John 1.1-5:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) He was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (4) In him was life, and the life was the light of men. (5) The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (ESV)
The above five verses are the first paragraph of what is referred to as the prologue of John’s gospel. The prologue is verses 1-18. A skilled preacher could preach quite a number of sermons from these verses. I want to emphasize two truths for application. Firstly, these five verses establish that Jesus Christ is fully, absolutely God. We can go infinitely backwards in time and Jesus was alive as God, even before eternity past. Secondly, Jesus is identified by John as the light. This is in keeping with the statement of Jesus in John 8.12 where He says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Darkness can be defined as forces, spiritual forces, and ideas that are opposed to the truth and holiness of God. Darkness is in opposition and at war with Jesus. Darkness seeks to overcome Jesus, but it is not able. Jesus is the Light and light wins over darkness. When I was about ten years old my family visited the cave complex in New Mexico known as the Carlsbad Caverns. When the tour guide had taken all of the touring party deep down into the main cave, we paused and the lights in the cave were turned off. I learned the meaning of absolute, total darkness right then and there. Even after my eyes had adjusted to the darkness, I still could not see my hand right in front of my eyes. Then the tour guide lit one match. In an instant the cave became quite illuminated. The light shined in the darkness, and the darkness was not able to overcome the light. That one match won the battle with the darkness.