And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not

John 1:5

Explain:

The light metaphor continues and includes here the idea of darkness.  The life of the Word lit up mankind.  Those who believed became lights.  Many of those who did not believe saw that light.  They were able to see it, but they were not able to overtake it.  Satan and his demons are well described by the word “darkness”.  He is the present ruler of this world as we see in Ephesians 2:2.

Ephesians 2:2

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Those who killed Jesus were a part of the world system that was used to fight against what God was doing through Jesus.  We know that the demonic world was against Jesus.  Religious leaders on what would have been considered the conservative and liberal sides of the theological spectrum fought against Jesus and hated giving up there rule.  The Roman world and system was used to try and convict him on false charges.  The darkness of that time is not insignificant.  

The word “comphrended” means “to lay hold of” or “seize”, “to overtake” or “overcome”.   Light overtakes darkness.  Darkness does not overtake Iight.

In southern Missouri there are chances that I’ve had to go into caves.  I remember at times where we would be so far underground that they’d turn off the lights. The darkness  would be so substantial.  No light from above was getting to us. We would wave our hands in front of our faces and see absolutely nothing.  Then they would turn on one single bulb at the far end of this monumental cave. The brightness of it in contrast to the dark was pretty amazing.  

The Word, Jesus Christ, was the light of the world, and as much as the darkness wanted to overtake Him,. In trying to do so they did not extinguish the flame, but aided unwittingly in its spread even til this very day.

Application:

“You can bury the workman, but the work will go on.”

In Jesus’ case, the workman got up out of the grave, and became a quickening Spirit.

“The blood of the martyrs watered the ground that grew the church.”

When we act as light, even in the midst of persecution, the darkness is not able to overcome the message and mission of God.  

1 Corinthians 15:57

57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.Response:

Response

Boldness.  Spine.  Steadfastness.  Un-moveableness.  Abounding in the work of the Lord.