“In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. Nothing exists that he did not make. Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone. The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. The Word became flesh; he made his home among us and we saw his glory, such glory as befits the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.”

This is the story of that almost unbelievable humbling of God when the Redeemer came down from heaven and lived life as a man. He was born in a human body, of Jewish descent of the royal line of David about 2000 years ago in Bethlehem, Israel. This humility is beyond human understanding, but the limitations of space and time put a picture frame around the radiance of God so we can look at it without being blinded. We must look at it so we know why he would do this, and because the picture in the frame is the most important image we will ever see.

People had forgotten what God looked like. In the beginning when God made man and woman, the Creator was the center of their lives. Adam and Eve enjoyed his company, loved and worshipped him of their own free will. They were happy. Then came the greatest tragedy of human history. The First Pair turned away from their Creator, disobeyed him, chose evil, and sin and death entered the world.

To save humankind from this eternal death, God once again walked among his people, this time as a man of flesh and blood to show the love of God to a new generation. This great showing forth and deliverance was accomplished in the person of Jesus Christ. He is the visible image of the invisible God! The Trinity is beyond our understanding, but all we need to know is God loves us and sacrificed his own Son to make things right, so that once again we may have fellowship as his children. We also have the power of choice. We need not look at him and love him unless we want to. We need not turn from ourselves to him unless we choose, but if we have once looked at him, even though we can see him only dimly, we find we can’t do anything else but try our very hardest to put him in the center of our lives.

The Four Gospels were not intended to be a biography of Jesus of Nazareth, but put together in chronological order, it is truly the greatest story ever told. Each author had a specific theme and slightly different approach, but all Gospels were written to confirm that Jesus was the Messiah and Son of God, and salvation was through Christ only.

Matthew wrote his Gospel to Jewish Christians presenting Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah. In John’s Gospel, the Son’s relationship with the Father is revealed in extended discourses, and in miraculous signs proving his divinity and mission. Mark’s was the first to be written (as interpreted from Peter), and both Matthew and Luke revised and expanded Mark’s version; these three are referred to as the Synoptic Gospels. Luke’s Gospel continues with the Book of Acts.

Light of Life harmonizes the Four Gospels and Acts of the Apostles into one exciting easy-to-read story, full of drama, intrigue, sorrow, and joy, building to a powerful conclusion. The book is arranged in order of events from Jesus’ miraculous birth, life of teaching and healing, and his powerful redemption and resurrection. But the story doesn’t end there—it is only the beginning! At Pentecost, Christ’s Spirit returned to indwell all believers with his wisdom and power that enabled them to carry on his work throughout the world.

Continuing scenes paint with words as well as pictures while remaining true to the actual Bible text. There are some additional descriptive details, dialogue, and commentary that bring the story to life, enabling you to picture each scene and understand what it truly means. People come alive in your imagination as you are transported back in time with all the drama of a historical novel or movie. Christ’s positive words inspire your soul, and the eyes of your heart are opened to the innermost workings of our awesome God on earth!