The Word Brings Life

Text: John 1:1–5

Scientists recently discovered something fascinating about light. The way we interact with light throughout the day doesn’t just affect our eyes—it shapes our emotions, our sleep, our memory, and even our ability to concentrate. In a study of over 300 people, researchers found that our “light behaviors” matter far more than we realize.

Think of it this way: just as we’ve learned that what we eat affects our physical and mental health, we’re now learning that we also need a healthy diet of light.

Those of us in the upper Midwest don’t need much convincing. Every year, beginning in September, the days shorten and the nights stretch longer. Less sunlight, colder temperatures, and more time indoors combine to create that familiar sense of heaviness that lingers from November through March. We feel it in our bodies—and often in our souls.

The study revealed three important things. First, people who spent more time outside in natural sunlight reported better moods and healthier sleep rhythms. Their bodies knew when to wake and when to rest—they were living in harmony with the rhythms God built into creation. Second, those who scrolled on their phones late into the evening struggled with delayed sleep, poor rest, and foggy thinking. Artificial blue light was telling their bodies it was still daytime when God designed it to be night. Third, people who used bright, natural-spectrum light in the morning slept better at night and felt more alert during the day. They aligned their habits with the order God established—and they flourished.

Why does this matter? Because our bodies still remember God’s original design: light and darkness, day and night. When we honor that rhythm, we thrive. When we resist it, we struggle.

That brings us to Christmas—and to the opening words of John’s Gospel.

John doesn’t begin the Christmas story with shepherds or angels or Bethlehem. He goes back further. Much further. “In the beginning…” Before creation. Before light and darkness. Before anything existed at all. John wants us to understand that Christmas is not simply about a baby born in a manger—it is about Light entering darkness at the deepest possible level.

John calls Jesus “the Word.” To Greek readers, logos referred to the rational principle that ordered the universe. To Jewish readers, God’s Word was His powerful self-expression—the force behind creation, covenant, law, wisdom, and salvation. John brings these ideas together and makes a stunning claim: the Word is not an idea, a principle, or a philosophy. The Word is a Person. And His name is Jesus.

The Word Is Eternal

John deliberately echoes Genesis 1: “In the beginning…” Jesus did not begin in Bethlehem. He did not start in Mary’s womb. He is eternal. He was with God. He is God. This is why His light matters. Jesus is not merely a teacher or moral example—He is the eternal Creator stepping into His creation. Christmas celebrates the infinite taking on the finite so that our darkness might be illuminated.

The Word Gives Life

John continues, “In Him was life.” Not just biological life, but true life—spiritual life, eternal life, life as God intended it to be lived. Life is not merely something Jesus gives; life is who He is. Just as all creation draws its existence from Him, so does our hope, our renewal, and our salvation. And John makes this beautiful connection: “That life was the light of men.” The life Jesus gives becomes the light we need—revealing truth, exposing what is broken, and guiding us toward what is good. It awakens the soul the way morning sunlight awakens the body.

The Word Brings Light Darkness Cannot Overcome

“The light shines in the darkness,” John writes, “and yet the darkness did not overcome it.” Darkness is real—sin, fear, confusion, grief, and a world that often feels like it’s unraveling. But darkness is not equal to light. Light always wins. Walk into the darkest room and turn on the smallest flashlight—darkness flees. That’s Christmas. Jesus didn’t come to avoid darkness; He came to invade it. And darkness cannot stop Him.

So let’s return to those discoveries about light. When people aligned their habits with God’s created rhythms, they thrived. When they didn’t, they struggled. The parallel is striking. Just as we need physical light to flourish, we need God’s Light even more.

What if spiritual burnout, discouragement, or numbness has less to do with our circumstances and more to do with our spiritual light diet?

Morning sunlight wakes the body—morning time with Jesus wakes the heart. Natural light elevates mood—time in God’s presence fills us with joy. Late-night screen time disrupts rest—constant noise and anxiety disrupt our peace. Darkness restores the body—Sabbath rest restores the soul.

Christmas reminds us of this simple truth: the Light of the world has come. Jesus, the eternal Word, stepped into the darkness to bring us life and light. So make intentional space in your daily rhythms for His light—through prayer, Scripture, worship, fellowship, gratitude, and service. Your soul needs it.

From the beginning, God established a rhythm: light and darkness. Our bodies still feel it. Our hearts still long for it. And at Christmas, God didn’t just create light—He became light. His light still shines, and nothing can extinguish it.

The Light has come.

Are we walking in Him?

Paul’s Ponderings is a blog dedicated to reflecting on Scripture and encouraging believers to live out their faith with love and purpose.

Living in Light, Love, and Truth: Encountering the Word of Life

A few years ago, researchers studied how much it costs when people avoid hard conversations. They discovered that the average employee wastes about $1,500 and an entire workday for every crucial conversation they refuse to have. Multiply that across an organization, and the costs skyrocket.

Why? Because avoiding conflict doesn’t make it disappear—it just redirects it. Instead of resolving issues, people complain, stew in frustration, or distance themselves from one another. Sometimes the tension drags on for months, costing thousands of dollars.

What about the church? What’s the cost of conflict when believers avoid hard conversations? We lose unity. We stop praying for each other. We withdraw instead of serving together. And sadly, churches shrink because unresolved tension drives people away.

This isn’t new. The letters of John were written to churches struggling with conflict. False teachers denied that Jesus was truly human, which split the community. Some left, and those who remained faced deep questions about truth, love, and fellowship. Into that moment, John writes words of hope, clarity, and invitation.

Why John’s Words Still Matter
Tradition holds that 1, 2, and 3 John were written by the Apostle John between 70–90 AD—the same John who wrote the Gospel. Unlike a typical letter, 1 John reads more like a sermon written for broad circulation. An intriguing thought I came across in my study is the possibility that 2 and 3 John served as cover letters for it.

John’s goal was simple: to call the church back to the truth about Jesus and to the practice of love. His message is as relevant now as it was then. In a fractured world, we need wisdom to help us live faithfully as disciples of King Jesus—walking in truth, walking in love, and shining as light in our communities.

A Life-Changing Encounter
Have you ever had an experience so profound you couldn’t keep it to yourself? The birth of a child, an achievement you worked years to reach, or an encounter with God that changed everything? These moments demand to be shared.

That’s exactly where John begins. His testimony isn’t abstract theology—it’s rooted in what he personally experienced:

“We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life.” (1 John 1:1–2a, NLT)

John piles up sensory words—heard, seen, touched—to drive home his point: Jesus was real. He wasn’t an idea or a myth. He was flesh and blood, the eternal Word of God who stepped into history. John and the other apostles walked with Him, ate with Him, and saw His miracles firsthand.

Christianity rests on this reality: Jesus came in the flesh, lived among us, died for us, and rose again. Our faith is not built on speculation but on eyewitness testimony.

That means our relationship with Jesus isn’t something we sustain in isolation. We encounter Him as we gather with others, as we pray for one another, as we serve together. We meet Him in Scripture, where the Spirit reminds us of who He is. And we see Him in the faces of “the least of these” when we serve with love.

A Proclamation of Life
John doesn’t just describe his experience—he shares it:

“We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:3, NLT)

John couldn’t keep silent. He knew Jesus is eternal life revealed—the very life of God made visible. And this life wasn’t for him alone. It was meant to be proclaimed and shared.

This challenges us. Too often we think proclaiming the gospel requires eloquence or formal training. But John reminds us that proclamation is simply testifying to what you’ve seen God do. Have you experienced His forgiveness? Share it. Have you found hope in a dark time? Tell someone. Has God provided when you didn’t know how things would work out? Point it back to Him.

Proclamation isn’t about being polished; it’s about being personal. Someone in your life may be waiting to hear how God’s life has touched yours.

Fellowship and Joy
Why does John proclaim this truth? His purpose is clear:

“We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.” (1 John 1:4, NLT)

John longs for believers to experience fellowship with God and one another. This isn’t just social connection; it’s a deep, Spirit-filled bond rooted in Christ. Gary Burge puts it well: “Christian fellowship is triangular: my life in fellowship with Christ, your life in fellowship with Christ, and my life in fellowship with yours.”

When we walk in truth and love, our lives interlock with God’s life and with each other. Out of that fellowship flows joy—not circumstantial happiness, but deep, resilient joy that God Himself completes in us.

If your joy feels faint, perhaps it’s time to lean back into fellowship—with God in prayer and Scripture, and with His people in community. Joy is often restored when we stop isolating and start connecting again.

Encountering the Word of Life Today
John’s words still invite us today:

1. Encounter Jesus personally. He is the eternal Word of Life who came in the flesh.
2. Proclaim what you’ve experienced. Share how God is at work in your life—it may encourage someone else to believe.
3. Pursue fellowship. Life with God is meant to be shared with others. Joy grows in community.

The big idea is simple: Encountering the Word of Life leads us into fellowship with God and others and fills us with lasting joy.

So here’s the challenge: Who in your life needs encouragement or hope? Take one step this week to share Jesus with them—whether through your story, a prayer, or an invitation into Christian community.

Encountering the Word of Life changes everything—our faith, our relationships, and our joy. Let’s live in that reality today.

Paul’s Ponderings is a blog dedicated to reflecting on Scripture and encouraging believers to live out their faith with love and purpose.

The Justice and Comfort of God: The Final Verdict and Future Hope

When Justice Applies to Everyone

In April 2013, a Michigan judge handed down one of the most unusual rulings of his career—against himself. Judge Raymond Voet had a posted policy in his courtroom: if a phone went off during proceedings, its owner would be fined $25.

During a prosecutor’s closing argument, Voet’s own smartphone started talking—loudly—asking for voice commands. Embarrassed, the judge silenced it as quickly as he could. But at the next recess, he fined himself $25. “Judges are human,” he said. “We’re not above the rules.”

That’s what real justice looks like—applied fairly, without favoritism, even to the one in charge.

Nahum 3 shows us the same truth about God. No matter how powerful Nineveh was, no matter how untouchable Assyria thought itself to be, God did not overlook their evil. His justice is perfect, consistent, and unavoidable.

When Evil Runs Its Course

Nahum describes Nineveh as a “city of blood,” built on violence, lies, and plunder. Ancient accounts tell of unspeakable cruelty—captives tortured, treaties betrayed, wealth stolen. Assyria’s power grew through deceit and terror, not justice and peace.

God’s verdict? Enough.

Nineveh would be exposed for what it truly was. Once feared, it would now be shamed. The empire that humiliated others would be humiliated itself.

And God reminds Nineveh of history: Thebes, a mighty Egyptian city Assyria once conquered, had seemed invincible too. But it fell. And so would Nineveh. What they had done to others would now return upon their own heads.

The Collapse of False Power

Nahum uses vivid images: 

Nineveh like ripe figs, falling at the slightest shake.
Its soldiers like locusts, swarming in greed but disappearing when danger comes.
Its leaders like sleeping shepherds, abandoning the flock.

The message is clear: the empire’s wealth, armies, and defenses would not save it. The wound would be fatal. And while Assyria’s victims had once wept in terror, now they would rejoice at its downfall.


Where We Fit In

What do we do with a text this heavy?

First, it reminds us that God deals with His enemies in two ways. In Jonah’s day, Nineveh repented—and God relented. But when repentance faded, judgment came. The same is true for us: we must continually turn our hearts back to God, pledging our allegiance to Jesus, or else we risk sharing Nineveh’s fate.

Second, Nahum points us to Christ. On the cross, Jesus absorbed the violence, humiliation, and exposure that sin produces. The taunts, the filth hurled at Him, the shame of being stripped bare—it’s the fate Nineveh faced, and the fate humanity deserves. But Jesus bore it in our place. He took on our judgment so that we could receive God’s mercy.

Without Him, Nineveh’s fate becomes our fate. With Him, we are delivered.


The Final Verdict and Future Hope

Nahum 3 is more than history—it’s a preview of God’s ultimate justice.

For the oppressed: comfort—God will set things right.
For the oppressor: warning—repent before judgment comes.
For God’s people: hope—the downfall of evil is certain, and the reign of God is forever.

As Laurie Braaten writes, “God’s people are called to live as though God’s justice prevails now, and trust that if not now, then in the final judgement the oppressors will receive their deserved punishment and the people of God will be vindicated.”

We live in that tension. We long for God’s justice now, but we hope in His final verdict. And as we wait, we worship, because in Jesus the victory has already been secured.


A Challenge for the Week

Take time this week to worship God for the hope we have in Christ. Thank Him that His justice is real, His timing is perfect, and His mercy is available now.

When life feels unfair, chaotic, or overwhelming, remember: God’s justice brings down the oppressor and delivers His people. Our future is secure in Jesus.

Look to Jesus

 

Jesus is completely unique in human history as the Divine Son of God. 

As the Son of God, Jesus reveals two important truths:

1. Jesus demonstrates what it means to be created in the image of God. To live as an image-bearer of God, we need to look to Jesus.
2. Jesus reveals God's character to us in a way that humans can understand. To know who God is, we must look to Jesus.

Elias Dantes' essay, The Incarnation of Christ and its Implications, in the book Christ the One and Only, emphasizes both these truths: "If you want to know what it means to be a human being and to stand for the humanity of man, look to Jesus Christ. If you want to know God, look to Jesus Christ."

The author of Hebrews also highlights these truths:

Hebrews 1:3 (CSB) "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high."

Hebrews 2:14-15 (CSB) "Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death."

John wrote about these realities as well:

1 John 2:6 (NLT) "Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did."

John 14:9 (NLT) "Jesus replied, 'Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don't know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you?'"

Jesus is not only our example for living but also reveals the truth about who God is. By looking at Jesus, we can understand God's character in terms our finite minds can grasp.

Since we are created in God's image to reflect His glory, it should come as no surprise that these two realities are connected in Jesus. We are meant to imitate Jesus in our lives, becoming more like him each day. As we grow in our understanding of who Jesus is, we grow in our understanding of who God is.

In a world that often confuses and confounds us, the simplicity of looking to Jesus to know who we are and to know who God is can be a great help. As we face the challenges of daily life, we can find wisdom, confidence, and hope in the example of Jesus. 

Through Jesus, we can be assured that the temptations and trials we face are not meant to bring us down but to strengthen us as warriors and athletes of God.

Let us then look to Jesus, who is not only our example but more importantly our King and Savior. We need to commit to living as he did, and in that way, grow in our knowledge of who God is.

The Foolishness of the Cross

 

Good Friday invites us to reflect on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the moment when He obediently laid down his life as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. For those of us who have been around church cultural most of our lives, there’s a risk of growing numb to the profound strangeness of the cross—an instrument of execution turned into a symbol of victory. It defies human logic to think life could spring from death or that winning could emerge from losing. Yet, this is the heart of the gospel.

The Apostle Paul captures this paradox in 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (CSB):

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved… For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of what is preached… Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

Writing to Greeks influenced by philosophy, Paul says what they are thinking: the cross “foolishness.” It’s a stumbling block to some, nonsense to others, yet for those who believe, it’s the power and wisdom of God. The cross is central to God’s plan to redeem His good creation from sin, decay, and death—a plan that defies our comprehension and will always feel a bit mysterious.

Theological doctrines like justification, atonement, and sanctification help explain the cross, but they can’t fully capture its oddity. If we reduce the cross to a neat formula, we risk missing its transformative power. We don’t need to unravel every mystery of the crucifixion to experience its gifts—forgiveness, mercy, and new life. Our salvation rests not on perfect understanding but on faith in Jesus.

Good Friday reminds us that the power of the cross lies in God’s love and grace, not our ability to comprehend it. We may never fully grasp how one man’s death saves all who believe, but we can trust the One who made it possible. This day calls us not to neatly explain God’s ways but to rest in His love.

Finding Freedom in Jesus

Galatians 5:1 (CSB)

For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm, then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.

We All Want Freedom

Freedom is what we all desire. It’s built into us. And for Americans, it’s even declared to be a basic right. We want to see people live free rather than under oppression.

But here’s the remarkable truth: God also desires that we be free. His desire for our freedom is revealed through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The good news of the gospel is that Jesus came to bring freedom—not just political or social freedom, but the deep spiritual freedom our hearts long for.

So, if we desire freedom and God desires that we be free, what’s the problem?

The Problem with Our Definition of Freedom

The problem is that our definition of freedom and God’s definition of freedom aren’t the same.

We tend to think of freedom as the ability to decide how we want to live—to be free from authority, expectations, or restrictions. We want the financial freedom to do what we want, when we want.

For us, freedom is defined by having complete control of our lives.

But according to the Bible, God defines freedom differently. In fact, the very people who experienced the freedom Jesus gives—Paul, James, and Peter—used a surprising word to describe themselves.

“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus…” — Romans 1:1

“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ…” — James 1:1

“Simeon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ…” — 2 Peter 1:1 

The word translated “servant” here literally means slave.

These men didn’t equate autonomy or self-rule with true freedom. They saw freedom as the ability to surrender fully to the authority of King Jesus.

In our culture, being under someone else’s authority sounds like bondage—but for them, it was the only path to real liberation.

When Freedom Becomes a Trap

Let me ask you a question: Is your life better or more complicated since you’ve been in charge of making all the decisions?

We live in a time and place with more freedom than almost any other generation. We can choose our careers, our spouses, our beliefs, and even how we spend our time and money.

Yet, even with all this freedom, many of us feel trapped.

We feel trapped in jobs we hate.

Trapped in marriages that have lost their joy.

Enslaved by debt, addictions, or the expectations of others.

Burdened by the pressure to keep up appearances.

When we define freedom as control, we often end up enslaved by our own choices. 

The Freedom Jesus Offers

Thankfully, Jesus offers a different kind of freedom—freedom for those of us trapped in the prisons of our own making.

He frees us from the curse and condemnation of the Law.

He frees us from the addictions and compulsions of sin.

He frees us to live in the spontaneity of love—for God and for people.

True freedom in Christ looks like this:

• Free to use our resources to help those in need.
• Free to turn our blessings into blessings for others.
• Free to hope when the world feels hopeless.
• Free to give our lives away to God and His Kingdom.

True Freedom Comes Through Surrender

So let me ask again:

Are you living a free life—or are you enslaved to your habits, addictions, or the expectations of others?

The only way to truly experience freedom is to surrender your life to Jesus.

He guides us out of the chains of bad choices and leads us into His Kingdom of freedom.

Freedom is found not by taking control, but by stepping off the throne of your life and letting Jesus be King.

That’s where true freedom begins.

Hebrews: Greater than the Angels

 

Understanding the identity of Jesus is fundamental to being a Christian. Jesus is not just a good teacher, a prophet, a miracle worker, or an angel. Jesus is the unique Son of God who is responsible for creating and saving the world.

The author of Hebrews is making it clear that you can’t reduce Jesus to anything less than God and still be a Christian. 

Hebrews 1:5-14 (CSB)

For to which of the angels did he ever say,

You are my Son; today I have become your Father,

or again,

I will be his Father, and he will be my Son?

Again, when he brings his firstborn into the world, he says,

And let all God’s angels worship him.

And about the angels he says:

He makes his angels winds, and his servants a fiery flame,

but to the Son:

Your throne, God, is forever and ever, and the scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of justice.

You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; this is why God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy beyond your companions.

And:

In the beginning, Lord, you established the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands;

they will perish, but you remain. 

They will all wear out like clothing; you will roll them up like a cloak,

and they will be changed like clothing.

But you are the same, and your years will never end.

Now to which of the angels has he ever said:

Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool?

Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve those who are going to inherit salvation?

For some Jews angels were highly regarded as messengers of God. Apparently some Christians were trying argue that Jesus was not God, but an angel who God appointed as His first born Son and Messiah. Hebrews 1:5-14 explains why Jesus is greater than the angels. The author of Hebrews provides several reasons why Jesus is greater than the angels in this passage:

1. Jesus is the Son of God - The author of Hebrews begins by quoting Psalm 2:7, which says, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father." This highlights the fact that Jesus is not just an angel or a messenger of God, but he is the Son of God. He has a unique relationship with God the Father that is superior to that of any angel.
2. Jesus is worshiped by the angels - The author of Hebrews also quotes Psalm 97:7, which says, "Let all God's angels worship him." This shows that even the angels are called to worship Jesus, which is a clear indication of his superiority over them.
3. Jesus is the Creator of the universe - The author of Hebrews says that God created the universe through his Son, Jesus. This means that Jesus was involved in the act of creation, which is a remarkable feat that no angel could achieve.
4. Jesus is eternal - The author of Hebrews says that God calls Jesus "Lord" and "God" and that he will remain forever. This shows that Jesus is not just a temporary figure, but he is eternal, which is another trait that sets him apart from the angels.
5. Jesus is seated at the right hand of God - The author of Hebrews says that Jesus has been exalted to the highest place and is seated at the right hand of God. This is a position of honor and authority that no angel has ever held.

The superiority of Jesus to angels is demonstrated by seven Old Testament quotations that show that he is God’s Son, that he is worshiped by angels, that he is the creator of the universe, that he is eternal, and that he is at the right hand of God. This also teaches that Jesus, though he is God, is distinguished from the Father.

What we believe about Jesus matters. He is greater to all created beings, including the other spiritual beings such as the angels. This means He is worthy of our worship and faith.