SCRIPTURE: And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. John 1:5 KJV
THOUGHT: The phrase “comprehended it not” may be one of the most differently translated verses in all of Scripture (click here if you want to read all of the variations yourself). Words like could not “apprehend,” “comprehend,” “overtake,” “overcome,” “extinguish,” “grasp,” “understand,” and more.
The Amplified Version gives itself more permission to include nuance, reading: The Light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness did not understand it or overpower it or appropriate it or absorb it [and is unreceptive to it].
That pretty much covers it. The big picture is this: darkness doesn’t stand a chance against the light that Jesus brought into the world. Amen and hallelujah.
If you’re living in darkness and choose to remain there, nothing about Jesus being light and life will make any sense to you. You won’t be receptive to it, grasp the concept for yourself or lay hold of its truth for all of humanity. You might even get mad and try to extinguish such ideas from your life and the lives of others; you might mock people who do gravitate toward the life and light of the Triune God, or worse. If so, you’ll be joining a long line of humans who’ve tried unsuccessfully to stamp out The Light.
I admit, it’s a strange way to save the world, but it’s God’s way and to his great mind, it was the only way: to extend one part of his holy wholeness to earth, wrapped in flesh, on a peace mission to mankind. A peace mission that would be successful no matter how it was received because everything would change, whether humans “apprehended” it or not.
So, as strange as the story seems, I’m not going to rely on my own imagination to create another that suits me better. Why would I when I have access to the one who created light and separated it from darkness and called it good; when I have access to the one who said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (Jn. 8:12 ESV).”
I’m going to follow the light, accepting it as the gift that it was that first Christmas.
SONG: Strange Way to Save the World, Rascal Flatts
PRAYER: Oh Triune God, I love the way you have fought for the earth you created and the people you breathed life into. It hasn’t gone well, time after time, but you were willing to keep fighting even to the death of a precious part of yourself. Praise you that the light Jesus brought with him can never be extinguished!
Dear Reader,
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ABOUT ME:
Blogger Amy Clemens is the author of Walking When You’d Rather Fly: Meditations on Faith After the Fall. In it she explores childhood sexual abuse and how it impacted her faith (or lack thereof) for four decades. You’ll find not only her story, but better yet, the Big Story of God.
Check out Walking When You’d Rather Fly, and learn more about the book and Amy’s other ministries. You will also find her devotional work at Words of Hope.
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