Sun. 6.20 — John 1:5,6

John 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Note the tenses. The light shines; linear rather than punctilier.

darkness = past tense

The light shines and has always been shining, even before Christ.

comprehend = not understand, but apprehend, lay hold of, grasp.

Light and dark coexist;

Since the Fall, mankind has shut out the light and will not be ruled by it. As the Apostle Paul says, man is enmity with God (Rom_8:7).

Only the light of Jesus Christ can bring life to those who are dead in trespasses and sins.

2 Corinthians 4:4-6 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (5) For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. (6) For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

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John 1:6-13

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John

Contrast with v. 1, where the divinity of Christ is stated. Here the humanity (and non-divinity) of John is stated. "There was a man."

The events surrounding John's nativity are found in Luke1:5-25

in which John’s miraculous birth and purpose for living are foretold;

Luke1:39-45, which records the visit of the Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth who was then six months pregnant and

Luke1:57-80 which records the fact of John’s birth and his father’s prophecy concerning him.

The events of his ministry are summarized in Matthew 3:1-17 and Luke 3:1-22

His dress and diet in Matthew 3:4