John 1:4 expresses, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” We do not have a fundamental understanding of Jesus without considering the profound statement, “in Him was life.”
The word “life” appears in the New Testament 192 times — 47 times in the book of John alone — but the idea of life begins in Genesis — the beginning.
To say “in Him was life” and not address creation ignores John 1:1-3:
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 nothing was made that was made.
In Genesis 2:7 we read, “And Yahweh God ( or Elohiym Yahweh) formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”
Since we know that “all things were made through [Jesus] and without Him nothing was made” (John 1:3) We can infer that Jesus breathed life into Adam inasmuch as the Father did. In fact, Jesus is involved in the creation of all life making the statement “in Him was life” an observation, in part, of His role in creation.
What’s more, 1 Corinthians 15:45 looks back to Genesis 2:7 and says, “the first man Adam became a living being. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.” Paul continues in 1 Corinthians, but we understand that “the last Adam” is Jesus, “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn (or pre-eminent) over all creation.” Colossians 1:15
As regards the phrase, “life-giving spirit,” it is understood that this is used to differentiate between the mere mortal Adam and the Divine Jesus. After all, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24
Let’s explore for a little bit now, how Jesus embodies this phrase “in Him was life” …
He was born of a virgin
Though Jesus is from before time and was not “born” in the greater sense, He did come to earth as a mortal and was born of a virgin woman. You might say He took up His own life.
This is nearly what John is saying in 1 John 1:2 — consider 1 John 1:1-4:
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life — the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
John says “the life was manifested.” If we were to say anything manifested, we would be saying it appeared. This is exactly what happened. Mary did not have sexual relations, she was a virgin. Matthew quotes Isaiah 7:14 when in Matthew 1:23 he records “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
The Angel Gabriel gave this news to Mary, “You will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.” Luke 1:31
All this is to say, Jesus was born without human influence. He became alive in the womb of Mary and was born. Jesus is the I AM — He is the one who has always been alive — In Him was Life.
He took up His own life after death
Just as He was essentially born on His own, He took His life back up after His crucifixion.
Jesus died and was in the tomb from Friday evening until Sunday morning (Matthew 27:57-28:6). There is no question that He was dead. The Roman soldiers pierced His side to see that it was so (John 19:33-34).
In Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24 and John 20 we learn of His empty tomb and then we see the disciples begin to see Him alive again.
Never in the 6000+ years of human history, either before or after, has anyone else come back to life by his own power. Only the I AM could accomplish this — only Jesus. In Him was Life!
He brought others back to life again
There are three specific examples of Jesus bringing the dead back to life: the widow’s son at Nain (Luke 7:11-17), Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:21-43), and Lazarus (John 11:1-44).
The greatest of these events and most like His own resurrection was that of Lazarus. The Scriptures record that he lay in the tomb four days — one day longer than Jesus. It might be easy to dismiss one being carried out of his house in a coffin or a girl recently dead on her bed as only appearing dead. People have been mistaken for dead and even buried alive. Though the widow’s son and Jairus’ daughter were certainly dead, Lazarus was dead by anyone’s standards. His sister Martha said, “Lord, by this time there is a stench.”
Just a little earlier in the narrative of this event, Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26
Who could give life to those who had died but Jesus? In Him was Life!
Life …
As we have noted the voluminous use of the word “life” in the New Testament and specifically the book of John, we ought to consider a few of them.
Paul teaches that “[Christ] has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” 2 Timothy 1:10
John shares in John 5:21 and 26
“For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.” — “For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself.”
We have already noted one of Jesus’ “I AM” statements, as He spoke to Martha in John 11, here are two more:
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6
And Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” John 6:35
Jesus knew full well that in Him was life, in John 10:10 He said, “… I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
- Jesus was born without human influence
- Jesus took up His own life again
- Jesus gave life to the dead
He did these things, YES! But in light of these things, John 1:4 speaks to even more …– A promise of life that is found only in Him!!
Eternal Life
Listen to John 10:27-28, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”
In Him was life. In Jesus there is ETERNAL life!!
We noted that Jesus, in John 11:25, bringing Lazarus back to life gave one of His “I AM” statements, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Actually, there was more to the conversation — John 11:20-27:
Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
Surely, Jesus was letting Martha know that he would give Lazarus back his physical life, but He was saying so much more!!
Jesus didn’t come into the world to bring people back to life. He brought people back to life to show that He and only He could give us ETERNAL life!
Earlier we read that Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6
If anyone hopes for eternal life, it comes through Jesus and Him alone.
Now give notice to 1 John 5:9-13:
If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
Verses 11-12 are the heart of this passage: “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
When in John 1:4 we read, “In Him was life, John clearly informs us, if we are looking for life and life everlasting, we need to look no further than Jesus. In fact, looking anywhere else would be futile!!
In Him — and in Him alone — is life!