Christ, Our Light and Life

The Word Who Walks With Us

“In Him was life, and that life was 

the light of all mankind.” 

John 1:4

John opens his Gospel by leading us back to the beginning, reminding us that Jesus Christ is the eternal Word through whom “all things were made” (John 1:3). Long before Bethlehem, before history itself, Christ was present, speaking creation into being and sustaining life by His power. He is not merely a teacher or prophet, but God’s living Word, full of grace and truth. In Him is life, and that life shines as light in a dark world. Every breath we take and every hope we hold finds its source in Him, the One who has always been and who remains faithful forever.

Yet this eternal Word did not remain distant. “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us” (John 1:14), choosing to enter ordinary human life. As Eugene Peterson beautifully expressed it, He “moved into the neighborhood.” God stepped into our routines, struggles, and relationships. He walks with us through busy schedules and quiet worries, through workdays and weary evenings. John tells us that “to all who did receive Him… He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). We are not left to navigate life alone. We belong to God’s family, guided by Christ’s light and strengthened by His presence, even when the path feels uncertain.

Still, John is honest that “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). Many did not recognize Him, and many still resist His voice today. Yet Christ continues to come toward us in love, offering forgiveness, renewal, and hope. When we feel overwhelmed by a new week or burdened by weakness, we are invited to receive Him again with faith. His Word restores what is broken, renews what is weary, and reshapes our hearts. To follow Jesus is not simply to believe certain truths, but to welcome His living presence and allow His light to guide every part of our lives.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus, the Living Word, into our world and into our lives, and for making us Your beloved children through Him. Help us to walk in His light, trust His grace, and listen to His voice in all that we do today. Fill our home with Your peace, love, and truth, and shape our hearts to reflect Christ to one another and to the world. Amen.