John 1:4
“In him was life, and the life was the light of men.”
What does John 1:4 mean?
In this opening to John's gospel, "him" refers to the Word, Jesus Christ, described just before as existing eternally with God. The verse uses two powerful images: Jesus as the source of life itself, and that life functioning as light for humanity. Light here means understanding, truth, and the ability to see reality clearly, especially spiritual reality. For anyone in darkness, whether that's confusion, despair, or spiritual emptiness, this verse promises that encountering Jesus brings both vitality and clarity, a way to actually see and understand what life is meant to be.