John 1:9-13
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The World Needs the Light
The World Needs the Light
Introduction:
It’s been very hot in last few days..sometimes we complain kay init kaayo ang Sun.
But we need the Sun to live and survive in this world.
What could happen when the Sun disappears? (We will all die!)
We need the light of the sun to give heat for all living creatures. Without the light of the Sun, we will freeze to death. Without the light of the sun, the plants will not be able to produce oxygen.
The Sun is necessary for us to live and survive in this earth.
But something is more necessary than the Sun. Someone is more necessary for us to survive in this earth and in the after life. Go with me to John 1:9-13.
I have entitled this morning’s sermon - “The World Needs the Light”
The author of the gospel continues to reveal to us the Truth about the identity of the Word (Logos), Jesus Christ.
From John the Baptist, the author now focuses on Jesus here in verse 9-13…and he begins by saying that Jesus is the True light (v.9). The word TRUE means genuine and authentic. So in comparison , the author is telling us that John the Baptist is not the genuine light. In comparison, John is like a moon who reflects the light from the Sun, and Jesus is the Sun who is the original source of light.
The word light is repeated 73X in the NT, and 23x in the book of John. Jesus talks a lot about the contrast between “light” and “darkness”. Jesus claims to be the Light of the World (John 8) and Jesus said to his disciples - You are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14).
Light is necessary because of the reality of darkness. It is because of this presence of darkness (evil) in the world that Jesus, the true light, has to do something about it. He has to take actions in order to counter the effect of darkness in the world:
3 Truths about The True Light to counter the effects of darkness:
I. CAME to the world (v.9)
I. CAME to the world (v.9)
Coming into the world (outside from the world - coming - Incarnation)
Jesus enlightens every man - This is what He does - to enlighten is to bring light (illumine, reveal) to those who are in darkness and blinded by sin.
4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
To illumine the mind with regard to his sin and coming judgment - John 3:18-21
18 “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 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. 20 “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”
Deeds of darkness (Gal 5:19-21
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Illustration: Switch on the light in your basement, and the rats and other insects will run and hide!
This is the Gospel:
JESUS initiated our salvation by coming into the world of darkness to bring us from darkness into light.
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Proper Response:
A. Step away from darkness and come to the light.
It means run from your vices…to surrender your vices, anger, hatred, jealousy, sexual immorality, idolatry..surrender them to the Lord. He alone can remove and replace those things.
II. Commune with His creation (vv.10-11)
II. Commune with His creation (vv.10-11)
He was in the world (first coming). He created the world (cf. vv.2-3) The world rejected him (cf. v.5) (crucifixion).
Jesus wanted to commune withs his creation that was destroyed by sin - but the world rejected Him, the world did not recognize him, his people did not receive him.
His own people did not “Know” Him. They did not recognized and received him. This is one of the saddest verse in the Bible. The “know” here is not intellectual information (head knowledge). The word “know” here that John wanted to mean is this: “Knowing is a relational idea in this Gospel”. This may be illustrated from Gen 4:1, where it states (literally) that Adam “knew” his wife, and that kind of knowledge resulted in children. That knowledge obviously was not primarily intellectual! Accordingly, knowing the Logos in this Gospel is more than knowing facts about the Logos/Jesus. Here the point is that the world (i.e., people) has a dark relationship with its Creator and Redeemer.
Illustration: A dog knows it owner and is happy when the owner comes home. But when Jesus came, his creation (the people) did not welcome him.
It was because of their unbelief not ignorance. People rejects Jesus not because of ignorance but unbelief.
The reality is that Jesus is rejected even now. Those who live in darkness does want to be exposed in the light.
Here is the truth that people don’t understand: Jesus is not kill-joy, but he kills the things that steals our joy.
Jesus desires to commune with you! He said to his disciples: John 14:1-3
1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
Proper Response:
A. Commune with Jesus daily to help you stay in the light and experience the fullness of His joy.
B. Commune with people who leads you closer to Jesus.
III. Connect man to the Father (vv.12-13)
III. Connect man to the Father (vv.12-13)
Some believed in Jesus - those who receive Him and believe in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.
John talks about “adoption to the family of God”, the purpose of the Gospel.
Receiving and believing in Jesus is necessary to be adopted into the family of God.
We are not accepted by God based on our bloodline/heritage (not of blood, anak ug Christian, family of Christians), human decisions (human will, achievemets), man-made system (will of man, church, baptism).
instead, we are accepted by God by way of the Spirit (but of God). The new birth is the work of God.
God wills and God works to bring people to believe in Christ John 6:37-39
37 “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 38 “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.
What are the benefits of being adopted into the family of God?
assured of salvation (John 6:39), resurrection (John 6:39)
children of the light (Ephesians 5:8 “8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light”
Proper Response:
A. As children of Light, let your light shine where you are through your words and deeds.
Ex. speak blessing rather than cursing, forgiving rather than avenging, praising rather than complaining, serving others rather than self-serving).
The World needs the light and God sends people to be His witnesses and point people to the true light, Jesus Christ.
Illustration:
How do you know if a lamp bulb is good/working or bad/not working?
You have to screw it in the socket. You have to connect it to the source of electricity.
Unless we are connected to Christ, our lights will not shine.
Let us be sure to be connected to the light.
Conclusion:
We need the Sun to live in this world. We need the Son to live in Heaven.
So, Let us make sure of it that we have received the Light of Jesus in our hearts.
