fferent aspects of this relationship are mentioned, that the
blindness of the rejecters may more distinctly be seen. First, he says,
although the very light that was in man was derived from the Word, and
it was by His endowment they had any power lo recognise what was
illuminating and helpful to their spiritual nature, they yet shut their
eyes to the source of light when presented in the Word Himself. "The
life was the light of men.... And the light shineth in darkness, and the
darkness apprehended it not." This is the general statement of the
universal experience of the Eternal Word, and it is illustrated in His
incarnate experience summarily related in verses 10 and 11. Again: "He
was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him
not." So little had men understood the source of their own being, and so
little had they learned to know the significance and purpose of their
existence, that when their Creator came they did not recognise Him. And
thirdly, even the narrow and carefully-trained circle of the Jews failed
to recognise Him; "He came unto His own"--to everything which had
pointedly and of set purpose spoken of Him, and could not have existed
but to teach His character--"and His own received Him not."

1. "The light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it
not." As yet John has said nothing of the Incarnation, and is speaking
of the Word in His eternal or pre-incarnate state. And one thing he
desires to proclaim regarding the Word is, that although it is from Him
every man has such light as he has, yet this light is commonly rendered
useless, and is not cherished. As it is from the Word, from God's
uttered will, that all men have life, so it is from the same source that
all the light which is in reason and in conscience is derived. Before
the Word appeared in the world, and shone out as the true light (ver.
9), He was in all rational creatures as their life and light, imparting
to men a sense of right and wrong, and shining in their heart with some
of the brightness of a Divine presence. This sense of a connection with
God and eternity, and this moral faculty, although cherished by some,
were commonly not "comprehended." Evil deeds have been suffered to
darken conscience, and it fails to admit the true light.

2. "He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world
knew Him not." When our Lord came to earth the heathen world was mainly
represented by the Roman Em