below the extreme poverty surviving on less than $2.15 per day. What is life like for such human beings? Yet Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). What full life can one live on $2.15 per day? John goes on to inform his listeners that in Jesus was life and that life was the light of men (John 14:6). Which life is John rereferring to? Does Jesus care when people live in extreme poverty?
The grim situation highlighted above precisely reminds us that we need a new earth and a new heaven where God will usher in a new order. “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4). Jesus, as the divine Word (Logos), the Creator (John 1:3) and from whom all physical life originated (Genesis 2:7; Colossians 1:16-17), has power to bring all human misery to ultimate end. This is the ultimate hope. In a little while let us cling to this blessed hope.
Life in Jesus is more than physical life. It is spiritual life as well where Jesus reconciles mankind to his Father. This is the transformative life which is characterized by love, joy, peace, and hope through faith in Christ (Galatians 5:22-23). Life in Jesus provides a higher purpose: to love and serve God and others (Matthew 22:37-39). This counters feelings of aimlessness. It redefines success, emphasizing eternal values over temporary achievements (Matthew 6:19-21).
Life in Jesus brings hope to a hopeless world. Jesus offers forgiveness for sin (1 John 1:9). This frees people from guilt and shame, enabling them to start afresh with a clean slate. We find hope in His grace. Jesus promises peace that transcends circumstances (John 14:27; Philippians 4:7). Those in anxiety or chaos can find rest by trusting in Him. Life in Jesus gives us a privilege and a blessing to feed the hungry, care for the sick, and uplift the marginalized. This is the purpose for true living. In a world of pain and emptiness, His life brings hope by restoring identity, providing purpose, and promising eternal life. Practically, embracing this life means living in His peace, walking in His light, and serving others as He did.
Of course Jesus cares for those who live in poverty. The question we we should be seeking answers for is who's the author of poverty on this planet? Who causes a few individuals to want to have billions of dollars to themselves while the rest of us eke out a living on less than 2 dollars a day? The UN is good at churning out these statistics year in and year out yet they being a satanic agency, they abet the perpetuation of poverty on the earth. I for one wouldn't want to rely on anything they say or do for they contribute in a major way to the scourge of poverty. The UN's agenda attests to what I'm saying.
Again, Omwenga - my heartfelt AMEN to God's Truth you so eloquently elaborate on. It blesses me greatly to read your insights as they resonate so beautifully within my heart.
Jesus demonstrated exemplary character during His time on earth, affirming our belief that He is God. Because of this, we can find safety and assurance in Him. We need only to repent, trusting in His power to bring greatness and transformation into our lives.
While we take "I AM" as an expression of God's timelessness, there are a couple of little ideas related to that thought that are worth exploring.
Most of you have heard about the theory of relativity - usually associated with Albert Einstein. An important part of the theory is a discussion about frames of reference. Essentially we are concerned about the effect of observers in different frames of reference. I am not going to give you a complete rundown on the theory, but if the relative speed of two frames of reference is near the speed of light, in one frame time will appear normal, but would observe that in the other frame time would appear to slow down. Now, I am not going to say that this is a physical explanation for the timelessness of God, but it does illustrate that what we call time matters little to God. And his self-description as "I AM" is perhaps as near as we can get to understanding God's frame of reference compared to ours.
Perhaps too,"I AM" is a reminder that living takes place in the present. Future hope is important but it must be founded on the present. It is our relationship with God and one another that we make choices over in the present. God wants us to think of him now as our sustainer of life, both physically and spiritually. The Kindom of God is in the present, not something we have to wait for.
To me, John 10:10 means more than just "Eternal life and salvation here." It means that through Jesus, the Father via His Holy Spirit, can also give us "Physical Health, Spiritual Holiness, and also emotional and physical Happiness!"
In Him was life,in him is life.What a hope!
Coming to the point of understanding how 'true Life’ is represented in a world seeking after material goods is at the heart of the process of everlasting life. The Spirit of God reveals mankind’s purpose in life, working to elevate us to the state in which we can discern the heavenly source speaking to us about our God and His will for our life.
Before this can be set in motion, man needs to accept that he is a created being, not a being evolved or sourced from ‘uninterested/detached/unresponsible’ matter. The fact that man can believe in something unseen and perceiving it as truth, so altering the direction of his life, is ample proof that ‘spirit’ is involved in the affairs of man.
Which spirit man will open up to depends on his aspirations as well as his moral and ethical compass – will he 'believe to further spiritual righteousness - righteous living, or does he seek to help himself to have success in this world; one spiritual influence is heavenly sourced, the other is the spirit of this world. This may be the reason why so few successful people consider themselves as lacking anything; though their feeling of being 'unfulfilled' might be a sign of that which is lacking in their spiritual life.
Who or what can impress them that they are dead when they feel themselves so ‘alive’? John 6:63; 65 ; Matt.4:4; John 1:12-13 speaks to that 'waking them up' is the work of God. He is Spirit, and He will reach out with His Spirit to bring His Light and Truth to those whom He chooses – Deut.4:29-31; Jer.29:12-14; 2 Chronicles 15:2. Why is it so important for humanity to find God? It is because only in Him will we have eternal life - His Gift to mankind because of WHO HE is - the great I AM!
We have multiple texts expressing life in Christ. After reading all the text in the lesson, there are 19 and more counting all the verses, that give use life found in Christ covering the whole spectrum.
I have chosen my favorite to dwell on this am.
John 14:19 DARBY
[19] Yet a little and the world sees me no longer; but ye see me; because I live ye also shall live.
I don't always use the Darby version, but I remember listening to George Vandemen on TV, mind you before DVDs. He said the Darby version was his favorite. Another media that kept us and all who listened in tune to the life Christ provided.
And back to the text John 14:19. I like it because Christ specifically said we will continue to see Him even though He has disappeared. How is that possible? To top it all, we who have never seen Him like the disciples can also see Him. I believe we can pull out of this text that, along with the disciples, we can see Him if we are willing to be made willing.
Because He lives we can face today and tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone. By the way, the new 2025 devotional book is 'Do Not Be Afraid' by Nathan Brown And it companion, 'Conflict and Courage' by Ellen G. White. I am purchasing mine through, https://adventistbookcenter.com/catalogsearch/result?q=devotional%202025. The Woman's 2025 Devotional from this link also.
Good day.
The life that Jesus promises us is not something in the distance future when He comes back and takes us to heaven. On the contrary, life in Jesus begins the moment that He becomes our Lord and Saviour. In John 17:3, Jesus says, “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” Here, eternal life is portrayed as knowing God in a personal, transformative relationship that begins in the present and continues forever.
This understanding shifts the focus of eternal life from merely being a future hope to a present experience, which allows us to beginning experiencing the Kingdom of God here and now. This reality involves living out the love, joy, and freedom that come from knowing Christ, which transforms everyday life and gives it eternal significance.