Life is one of the big themes in John’s Gospel. Typically when he uses this word he has eternal life in mind—life in fellowship with God, life in God’s presence. And this life is identified with light and contrasted with darkness. Those who see the light are those who live in the right story. They are the ones who enjoy life with God and seek to honour his truth. Opposing them are those who live in darkness, who want to continue in sin and unbelief, who reject God’s truth.

Eternal life with God is what we all really want to receive. Whether we are Christians, Muslims, or secular humanists, we want to live in a story where there is a happy ending. We want everything to be OK in the end, we want to be part of a world where good triumphs over evil, love conquers hate, people live in peace and harmony, pain and death are no more, loneliness and depression are a thing of the past. We want to be part of a story where there is eternal life. The Word, being the source of life, offers this life to all men.

The light that shines in the darkness is a light that calls people to leave the dark depths of their sin and submit to God’s truth. It is a light that challenges the atheist to let go of the theories by which he seeks to justify his unbelief. It is a light that calls the pagan to forsake his ancestors and be reconciled to God. It is a light that teaches men: God is not distant and disinterested, there is no lasting joy or happiness apart from him.

The Word who made this world is the source of life and all that is good. And he longs to enjoy life with the people whom he has made. But he will only do so on his terms. There is no lasting place in his world for those who ignore and rebel against him.

Originally the offer of eternal life was held out to Adam in the Garden of Eden. If he was obedient to God he would have enjoyed the blessed happiness of an eternity in God’s presence. But he broke covenant with God. He ignored the Word and sought to do things his own way, deciding for himself what is right and wrong. As a result, instead of eternal life he earned death. He was barred from the garden and cut off from access to the tree. Exiled from God, he was kept from God's presence by a flaming sword (Genesis 3:24).

However, God’s plan to enjoy life with his people was not thwarted. Throughout the Old Testament, the light of God shone in the Scriptures as they testified to the coming of the Christ. There would be a second Adam. The source of life himself would come to walk under the judgment sword and feel its sting. The Word became flesh and it is he who suffered the bloodshed and wrath that Adam deserved for his sin, so that by his blood he could open the way to the tree of life for God’s people.

As the light that shines in the darkness, he offers eternal life with God in glory for all those who forsake their dark ways and trust in him. Eternal life with God is not something we have to earn, it is gift offered to all who repent and believe. The Word came to provide for his people; he is the life that was the light of men.