"I te timatanga te Kupu, i te Atua te Kupu, ko te Atua ano te Kupu. I te Atua ano tenei Kupu i te timatanga. Nana nga mea katoa i hanga; kahore hoki tetahi mea i kore te hanga e ia o nga mea i hanga. I a ia te ora; ko te ora te marama mo nga tangata. I roto i te pouri te marama e whiti ana; heoi kihai i mau i te pouri".
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it". — John 1:4-5
The level of change in our workplaces, churches, and society is massive. The number of complex challenges facing the global community is staggering. The levels of uncertainty, anxiety, and strain are through the roof.
We face each of these with varying levels of fatigue and frustration.
John 1:4-5 points us to the One who the darkness cannot overcome.
John reminds us that we are caked in the darkness of the world. It has rewired our DNA through sin, it has soaked and stained every fibre of our being.
The demonic realities behind the darkness distort the world's systems of economics, commerce, and justice—crushing millions. The dark powers and principalities digitally distract millions more. The world is cloaked in darkness.
In the middle of this, we can be quietly confident that...
Jesus is Life.
Jesus’ life, is life. Why? because Jesus’ life is life in him. It is new life. It’s eternal life. It’s life that saves from judgement.
This life is light for humanity, this life is light that shines out to humanity.
We can be comforted—the light of the life of Jesus shone in the darkness 2000 years ago and it shines now.
The light of the life of Jesus is stronger, more powerful, and denser than the darkness.
Lastly, we can be consoled, the darkness didn’t overcome Jesus then and won’t overcome him now. It tried then, and it’s trying now. It has savaged Jesus then, and it rages against Jesus’ people now. It was defeated then and, although defiant, it remains defeated now.
If you are interested in reading John’s gospel with sceptical or seeking friends can I commend to you ‘The Word One to One’ .
It’s a simple booklet with the text of John's gospel and guiding questions.
If you are a church leader and want to begin seeing people sharing the Bible with others one-to-one, do check it out.
