The Light of Life 生命之光

[Dexu Xia]

In [Jesus] was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. John 1:4

Today's Scripture   John 1:1-14

Today's Insights  John 1:1-18 has been called a “theological masterpiece.” The brilliance of these verses beckon readers to worshipful reflection and a desire to know more. While there’s a radiance that characterizes this section, verse 14 has a splendor of its own. The verses leading up to it are like an ascending staircase that takes us to this pinnacle. Using language found in Genesis 1:1, the apostle John shows the existence and experience of the pre-incarnate Word (John 1:1). What was true of Jesus before time found expression in His earthly existence. He imparted life and dispelled darkness—both in the physical and spiritual realms (vv. 4-5). We can know Christ—the light of life—personally when we place our trust in Him

Today's Devotion    In 1905 a scruffy young man holed up in his apartment in Bern, Switzerland, engaging in complex thought experiments regarding the nature of the universe. With frenzied focus, the physicist worked and reworked his calculations. Four mind-crunching months later, this man had rewritten much of what was known about how the world works. The man was Albert Einstein. He was twenty-six.

Yet despite possessing a great scientific mind, Einstein said, “The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know.”

The Bible frequently points to the majesty of God reflected in His creation: “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1), and Job also predated Einstein’s words: “Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens” (Job 11:7-8).

But God’s creation glory is even greater than the expanse of universes: “In the beginning was the Word. . . .The Word became flesh” (John 1:1, 14). There are no mathematical calculations that can explain God’s extraordinary act of entering humanity in the person of Jesus Christ. God is not just “out there” in a universe we cannot begin to know, but He’s here alongside us, the Word among us, the light of life (1:4) whom we can know personally and intimately.

Reflect & Pray

What amazes you about the grandeur of the universe? How does the majesty of God’s creation make you feel about your relationship with Jesus Christ?

Dear God, thank You for the majesty of Your creation and for Your Son Jesus Christ, who has delivered me into a new life.  by Kenneth Peterson

“生命在他 [耶稣] 里头，这生命就是人的光。”（约翰福音 1:4 ）

今日经文：约翰福音 1章1-14 节

今日洞见：约翰福音 1章1-18 节被誉为一部“神学杰作”。这些经文所散发的光辉，引领读者进入敬拜式的默想，并激发他们渴望更深地认识真理。虽然这一整段经文都洋溢着独特的光彩，但14节尤其显示出非凡的荣美。前面的经文仿佛是一级级上升的阶梯，引领我们抵达这一信仰的高峰。使徒约翰借用创世记1:1 中的语言，向我们揭示了“道”（即基督）在未道成肉身之前的存在状态与经历（约翰福音 1:1）。耶稣在创世之初所拥有的本质，完全彰显在他地上的生命中。他赐予生命，驱散黑暗，无论是在物质层面还是属灵层面（4-5节）。当我们用信心依靠他，我们就能亲自认识基督，那位“生命之光”。

今日灵修    1905年，一位衣着邋遢的年轻男子隐居在瑞士伯尔尼的公寓里，全神贯注地进行着关于宇宙本质的复杂思想实验。这位物理学家以近乎狂热的专注度，反复推演着他的计算公式。历经四个月绞尽脑汁的研究后，这位男子彻底改写了人类对世界运作规律的既有认知。这位男子，正是阿尔伯特·爱因斯坦。那一年，他年仅二十六岁。然而，尽管拥有着卓越的科学头脑，爱因斯坦却曾言：“我学得越多，就越发意识到自己还有多少无知之处。” 《圣经》一再指出上帝的威荣是如何彰显在他的创造之工中：“诸天述说上帝的荣耀”（诗篇 19:1）；而约伯记中的话语更是早于爱因斯坦的论断：“你能测透全能者的奥秘吗？他的高深过于诸天”（约伯记 11:7-8）。 然而，上帝在创造中所彰显的荣耀，甚至远超浩瀚无垠的宇宙本身：“太初有道……道成了肉身”（约翰福音 1:1, 14）。没有任何数学公式能够解释上帝那非凡的作为，即他借着耶稣基督的位格，亲自进入人类世界，道成肉身。上帝并非仅仅“远在天边”，置身于一个我们根本无法测度的宇宙之中；相反，祂就在此地，与我们同在，祂是道成肉身，居于我们中间；祂是“生命之光”（1:4），是我们能够亲自且亲密地去认识的那一位。

反思与祷告  在浩瀚宏伟的宇宙中，有哪些创作令你惊叹不已？面对上帝创造的庄严与威荣，你对自己与耶稣基督的关系有何感触？ 亲爱的上帝，感谢祢创造了这庄严宏伟的万物；也感谢祢赐下爱子耶稣基督，引领我进入了全新的生命。

作者  肯尼斯·彼得森