John 1:4 Commentary and Bible Study

Christ is the fountain of life and light, the source of all life, all forms of life – animal life also, but that is not what is mind here. It is specifically the life of men that is mentioned: human, conscious life. He is the source of life, working from the lowest upwards: the life of the soul, and the conscience, and consciousness. Spiritual life also, if we have been given it, comes from Christ – eternal life.The light of men includes first what is distinctive to man, because from Christ comes what is distinctive in the human being – the power of reason and rationality. He did not give it to the animals, but he gave it to the only creature made in his image. In addition to that, in includes spiritual instincts which are given to every man – that inner instinct that we are created beings and there is a God on high, that inner instinct that there is life beyond the grave, eternal life. These are curious instincts, which in our foolishness we actually prefer to supress and to get rid of altogether, if we can. But those instincts are given to us by Christ as just flickerings of light in our darkened soul. If there is a work of grace in our heart, we also receive spiritual life and light.Christ is the author of it all; it is inherent in him. He is the fountain of life, the channel of life; all life flows from him. ‘And the life was the light of men.’ Well, what light do men have? Well certainly the power of reason, certainly instincts from God; that much is given to all men and women by Christ.