Jesus: Light, Life, and Love Divine
Daily Scripture
John 1:9-18
9 The true light that shines on all people
was coming into the world.
10 The light was in the world,
and the world came into being through the light,
but the world didn’t recognize the light.
11 The light came to his own people,
and his own people didn’t welcome him.
12 But those who did welcome him,
those who believed in his name,
he authorized to become God’s children,
13 born not from blood
nor from human desire or passion,
but born from God.
14 The Word became flesh
and made his home among us.
We have seen his glory,
glory like that of a father’s only son,
full of grace and truth.
15 John testified about him, crying out, “This is the one of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than me because he existed before me.’”
16 From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace;
17 as the Law was given through Moses,
so grace and truth came into being through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has ever seen God.
God the only Son,
who is at the Father’s side,
has made God known.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
People often compare John’s prologue to an epic musical or opera overture, previewing all the major themes. John called Jesus “the true light” who came into our world, offering everyone the chance to become God’s children. John, and all those who welcomed Jesus, discovered a life-changing relationship with God. Jesus didn’t come to condemn but to rescue and transform everyone who believes in him. In Jesus, John said, we can find our true identity as God’s children.
- John wrote the prologue to his gospel as poetry, not prose. Scholar and pastor Eugene Peterson paraphrased the powerful poetry of verse 12 as “But whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, He made to be their true selves, their child-of-God selves.” * In what ways have you discovered your “child-of-God self” since you began following Jesus? How have those discoveries deepened and enriched your life?
- Jesus offers everyone “the right to become children of God.” This was revolutionary—suggesting that our relationship with God isn’t based on our religious achievements, family heritage, or social status, but on receiving Jesus with trust. What influences have encouraged you to respond to Jesus’ light? What, if anything, holds you back from fully embracing your identity as God’s beloved child?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, in my darkest times I feel unworthy of your love. Give me “eyes to see” and “ears to hear” how much you love and value me as I reflect on my need for your saving mission. Amen.
GPS Insights
Katy Nall
Katy Nall serves as the Program Director of Missions for Resurrection West. She is a mom of two and loves to be outside in the sunshine, especially if it involves mountains or ocean. She loves hiking, reading, learning, and connecting.
As I reflect on John’s words about Jesus as the “true light,” the phrase that keeps echoing in my mind is that His light shines for all people, inviting all of us to become children of God. In a world where divisions feel so sharp, this message can offer a deep and comforting hope. I say “can offer” because, if you’re anything like me, which is to say, a little imperfect—I am not always sure I want that light to shine on everyone. Sometimes, I struggle with the idea of God lavishing grace on those who seem to oppose everything I believe Jesus stands for: justice, compassion, and mercy. But Jesus entered a world that did not welcome him, and he continued to offer grace upon grace—a love that was healing, transformative, and radically inclusive. Working in missions, I see every day how deeply we need that light to help us bridge divides and build understanding.
Following Jesus means embracing a calling that stretches us beyond our comfort zones. It means letting go of who we think “deserves” grace and recognizing that God’s love doesn’t fit within our human biases. Pastor Adam once said, “If you think the entirety of God can fit into the 3 lbs of grey matter on top of your head, your God is too small.” Jesus invites each person, no matter their failures, to find their identity as God’s beloved child. This is a truth I’ve had to remind myself of repeatedly—especially when I see the pain caused by injustice or feel discouraged by division. And yet, it’s this very truth that fuels my work. When I serve alongside others and see lives transformed by kindness and empathy, I am reminded that God’s grace has the power to soften even the hardest hearts, to work miracles in the most discouraging situations.
In a world where it’s so easy to put people into “us” and “them” categories, John’s gospel calls us to a different way. Jesus “made his home among us,” choosing to be with us in all our brokenness and mess. He didn’t come just to comfort or affirm us but to challenge us to love as he loves—to be bearers of light for everyone. When we listen, serve, and extend grace, we become reflections of that divine love, creating spaces where true connection and reconciliation can grow.
As we approach the Advent season, and as we anticipate the coming of Christ’s light, I invite you to consider where you might bring a touch of that light to others—even, or perhaps especially, to those you find it hard to love. Whether it’s through a gesture of kindness, a commitment to serve, or opening your heart to someone different from you, each step brings us closer to the unity and peace Jesus offers. Let’s be people who make the choice to allow His light to shine in all places, for all people.
**If you’re looking for ways to get involved in serving with Resurrection, I’d love to help you make that connection. Feel free to reach out by e-mail! Katy.nall@cor.org.
© 2024 Resurrection: A United Methodist Church. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Peterson, Eugene H., The Message Numbered Edition Hardback. Navpress. Kindle Edition.
