John 1:9 - The true light that gives light to everyone

1:9

John the Baptist was heralding the coming of the “true light” that gives light to everyone”. The Greek actually says “every man”, but this is one of the (many) places where man is used in the generic sense, and “everyone” captures the meaning better. The sending of the Son into the world, is the coming of the true light into the world. Men look in many places for “light”, for a source of truth, a way of making sense of the world and their lives. Some of these may seem to offer help for a time, but they are all, at best, imperfect, and sometimes much worse. They will all ultimately lead to death. There is one true light, and that is Jesus Christ. And He is the light “for everyone”. Whoever you are, you will find the true light in Christ. The word for “true” here means “real” or “genuine”. The Greek word used for true can also tend towards meaning “ultimate”. There are things which are a partial light, Jesus is the ultimate light. So the Law contains much truth (afterall, it is the word of God!), but it is a shadow of the ultimate light. The word “world” occurs many times in John’s gospel, and it is often used in a negative sense. The world in John most often refers to the rebellious created order. The light has come into this rebellious world to rescue men from it. All men need the true light, and Jesus is that true light. Many societies will seek to stop, or at least hinder, people from calling others to Jesus, and to stop or hinder people from abandoning their current “religion” and turning to Christ. Muslim countries often do this, Hindu societies sometimes do the same. Secular societies as found in the West are increasingly going down this road. We should be clear that what they are doing is trying to stop people coming into the light of life.