Garry spoke from John 1:1-5 on Christmas Day, looking at Christ’s role as illuminator and revelator. Jesus came to reveal what God is like, firstly to the Jews (who might have been expected to know so much about God, given their rich history of encounters with Him, but whose ideas also needed challenging and reforming) and ultimately to all people.

Naturally speaking, all life comes from other life; we cannot generate life from no life and that which is not alive (or has died) cannot produce new life. God, however, is capable of bringing life from death (see Ezek 37:15, 9-10). Jesus holds the keys of death and Hades (Rev 1:18); God, as first cause, is the spring from which all life comes (see John 5:26). God who is the life is also the illuminator, the One who lights up the darkness (see also Eph 4:17-18). The darkness discussed there is like the hardening of a callus which renders us insensitive to God, but Christ’s light shines into hearts and brings life and knowledge to all, re-awakening hearts that were dead in transgressions and sin and illuminating minds that were unable to perceive all God has done.

revelator