Let Your Light so SHINE...
Journey Through the Gospel of John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Introduction
Christmas lights
We have learned that Christ is Logos, Life, and Light. We ended with last week’s verse.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Now, it seems the Holy Spirit abruptly changes subject.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
He turns our attention from Logos who is the God of the Universe, the Genesis of all life, and the Generator of true light to a mere mortal man named John. Note that John, a human contrasted to Deity, was sent from God. Logos, the ultimate communication of God to the World, sent another communicator ahead of Himself. His name was John. As we know, John the Baptist came into this world in a miraculous way. However, the miracle of John the Baptist’s birth was a much different miracle than Christ’s birth. John, as we know from reading the Gospel accounts, was born to Zacharias and Elisabeth. Elisabeth was Mary’s cousin. Mary being the mother of the Lord Jesus Christ. Zacharias and Elisabeth were in a similar situation as Abraham and Sarah. Note the depiction of their circumstances in Luke 1:5-7
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
As the story goes, an angel of the Lord appeared to Zacharias, who was priest in the Temple, while he was ministering before the Lord in the Temple. The angel informed Zacharias that he would soon be a father. As with most people, Zacharias questioned God’s plans and, as a result, God caused him to remain speechless until the time of John’s birth. Sure enough, as God foretold, Elisabeth conceived and bore a baby boys to whom they gave the name, John. When they named the boy, God released Zacharias’ tongue and he was once again able to talk. Even though this was a miraculous birth (having a baby well past child-bearing years), it was nothing compared to the miraculous birth of our Lord. He was born of a virgin. There was no human father involved in Christ’s birth resulting in a holy birth of God in the flesh. However, in John’s case, both parents were human resulting an just another normal sinful human’s birth. The may seem a little demeaning, but the reality is John’s birth is nothing compared to the birth of our Savior. In fact, our text this morning speaks to the very fact and is the reason why I taking this approach.
You see John as “sent” by God. That is the point. John was a mere mortal sent by the God of the Universe for a purpose. John’s sole purpose was to be a “witness” of the True Light, Logos (the Lord Jesus Christ). As we consider John’s mission this morning, I believe God, the Light of the World, sheds light (illuminates) our minds to the fact that we, as believers, have the same mission as John. In fact, God the Holy Spirit through the inspiration of His Word here in John’s Gospel lays out the blueprint for witnessing. These verses are not an abrupt change of subject. Instead, they serve to underscore the significance and purpose of John’s mission which is the same for us today.
Here is my first point concerning God’s Blueprint for Witnessing.
The Holy Spirit gives...
A Sovereign Description of a Witness!
A Sovereign Description of a Witness!
Look at our text.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
Verse 7 gives us three key thoughts about our job as witnesses.’
A Witness Speaks the Truth and Nothing but the Truth!
A Witness Speaks the Truth and Nothing but the Truth!
The first is this. We, just as John, are sent by God to be a witness. Immediately after we accepted Christ as our Savior, we were called to be a witness for Christ. A witness is one who knows what to say and says what they know. A good witness does not offer any speculation or personal opinion, they simply speak the truth.
John the Baptist was a good example. He is the example offered to us in our text. He came for a “witness.” If we were to grade John on our understanding of a witness, what kind of grade would be given to him on a scale of 1 (the worst witness) to 10 (the perfect witness)? I believe the grade would fall some where between 8 and 9. Why is that? Let’s look at his testimony.
15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
Note that John does not point to himself. He only points to Christ. In doing so, the does not offer any speculation or opinion, he states the truth. Christ is “preferred” over John or any other man. Christ also existed long before John and even Adam, the first man.
19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.
Again, John is a great witness. He did not confess to be Christ, but in denying that he was not the Messiah attested to the fact the Messiah was coming.
26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;
27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
John once again did not offer opinion or speculation, but simply stated the truth. Christ, the Messiah (Logos, Life, and Light), was living among them and they did not know it. John also reverenced Christ above himself by stating that he was “not worthy to unloose” Christ’s shoes. Then, as we know, the very next day John sees Jesus approaching and proclaims to all who hear...
29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
I contend that John the Baptist was indeed a good witness. However, I also contend that he was not the perfect witness. Later, in his life as John was sitting in prison, he had his moment when even his faith wavered.
1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.
2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
John was good witness. Yet, John was still a mere sinful and weak human being like all of us. For this reason, I rate him on our scale as witness around an 8 or 9.
There is only one who has ever achieved a perfect score of a 10 as a witness.
The Lord Jesus Himself was the perfect witness. He was indeed Logos, God’s perfect and ultimate communication about Himself to man. In every way, Christ perfectly communicated the Father’s will for all men. He was the perfect witness. Even He spoke only the truth for He is truth. Even if offered His opinion it was God’s opinion for He is God. Thus, He was the perfect witness.
Here is my point! God expects each of us to be a witness for Him as well. In fact, He specifically sets apart each believer to be a witness for Him. Thus, as a witness, we must never offer our opinion or speculate on who we think God is or what we think God wants us to do. Instead, we are to simply speak the truth of His Word concerning the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus the exhortation of Ephesians 4:25 takes on a whole new meaning.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
We must determine that we are going to true witnesses of Christ through our words and deeds. Any action outside of that becomes a false witness. God has called us to be His witness. For that reason, we must “speak every man TRUTH with his neighbor.”
A Witness Aims to Bear Witness of the True Light!
A Witness Aims to Bear Witness of the True Light!
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
The true aim of each believer is always directed at showing Christ as the True Light. Just as it was for John the Baptist, so it is for us today. Our divine call from God is “bear witness of the Light.” John did. He specifically pointed out the fact that Christ was the Lamb of God who came to take away the sin of the world. Just before Christ ascended in Heaven, He gave us this command.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Later, one of Christ’s disciples, John through the Holy Spirit’s inspiration wrote...
1 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, of the Word of life;
2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
John was a great witness for Christ. He, like John the Baptist, testified to others that Christ was the “Word of life.” In fact, he specifically states that they also “bear witness” to Logos, Life, and Light. How could they bear witness of such? They personally say, looked, and handled the Word of Life. In doing so, they enjoyed personal fellowship with God of the Universe. May I say that if you have accepted Christ as your personal Savior, you too have a personal fellowship with the God of the Universe. You have personally experienced the Light and the Life that He brings to a spiriually dead and darkened soul. Now, it befalls upon you to fulfill your God ordained design to be a witness of all that you have experienced. We must shout from the rooftops that He, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the Light that lights the darkest life.
A Witness Purposes to Lead Others to Believe In Christ!
A Witness Purposes to Lead Others to Believe In Christ!
Believer, the moment you accepted Christ as Savior, God gave you a new purpose in life. Your only purpose is to glorify Him with your life. In other words, your entire life should testify to all that Christ has done and will do. It is not about us anymore. It is all about Him. Included in that purpose is goal of bring others to a saving faith in Him. John the Baptist had one message. It was repent of your sin and receive the Lamb of God. The message has not changed. John’s goal was to bring others to a believing and saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our goal is the same.
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
I think you get the point. I don’t mean to belabor it. We, as believers, are witnesses. It is our new DNA. We are new creatures created with a new aim and purpose. Our aim is to bear witness of the Light and our purpose is to bring others to believe.
Now go with me back to the text and note something really important which is our next point.
God’s Spectacular Depiction of Us as LAMPS!
God’s Spectacular Depiction of Us as LAMPS!
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
Later, in John 5:35, Christ gave the following description concerning John the Baptist. Note what He said about him.
35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
There is interesting play on words happening here. In our text, each time the Holy Spirit uses the word “light” concerning Christ it is word that means the source of illumination. A good example of this is our sun. The light we experience here on earth does not emanate from the earth. No, the source of our light is the sun. The sun itself produces light. Thus, Christ produces light. However, in John 5:35, when Christ referred to John as a “burning and shining light” the Holy Spirit uses a different word for “light.” In Greek, it is a word that literally means a lamp. Thus, Christ said that John was “burning and shining lamp.”
There is huge difference between the sun and a lamp. The sun produces light completely on its own. However, a lamp cannot produce light on its own. For a lamp to produce light it needs someone to light it. Now think about that for a moment. John was a lamp. The only way John produced any light was when he was lit by the true Light. Thus, the idea that God sent a man named John to be a witness ties in beautifully with the analogy of lamp. In the same way, we are lamps for Christ as well. However, we cannot produce any light in and of ourselves. In fact, the only thing we can produce is darkness.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
You want to be a child of light then you must turn to the source of light with the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember He is Logos, Life, and Light!
Here is another thing about lamps. Lamps are useful lighting the path before us. However, for them to be used they must be carried by someone. What another blessed thought! Our usefulness comes only when we allow the Lord to carry us. This leads us to the fact that our obedience to Christ and His Word is crucial. An obedient Christian becomes a useful instrument that the Lord can use to bring His light into the darkness of this world.
Here is one last thing about lamps before we move on. Lamps often burn out and cease to shine. Back in the day before electricity, lamps used candles or wicks drawing oil. The light of those lamps burned brightly but only for a short time. Eventually, the candles melted away or the oil ran out. The brevity of these lamps is reminder of the brevity of our life. Right now we must be burning brightly for the Lord. However, time is running out. We must work as witness of the True Light while we still have breath in this life.
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Let me conclude with this.
Conclusion
Conclusion
God has a structured design for witnessing. The Holy Spirit laid it our for us in our text today. In fact, one of the duties of the Holy Spirit is to illuminate our minds. He job is to speak of the Lord Jesus Christ helping us see Him as Logos, Light, and Life. Today, the focus is our duty to be a witness of the True Light. We are not the true Light. We are mere mortals who have experienced salvation from the darkness that ruled within our hearts and our lives. Ephesians 5:8 rings out as true.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
I can think of no better time of the year for us to recommit to God’s call as a witness. Christmas has all kinds of reminders. For instance, it is time when we decorate our houses, our Christmas trees, and just about anything we can with lights. We light everything up at Christmas. All these lights shine forth in the dark reminding us that Christ is the true Light which overcomes all darkness. In turn, we are called to be lights as well. Again, we are not the source of light. We are mere lamps. As such, we are to reflect the true Light of glory which is Christ. Our duty is to speak the truth and nothing but the truth. We must not offer our opinion or speculation. No, instead, we are to speak only of Christ. What is our purpose? Our purpose is to lead others to believe and receive Logos, the Lord Jesus Christ. Here is verse for us to end on this morning.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.