Light in the Darkness: Would We Recognize Him Today?

"In the beginning was the Word..." The Gospel of John opens with this powerful echo of Genesis, immediately establishing Jesus not as a mere historical figure, but as the eternal Word of God. Unlike other Gospel accounts that begin with Jesus's birth or baptism, John takes us back before time itself to reveal Christ's divine nature.

In this episode, we explore how John uses profound metaphors to help us understand Jesus at His core - as the Word, the Light that overcomes darkness, and Life itself. Rather than simply a teacher of good principles, Jesus is presented as the very source and embodiment of life, the creator through whom all things were made.

We also meet John the Baptist, that "not normal cat" who lived in the wilderness eating locusts and honey, fearlessly speaking truth to everyone from ordinary people to kings. His singular mission was to prepare the way for Jesus, and when questioned about his identity, he humbly defines himself as "a voice crying in the wilderness" pointing others toward Christ.

The calling of the first disciples reveals something remarkable about Jesus's presence. Andrew, Peter, Philip, and Nathanael all recognize Him as the promised Messiah, even before fully understanding His mission. Their recognition raises a challenging question for us today: Would we recognize Jesus if He came now? Would we see past our preconceptions to identify the divine Light standing before us?

The greatest lesson from this passage isn't just understanding Jesus's identity or John's mission - it's responding to the same simple invitation Jesus offered His first followers: "Come and see" and "Follow me." This call remains available to each of us today, inviting us on the greatest adventure possible - following Jesus wherever He leads.

The Bible isn’t just an old book—it’s God’s story, and it’s still alive today. His Story takes you chapter by chapter through Scripture, combining simple readings of God’s Word with prayer for every listener and occasional reflections on what the passage means for our lives right now.

Whether you’re brand new to the Bible or have been reading it for years, this podcast is a space to slow down, hear God’s Word spoken, and be reminded that His story is also our story.

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction to His Story
• 1:49 Reading John Chapter 1
• 7:15 Jesus as Word, Light and Life
• 9:18 John the Baptist's Role
• 9:58 Jesus Calls His First Disciples
• 12:42 Would We Recognize Jesus Today?

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:02

Welcome to His Story, a journey through the greatest story of all time. I'm Trey, and today we begin in. The Gospel of John begins with, in the beginning, echoing Genesis showing Jesus as the eternal Word. John emphasizes Christ's divinity and distinct personhood. He lifts our eyes to see Jesus as eternal Word, light and Life. What does Word mean? Why light versus darkness? What comfort does light overcoming darkness give? Let's jump in and get to work. Father, we thank you for this day that you have made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. We thank you for your word that you've given us, that we may read it and know you and learn your ways. God, I pray that today's reading would speak deeply to every one of us, that it would draw us closer to yourself, help us to understand who you are and what you would have for us. May the truth of today's reading dwell deeply in our hearts. In Jesus' name we pray Amen. Amen. In Jesus' name we pray Amen.

Speaker 1: 1:49

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him and without Him was not anything made. That was made In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to bear witness about the light that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world and the world was made through him. Yet the world did not know him. He came to his own and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the word became flesh and dwelt among us. And we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness about him and cried out. This was he of whom I said. He who comes after me ranks before me because he is before me, for from his fullness we have all received grace upon grace, for the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, the only God who is at the Father's side. He has made Him known, and this is the testimony of John.

Speaker 1: 3:34

When the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him who are you? He confessed and did not deny, but confessed I am not the Christ. And they asked him what then? Are you Elijah? He said I am not. Are you the prophet? And he answered no. So they said to him who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself? He said I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness Make straight the way of the Lord, as the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him and why are you baptizing if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet? John answered them I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he, who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.

Speaker 1: 4:27

These things took place in Bethany, across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me. I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water that he might be revealed to Israel. And John bore witness. I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me he on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit, and I have seen and have bore witness that this is the Son of God.

Speaker 1: 5:16

The next day again, john was standing with two of his disciples and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said Behold the Lamb of God. The two disciples heard him say this and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them what are you seeking? And they said to him Rabbi, which means teacher, where are you staying? He said to them Come and you will see. So they came and saw where he was staying and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.

Speaker 1: 5:46

One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, simon, peter's brother. He first found his own brother, simon, and said to him we have found the Messiah, which means Christ. He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said you are Simon, the son of John. You shall be called Cephas, which means Peter.

Speaker 1: 6:07

The next day, jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him Follow me. Now, philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him we have found him, of whom Moses and the law and also the prophets wrote Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. Nathanael said to him Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him Come and see Jesus. Saw Nathanael said to him Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him Come and see Jesus. Saw Nathanael coming toward him and said to him Behold an Israelite, indeed, in whom there is no deceit. Nathanael said to him how do you know me? Jesus answered him Before Philip called you when you were under the fig tree. I saw you. Nathanael answered him Rabbi, you are the son of God, you are the king of Israel. Jesus answered him because I said to you I saw you under the fig tree. Do you believe? You will see greater things than these? And he said to him, truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the son of man.

Speaker 1: 7:15

John starts here with Jesus' eternal identity, not just his earthly ministry, and he uses words to help us understand who Jesus is at his core being. He's light that overcomes the darkness. He's life and his life was the light of men. He's the creator. He created all of these things and he is the word. He is the established, eternal word of truth. John Piper says that Christ is not just a teacher, he is life itself. In other places in John, he says that I am the way, the truth and the life. He also says that I have come, that they may have abundant life. He is the source of life, he is the creator of life and he is life itself.

Speaker 1: 8:09

And then when you start to read about John the Baptist, this strange character which, as you read more through the gosp, you start to understand he was not a normal cat. He lived in the wilderness, he ate locusts and honey, he was not afraid to offend, he was not afraid to speak the truth, whether it be to regular Joes walking down the trail, or whether it be to one of the rulers or kings or the authorities. And his role was clear he came to pave the way, to be a messenger, to let people know that Jesus was coming, that he was coming to fulfill the prophecies that were written in Isaiah, and he did his job incredibly well. And so we see the theme of John the Baptist speaking to leaders, talking about who he is, and his conclusion is he says I am he who is coming to be a voice of one crying out in the wilderness to make straight the way of the Lord, basically saying hey, look up and straighten up, because Jesus is coming. Because Jesus is coming. Chuck Swindoll says the theme of witness is central, faith is public and Jesus is about to enter into his public ministry.

Speaker 1: 9:31

There's a lot more that goes on in the chapter, most importantly, as Jesus calls his first disciples. In these accounts, john shares minimal details surrounding how he called them, especially with Andrew and Peter. You'll read more about that in other Gospels when we get there. You can look that up on your own as well. As when he calls Philip and Nathaniel, and in this case all four of them recognize that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, the promised one, the one who was to come. They didn't fully understand it, and we'll get to that more later, but they recognized him.

Speaker 1: 10:10

And I often wonder if Jesus came today, would we recognize him? Would we understand who he is? Sometimes that answer may seem a little scary, that maybe we wouldn't recognize him. We might miss it too. In the last verse, verse 51, he promises Nathanael specifically, but the disciples who are standing around, that they will see greater things than these. He says truly. Truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the son of man. What would that have been like? They had a crazy future ahead of them. They didn't know what was coming, but they at least recognized him and they were willing to follow.

Speaker 1: 11:02

And for me that's, the biggest lesson from this chapter is even beyond understanding who Jesus is at his core, who John the Baptist is, what his mission was, jesus calling his first disciples. The biggest lesson for me is would we recognize him? Would we see him for who he truly is? My hope and prayer today is that, as you come in contact with Jesus, the risen King, through his Holy Spirit, that you would recognize him and that you would make the same decision that those disciples made when Jesus said follow me. And that's the call that's still available to us today is to follow him Wherever he leads, whatever that means.

Speaker 1: 11:53

It's time to go on adventure and go find out. Let's pray, god. Thank you for today and for this passage in John that you've given us. It helps us to understand more about Jesus, about John the Baptist and his mission, and the beautiful call that Jesus had to his first disciples to simply follow him and to learn from him. May we do the same, god. Thank you so much for this day that you've given us. Thank you for your constant provision for our lives. In Jesus' name, we pray Amen. In our next episode, dropping Wednesday, we'll pick up the story in Genesis, chapter 1, and see how creation points forward to the word in John 1. Until next time, remember. Jesus wrote the greatest story ever told, and that includes loving you and me completely. See you next time.