Christ the Pre-Eminent and Illuminating Life
John 1:4
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.


I. HIS LIFE WAS PRE-EMINENT. "In Him was life."

1. "In Him was life" without beginning. Life in all other existences had a commencement.

2. "In Him was life" without dependence.

3. "In Him was life" without limitation. All other life has its limits, not so with His. His is without limit —

(1)  As to kind. In His life were the germs and archetypes of all other life, material and spiritual.

(2)  As to amount. All other life is circumscribed.

(3)  As to communicativeness.

(4)  As to duration.

II. HIS LIFE WAS ILLUMINATING. "And the life was the light of men." Christ's life, whatever its variety and fulness, had all a moral character, for He was a moral Being. There are several things taught here concerning His life as light:

1. That His life was "the light of men."

2. That this light was heralded by the Baptist.

3. That this light become available by faith.

4. That this light is the true light of "every man"

(D. Thomas, D. D.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

WEB: In him was life, and the life was the light of men.




Christ the Light and Life of Nature and of Grace
Top of Page
Top of Page