John 1:1-5 | “The Light of Men” [ Christ Has Come ]
[John] Christ Has Come • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 22 views“In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.” John 1:4 (NASB 95) Sunday, December 10, 2023. John 1:1-5 | "The Light of Men." Preached to Heritage Bible Chapel in Princeton, MA. This sermon begins an exposition through the Prologue of John for the Advent/Christmas season called “Christ Has Come.” Preaching Manuscript: https://sermons.logos.com/sermons/1220875-john-1:1-5-or-%22the-light-of-men%22
Notes
Transcript
The Reading
The Reading
A reading from John 1:1-5, reading from the New American Standard Bible 95 translation:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
This is God’s Word, Amen.
Introduction
Introduction
During this season of Advent and Christmas, we at Heritage Bible Chapel preach and hear the Christmas story as told by one of the four Gospel accounts - Matthew, Mark, Luke or John.
This year, our focus is on the Prologue of John’s Gospel, which is the first 18 verses.
We plan to preach these 18 verses beginning now through Christmas Sunday, in a series of sermons called “Christ Has Come.”
“Christ Has Come.”
That is a truth each Gospel account testifies to, yet each Gospel account, while proclaiming the same message, begins with a different starting place in time.
John, for example, does not begin with the birth of Jesus (as Matthew and Luke do), or the baptism of Jesus and start of his public ministry (as Mark does).
John takes us all the way back to the beginning, and further back than that, to reveal that Jesus is not a created being that came into existence as a baby in a manger,
but Jesus is God from eternity, the Word that was in the beginning, through whom all things were made, that became flesh and dwelled among us.
And this means that we are not just to believe that Jesus is a man, but that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
As with all of Scripture, John has a purpose for what he writes, as inspired by the Holy Spirit.
For context, John 20:30-31 tells us this purpose:
30 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
The purpose of this Gospel is for all who hear, to believe and have life in the name of Jesus — who is the Christ, the Son of God.
ALL that the Bible says in the Gospel of John, it says about Jesus.
First,
I. Jesus is the Word (1-2).
I. Jesus is the Word (1-2).
John 1:1 (NASB 95)
1 In the beginning was the Word…
These words “in the beginning” are the first words of the Bible.
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.
3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
Genesis 1:4 (NASB 95)
4 God saw that the light was good; …
When John’s Gospel begins with the words “In the beginning,” what beginning is John writing about?
Well, the words “In the beginning” cannot refer to the beginning of God, for God has no beginning.
God is eternal.
2 Before the mountains were born Or You gave birth to the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
The words “In the beginning” cannot refer to the beginning of God, so John’s Gospel is taking us back to the beginning which is Creation.
A Creation that came into existence when God spoke.
John 1:1 (NASB 95)
1 In the beginning was the Word...
At the creation of the heavens and the earth:
A. The Word was (1a).
That is, “the Word already was.”
I. Jesus is the Word (2-3)
A. The Word exists from eternity (1a).
…BEFORE the heavens and the earth were made.
In the Greek language, this verb “was” is not an event for the past only. Rather, this verb “was” communicates something that exists continuously.
The Word WAS God continuously (GCM, TGJ, 21-22).
Arius was a third century heretic who believed: “there was a time when the Son (of God) was not.”
The Bible teaches that there NEVER was a time when the Son was not.
Jesus is the Word that WAS in the beginning, already existing when the heavens and earth were created.
John 1:1 (NASB 95)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God...
I. Jesus is the Word (2-3)
A. The Word exists from eternity (1a).
B. The Word exists from eternity in communion with God (1b).
Being “with God,” the Word is a person of God, existing eternally with God in perfect fellowship and communion.
The phrase translated “with God” in this verse presents equality and intimacy.
The Word and God were “face to face with each other” (Robertson, WP).
So that when John later says in verse 14, “the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us,” we are to understand that the Word that came was with God and came from God (source? REC?).
But not only is the Word with God, and not only did the word come from His eternal existence with God, but —
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
I. Jesus is the Word (2-3)
A. The Word exists from eternity (1a).
B. The Word exists from eternity in communion with God (1b).
C. The Word exists from eternity as a person of God (1c).
In this first verse, John tells us of the Word’s eternity, proximity, and now unity with God.
C. The Word was God (1c).
The Word shares the same nature as God, co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, possessing the same attributes and perfections yet carrying out a distinct office (from HBC SOF).
The Word shares the very life of God (NCCS).
When God created man, he says something interesting in Genesis 1:26:
Genesis 1:26 (NASB 95)
26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; …
Who is Us? Who is Our?
John answers: Jesus was there.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
I. Jesus is the Word (2-3)
D. The Word as a person of God existing in communion with God from eternity was present at Creation (2).
The Word is not a thing, it is a person.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
Verse two seems repetitive, but it is here for more than repetition.
Having established that the Word exists from eternity, in communion with God from eternity, as a person of God from eternity,
John now bring us back to the beginning, to creation, as a way to prepare us for the new Creation God is making through His Son, Jesus the Christ.
And this leads us to the believe that:
II. Jesus is Life (3-4a).
II. Jesus is Life (3-4a).
First, Jesus is life for all created things.
3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
John does not say all things were created BY Him, but THROUGH Him.
This means that what we confess in the creeds is true — God the Father is the Creator.
“I believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth” (Apostles’ Creed)
And God the Father creates through God the Son, the Word.
II. Jesus is Life (3-4a).
A. God created the heavens and the earth through the person of God the Word (3a).
And notice verse 3 does not say “Creation WAS” but:
John 1:3 (NASB 95)
3 All things came into being through Him . . .
There was a time when all things WERE not, and then they CAME INTO BEING (they became) — all things were CREATED or MADE.
The Word of verse 1 WAS.
Jesus WAS - He was not created.
But the WORLD came into being. The world was created. The world was made.
John 1:3 tells us that when the heavens and the earth were created, they were created by God through the Word.
And this means that when God acts the Word acts too.
So when Jesus acts, He is performing the acts not of man, but the acts of God.
Verse 3 —
3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
The last part of verse 3 is not only speaking about the creation of the heavens and the earth in the beginning (what CAME into being)
BUT ALSO the creation that exists now, what (HAS COME into being), and what testifies now to the glory of our Creator God.
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
What has been created by God through the Word, is also SUSTAINED by God through the same Word, and all of Creation bears testimony to this truth (so that humanity is without excuse).
II. Jesus is Life (3-4a).
A. God created the heavens and the earth through the person of God the Word (3a).
B. All created things exist through the person of God the Word (3b).
Nothing is excepted.
Everything and everyone owes their existence to Jesus (source? REC?).
Let me make it personal —
YOU owe your existence to Jesus (even if you don’t believe Him).
You have life because of Him.
Verse 4 says —
4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
II. Jesus is Life (3-4a).
C. Life exists from eternity in the person of God the Word (4a).
The question is asked today: “When does life begin?”
People who call themselves “pro-life” say that life begins at conception, in the womb.
People who call themselves “pro-choice” say that life begins at brith.
People who call themselves “pro-Jesus” must say that life begins before the womb, before conception, before Creation — life begins with the eternal Word.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
And so at what point does a baby begin to live?
At what point does a baby become more than flesh, but becomes a living being with a soul and spirit?
Is this not what the Incarnation answers for us, brothers and sisters?
There is never a time where that creation is not life, for Jesus is life.
Did Jesus become the Son of God at the moment He was born of Mary in the flesh?
NO! Jesus was the Son of God in the beginning. The WORD WAS. . . from eternity, in communion with God.
And the WORD BECAME flesh.
The WORD was always alive, because “In Him was life.”
And so it is, that life exists in Jesus before life takes on flesh.
The LORD says of Jeremiah the prophet, in Jer 1:5 —
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Life exists from eternity in the person of God the Word (4a).
Think of this from the other end of life’s spectrum, not from a person’s birth, but a person’s death.
When a human being is placed on life support, a machine that keeps the body breathing and the heart beating -
The question is this: Is that person alive? Is that person living?
Once again, that’s the wrong question.
Because life only exists in Jesus Christ.
If that person is in Jesus Christ, that person is alive, even if they die.
If that person is not in Jesus Christ, that person is dead, even though they live!!!
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,
26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Life is not only something physical.
Life is ALSO something eternal.
To make it personal again — YOU are eternal.
You are created in the image of God, as an eternal being.
And you have an eternal destiny.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
II. Jesus is Life (3-4a).
C. Life exists from eternity in the person of God the Word (4a).
D. The life of the person of God the Word is Light for humanity (4b).
The imagery shifts from Word and Creation and Life now to Light.
The life of Jesus is Light for humanity.
III. Jesus is the Light of Men (4b-5).
III. Jesus is the Light of Men (4b-5).
What was the first act of creation when the heavens and earth were made?
2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.
3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
The first act of Creation was Light shining forth into the darkness.
The first act of NEW CREATION is also light shining forth into the darkness.
Genesis 1 tells us of the Old Creation.
John 1 tells us of the New Creation.
And it is a New Creation whereby God brings eternal life through shining light —
not just into the chaos and darkness of the cosmos—
but into the chaos and darkness of human existence, of human hearts.
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
III. Jesus is the Light of Men (4b-5)
A. The life of the person of God the Word is Light for humanity (4b).
There is something special about human beings in all Creation.
Human beings are the only beings at Creation who were made in God’s image.
Human beings are the only beings at Creation with a spirit to commune with God’s Spirit.
It is to humanity that the Light which is the life of the eternal Word is given.
It is humanity that the Light which is the life of the eternal Word assumed, by taking on flesh.
This Light is the gospel, eternal life, new creation — this Light is Jesus.
12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
To humanity God sends the eternal Word, the life, the light.
And yet human beings do something that the rest of Creation does not do —
human beings, unlike the rest of Creation, reject the shining light.
19 This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.
Against this imagery of Light, is imagery of darkness.
And darkness represents sin and evil —evil deeds.
Just as the cosmos was dark when God spoke “Let there be light,” so too humanity is in darkness when the light comes.
Every one of us is born a sinner, it is part of our DNA.
Because Adam sinned, and Eve sinned, ALL sin and fall short of the glory of God.
All humanity is in darkness.
All humanity needs a Savior.
And with Jesus, we behold our Savior and Lord.
John 1:5 (NASB 95)
5 The Light shines in the darkness …
III. Jesus is the Light of Men (4b-5)
A. The life of the person of God the Word is Light for humanity (4b).
B. The Light which is the life of the person of God the Word continues to shine Light in the darkness (5a).
The Light shines.
The sun is our source of light on earth.
The sun is a star.
Did you know that stars die?
There is a time when a star, a sun, will die - and will cease to shine.
But the Light of God the Son does not stop shining.
And his light enlightens every man.
9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.
Every human has some light.
You are receiving light now as you hear this Gospel.
And you will be held accountable for what you do with that light.
Jesus said:
John 12:36 (NASB 95)
36 While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” …
5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
This may also be translated: “the darkness did not overcome it.”
This last phrase of verse 5 is difficult to translate and interpret because it can have two meanings.
It can mean: “the darkness did not comprehend” the Light.
OR,
It can mean: “the darkness did not overcome the Light”
With John, it is possible that both meanings are meant.
For the meaning of “comprehend” - It is true that without the illumination of the Holy Spirit, humanity cannot accept nor understand the things of God.
14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
It is true that without Jesus who is Himself the life and the Light, the Gospel is to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness.
A gospel without Jesus is no gospel - it has no power, it cannot save.
24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
We need Christ, so it is Christ whom we preach: the Word, the Life, and the Light.
5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
OR — “the darkness did not overcome it” —
This speaks of the victory of the Light over darkness.
III. Jesus is the Light of Men (4b-5)
B. The Light which is the life of the person of God the Word continues to shine Light in the darkness (5a).
C. The Light which is the life of the person of God the Word remains victorious over the darkness (5b).
The forces of evil did not conquer, when humanity rejected Jesus as the Son of God and nailed Him to a cross.
The forces of evil did not conquer, when Jesus spoke “It is finished”, having paid the sin debt we owed through His faithful life and death.
The forces of evil did not conquer when the body of Jesus was placed in the tomb.
55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;
57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The forces of evil did not conquer because on the third day, LIGHT burst forth from an empty dark tomb.
The Light of the world could not be extinguished by death.
God raised Jesus from the dead, and He LIVES as the eternal Word, the life, and the light of God.
We sing this time of year—
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Risen with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the new-born king"—
The Light of humanity that shines in the darkness is the eternal life of JESUS, the eternal Word of God through Whom all things were created and exist.
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, who entered into humanity as light of the new creation, offering eternal life for all who will believe and receive.
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
I ask us all —
Will we believe and receive Jesus, the Light of men?
*****
Outline of John 1:1-5
Outline of John 1:1-5
I. The Word, as a person of God existing in communion with God from eternity, was present when God created the heavens and the earth (1-2).
A. The Word was (1a).
B. The Word was with God (1b).
C. The Word was God (1c).
D. God the Word, was in the beginning with God (2).
II. Through Him, God made all created existence without exception. In Him was life that was the Light of humanity (3-4).
A. Through Him all things came into being (3a).
B. Apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being (3b).
C. In Him was life (4a).
D. The life was the Light of men (4b).
III. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend (or overpower) it (5).
A. The Light shines in the darkness (5a).
B. The darkness did not comprehend (or overpower) it (5b).
SUMMARY: The Light of humanity that shines in the darkness without being comprehended (or overcome) was the life of the Word, God from eternity, through Whom all created things exist.
Questions
Questions
a) What is the stated purpose of John’s gospel? (John 20:30-31).
b) Read Genesis 1:1-4a and John 1:1-5. Discuss similarities and differences.
c) How many times does John 1:1-5 use the verb “was”? List and discuss what is said (and meant) with each usage.
d) How might John 1:3-4 be used in conversations concerning the sanctity of human life? (Psalm 139:13-14; Jeremiah 1:5).
e) How should Christians think (and speak) about death?
f) Read 2 Corinthians 5:17. Meditate on the incarnation and the new creation.
g) How does John 1:1-5 exhort us to act?