The Light of the World
The Gospel of John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 2 viewsJohn was sent to prepare the way for the Messiah, the Light of the world, Jesus Christ, but they (the Jewish people, His own people) would reject Him (the only way to the Father) out of spiritual blindness.
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Handout
Focus Passage: John 1:4-13
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all 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 gives light to every man coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Outline
The Light and Life of Men (v.4)
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
There are four essentials needed for life. It so happens that Jesus is described as all four within the gospel of John.
To live, one needs...
Light and Jesus claimed to be the light of the world (John 8:12)
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
Air and Jesus claimed to be the breath of life (Jn 3:8; 20:22)
8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
Water and Jesus claimed to be the Well Spring of Living water (John 4:10)
10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
Food and Jesus claimed to be the Bread of life (John 6:35)
35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
Jesus, through these claims, these truths of Himself, reveal that He is truly Life. “Life,” in many ways is a central theme of the Gospel of John. John refers to “life” some thirty-six times throughout his gospel. Possibly the most known verse in regards to this is John 14:6, where Jesus states, I am the way, the truth, and the life.
The central theme of “Life” is followed by another theme, “Light”
The term light is used forty-seven times throughout the Gospel of John (fourteen times as a noun and thirty-three times as a verb). Light is begins and sustains life. This a perfect picture of who Jesus is. He is truly who He claims to be, ...I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life (John 8:12b). In this light, The Light, one finds true life. There is this consistent contrast between these two opposing forces of Light and darkness throughout John’s Gospel. Jesus was the Light. He came to deliver people from the darkness of Satan’s lies.
Creation began with light (Gen. 1:3)
3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
A new covenant (Messianic Covenant) is ushered in by the true Light, Jesus Christ (v.4)
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
One would think that man would gravitate toward the light. Most people I know seem to stay clear of the darkness. You may even accuse them of being scared of the dark and they will reply, I’m not scared of the dark. Truly, it is not the darkness that most fear, but it was lies in the dark that most fear. However, we should be afraid of both; We should be afraid of the dark and what is in the dark. For all of us were at one time, if not all together now are...
Blinded by the Darkness (vv.5,10-11)
5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
Many find themselves blinded by the darkness of sin and shame - ‘…and the darkness did not comprehend it’ (cf. 2 Co. 4:4)
It is not that Jesus’ light hasn’t or doesn’t shine in our life, the light shines in the darkness, but it that we do not understand it, the darkness did not comprehend it, because of our sin, shame, and guilt. We must all come to the realization that Satan is the prince of the power of the air (Eph 2:2). With that said, our senses have been dulled due to our spiritual blindness. Satan is in control of this world for the time being. He blinds the lost around us through deceit and wickedness.
4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
The world does not know their Creator nor receive His light because of the their love of darkness (cf. Col. 1:13; Eph. 5:8)
Every born again believer was at one time a child of darkness.
13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
The only reason that we now see the light and draw near to the light, Jesus Christ, is because we embraced the light over the darkness. However, many are just as the Jews of Jesus’ day, He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
Let us hold on to the promise of our Lord though. Let us, who have accepted and embraced the light, despite that darkness that abounds, hold own to the promise give to us by our acceptation rather than rejection of Christ.
A New Life Promised (vv.12-13)
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Let us take hold of the Light, Jesus Christ - ‘But as many as received Him...’
Let us take hold of the promise of a new life in Jesus Christ
Let us take hold of our our new birth in Jesus Christ - ‘…who were born…of God...’
Let us take hold of our new position with the Father in Jesus Christ - ‘…He gave the right to become children of God...’
A Continued Call (vv.6-8)
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
As John the Baptist, we have a calling - ‘…There was a man sent from God, whose name was John...’
As John, we are to be an informer of the truth of Jesus Christ - ‘…this man came for a witness...’
As John, we are to testify about Jesus being the light in a dark world - ‘…to bear witness of the Light...’
As John, we are to call people to put their faith in Jesus Christ - ‘…that all through him might believe...’
Conclusion
Jesus is the light of the world. He is the breath of life. He is the water of life. He is the bread of life. We, as John the Baptist, have been called to share this truth. What will we do? Will be share and be an example of the Light, Jesus Christ Himself, or will we remain in the darkness and truly be the blind leading the blind?