⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:4-5, NIV)

I have this text in mind as I read through the life of Bonhoeffer. Currently, I am searching out the opinions of those scholars who believed Bonhoeffer was only “assassin-adjacent,” so to speak, along with those who had the somewhat popular belief that Bonhoeffer was in the thick of it with assassinating Hitler.

Bonhoeffer challenges me because his life is a sobering reminder that prophets can die young and worthwhile movements don’t always become worthwhile movements. These are sobering reminders for me.

The Confessing Church that tried to defy Hitler early on eventually capitulated to Hitler’s Nazi Party. Bonhoeffer himself was dead by 39, killed by the government he opposed.

So, I hold that in “light” of the passage from the Gospel of John.

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.

Darkness doesn’t win. You can’t “turn on” darkness and make light go away. Light wins. Darkness does not.

Bonhoeffer “lost”… but didn’t lose.

Even following World War II, Communism rose and seemed to snuff out the light of the Church in many parts of Europe. Yet, the Church didn’t crumble.

There are times it looks genuinely dark. And we need the reminder:

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.

Don’t miss what God is doing. Do not give up. Find his light and let it cast aside darkness all around you.