Dec 15 2024 The Season of Life and Light John 1 4-5
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
· It’s a matter of constant mockery on comedic television for someone to receive a gift of socks or a tie for Christmas.
· To be fair, this makes a lot of sense for children, who want to receive presents that are fun.
o Toys, video games, etc.
· As I was reflecting on this, I noticed that my mind had changed on this considerably over the years.
o Now, I would be happy to receive a gift of socks or clothes.
o This isn’t because I don’t love toys, it’s just that the toys I like are way too expensive.
· The usefulness of a gift is something that is often overlooked when it comes to Christmas.
o We are so focused on the trappings of Christmas…the wonder and tradition, it can cause us to miss the things that are truly a blessing.
Context
Context
· I would remind you that John’s account of the coming of Jesus into the world is a matter of theology.
· He wants the reader to understand the amazing truth of the Incarnation of Christ.
o Jesus, as we saw last week, is not just the Savior.
§ He is the Word of God, the only Son of the Father. Second person of the Triune Godhead.
· Today, we will be introduced to three themes that are central to John’s perception of the gospel.
Jesus Is the Source of All Life
Jesus Is the Source of All Life
In him was life,
· The first theme of John’s gospel is life.
o He mentions life 36 times in his gospel, more than any other book in the NT.
o He mentions it several times in his other writings.
· If you say something twice, its important; three times, and it’s going to be on the final exam…but what about 36 times. It may just be the most important thing in the world.
· Here’s a practical challenge…go through John’s gospel and mark out every time that John mentions life.
o What does it tell you about Jesus Christ?
· Here it means that Jesus is the source of life.
o Note, Jesus doesn’t possess life…it is as much a part of His character as any other of his attributes.
“For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.” (John 5:26, ESV)
26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.
o He is the source of physical/biological life according to Genesis 1:30: “And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.” (Genesis 1:30, ESV)
30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.
o He is further the one who made mankind with an immortal soul: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” (Psalm 139:13, ESV)
13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
o But for John’s purposes, Jesus is the source of eternal life.
§ He has eternally lived as the one and only Son of the Father.
· Eternal life is not about a quantity of life, like immortality. It’s about a quality of life. The perfect life.
o This is the kind of life that we come to have through faith in Jesus.
““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, ESV)
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
o The reverse is true…the opposite of eternal life is not that we die, but that we suffer the eternal condemnation and separation from the life that is in Christ.
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” (John 3:36, ESV)
36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
· Following Jesus is often cast in the light of the things we have to give up to gain eternal reward…putting of happiness now for happiness later.
o At one time in my life, I was an uber driver.
o One afternoon I picked up a Chinese man from work to deliver Him to a family dinner.
o He was interested in speaking with me about Jesus Christ…for the life of me, I can’t remember how the conversation started.
o He asked me why I would be a Christian when it meant that I had to withhold myself from doing things like drinking, eating, or having sex outside of marriage.
o You see, he thought that I was restricted from enjoying my life out of some kind of slavish devotion to a god who didn’t want me to be happy.
o What I explained to him was that I wasn’t restraining myself from such things because they were evil, or because they weren’t enjoyable.
· What I was doing was setting aside such things as would be a distraction from attaining something of infinitely greater quality and enjoyment…fellowship with my Creator.
· Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10, ESV)
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
There is a surpassing quality to the life that we possess in Jesus Christ, the kind of life we were always meant to live…full of meaning, purpose, and joy.
· How do we pursue this life today? Remember this verse’s connection to verses 1-3…Jesus is the Word of God.
o Through the revealed Word, we grow in the quality of our fellowship with Him until He comes to receive His kingdom.
· There is a powerful example of this in Church history…the story of Augustine of Hippo.
o Augustine’s conversion is an astounding story of life found in the Word of God.
o As a young man, Augustine pursued meaning through every possible means apart from faith.
§ He indulged every desire and studied every philosophy, yet he was miserable.
o His mother Monica prayed for his salvation, and one day He answered.
o Augustine records the day:
So was I speaking and weeping in the most bitter contrition of my heart, when, lo! I heard from a neighbouring house a voice, as of boy or girl, I know not, chanting, and oft repeating, “Take up and read; Take up and read. “Instantly, my countenance altered, I began to think most intently whether children were wont in any kind of play to sing such words: nor could I remember ever to have heard the like. So checking the torrent of my tears, I arose; interpreting it to be no other than a command from God to open the book, and read the first chapter I should find.
I seized, opened, and in silence read that section on which my eyes first fell: “Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” (Romans 13:13–14, ESV) No further would I read; nor needed I: for instantly at the end of this sentence, by a light as it were of serenity infused into my heart, all the darkness of doubt vanished away.[1]
13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
· Through the word, Augustine was converted and brought into the kind of life that gave him the purpose and meaning that had eluded him for years.
Jesus Is the Revealing Light
Jesus Is the Revealing Light
and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness,
· The life that is found in Jesus Christ is like a great light that shines in the darkness.
· Light, in fact, is the second major theme introduced by John in these verses.
· God’s first words were, “Let there be light!”
· There are four ways in which the light of Christ impacts our lives in this dark world.
1. Light reveals:
o What’s the first thing you do when you enter a dark room? Turn on the light.
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.” (Isaiah 9:2, ESV)
2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
o Mankind, since the fall, dwells in darkness. The real problem is that we like it in the dark.
“This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who stubbornly follow their own heart and have gone after other gods to serve them and worship them, shall be like this loincloth, which is good for nothing.” (Jeremiah 13:10, ESV)
10 This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who stubbornly follow their own heart and have gone after other gods to serve them and worship them, shall be like this loincloth, which is good for nothing.
o We are lost from God and stubbornly pursuing our own destruction.
o But Jesus comes into the world as a light that reveals God. “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9 ESV)
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
2. Light warms:
o This speaks of the light of God which warms the dead heart of the sinner.
o Spiritual transformation.
o Jesus’s words have resurrection power.
“I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” (John 12:46, ESV)
46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.
3. Light guides:
o God has always guided His people.
§ He led His people through the wilderness as a pillar of cloud and fire.
§ Through His Word our path is revealed.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105, ESV)
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”” (John 8:12, ESV)
“He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:3, ESV)
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4. Light conveys and stimulates life:
o As plants need the light of the Sun to grow, so we are in need of God’s light to grow us.
· And we then are to be light as He is the light.
““You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14–16, ESV)
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
The Great War
The Great War
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
· Darkness is the third great theme of John.
· Darkness is here explained as the opposite of light.
· Light has to do with knowledge, goodness, safety, and life; darkness has to do with ignorance, bondage to sin, blindness/lostness, and death.
· Jesus’s coming was opposed by those who loved the darkness.
“And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.” (John 3:19–20, ESV)
19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
· This is the death of the idea that mankind is basically good...
· After all, Jesus came doing good works, healing the sick, preaching the good news of salvation.
· Yet what was the reaction? He was opposed by nearly everyone.
o Pharisees hated him because His purity exceeded theirs.
o Priests and Scribes hated Him because he was more popular than them.
o The Romans hated him because He came preaching a greater Kingdom.
· That’s what Jesus does. He exposes our sin.
o When we see Jesus we see our own failure.
o Only two options remain to us:
§ Repent and return.
§ Reject and run.
· The light of Jesus is the hope of our salvation. But, will we take hold of it?
· The darkness opposes the light, but cannot overcome it.
o This has some linguistic difficulty to it…two possible meanings.
§ First, that it cannot be understood, or comprehended.
· Darkness cannot truly understand the light.
o Without the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit, we are not capable of understanding and taking hold of the truth of the gospel.
“For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools,” (Romans 1:19–22, ESV)
19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
§ Second, the darkness cannot prevail over the light.
· They killed the Son of God, the light of the world. But He rose.
· The light of Christ is indominable.
· John isn’t just writing out vain hopes…he is living proof.
o John had lived fifty years past the resurrection.
o He had watched all of his brothers persecuted and killed.
o He had been tortured and exiled, yet the church was growing.
§ All the forces of the darkness could not quench the flame.
§ It grew all the more through the persecution.
o And here we are…what is our hope in today?
· The problem for us is we don’t avail ourselves of the light.
o We seem to fall back upon our own strength to endure the trials of life.
§ And our faith suffers.
You can’t rid yourself of the darkness by closing your eyes…you have to turn on the light.
The End of Darkness
The End of Darkness
· These three great themes of life, light, and darkness really have everything to do with Jesus Christ.
· During the Christmas season, we have the opportunity to reflect on what Jesus’s coming means.
o He brings true life.
o He shines true light.
o He is the death of darkness.
· So, take hold of the Life and Light that Jesus has brought into the world.
o Put your trust in Him and remember that all our hope is in Him.
· If you are feeling overwhelmed by family responsibilities and unsure of how to manage conflicts at home, take intentional time each day to pray and commit your family to Christ.
o Create a designated space in your home where you can seek His guidance through Scripture and prayer.
o As you face challenges, remind yourself of His promises and write them on sticky notes around your house.
o This will help you entrust your worries to Him, fostering an atmosphere of faith and trust within your family.
· If you are struggling with job dissatisfaction or ethical dilemmas at work, entrust your career to Christ by seeking His wisdom daily.
o Set a reminder on your phone to pause for a few moments during your workday to pray specifically about your situations.
o Ask God for clarity in decision-making and integrity in your actions.
o Keep a journal to document His answers and insights, reminding yourself of His faithfulness even when work feels burdensome.
· When facing doubts about your role in the church or feeling disheartened by criticism, take time to reflect on your spiritual gifts and how they align with your church's mission.
o Engage in meaningful prayer, asking God to help you trust Him in your service.
o Participate in a small group to share your experiences and seek encouragement from fellow believers.
o This fellowship can help you refocus your commitment to serving Christ through the church and trusting Him with your contributions.
· If you find it difficult to represent your faith in public due to fear or ridicule, challenge yourself to express your beliefs authentically in social situations.
o Start by sharing a brief personal testimony with someone you trust, demonstrating how Christ has impacted your life.
o Move beyond your comfort zone by engaging in community service or missions, allowing your actions to speak of His love.
o By publicly entrusting your reputation and experiences to Christ, you'll build courage and inspire others.
· If you are experiencing anxiety about future uncertainties at home, establish a family 'trust time.'
o Once a week, gather your family to discuss worries and pray together about them.
o Encourage open dialogue about fears and dreams in front of God, reinforcing the idea that together you trust the Lord with every situation.
o Use Scripture to guide your discussions, focusing on verses that highlight God's faithfulness.
o This practice cultivates trust in Christ as a family while alleviating personal anxieties.
The Light of Christ
The Light of Christ
Take hold of the Life and Light that Jesus has brought into the world.
If you are feeling overwhelmed by family responsibilities and unsure of how to manage conflicts at home, take intentional time each day to pray and commit your family to Christ. Create a designated space in your home where you can seek His guidance through Scripture and prayer. As you face challenges, remind yourself of His promises and write them on sticky notes around your house. This will help you entrust your worries to Him, fostering an atmosphere of faith and trust within your family.
If you are struggling with job dissatisfaction or ethical dilemmas at work, entrust your career to Christ by seeking His wisdom daily. Set a reminder on your phone to pause for a few moments during your workday to pray specifically about your situations. Ask God for clarity in decision-making and integrity in your actions. Keep a journal to document His answers and insights, reminding yourself of His faithfulness even when work feels burdensome.
When facing doubts about your role in the church or feeling disheartened by criticism, take time to reflect on your spiritual gifts and how they align with your church's mission. Engage in meaningful prayer, asking God to help you trust Him in your service. Participate in a small group to share your experiences and seek encouragement from fellow believers. This fellowship can help you refocus your commitment to serving Christ through the church and trusting Him with your contributions.
If you find it difficult to represent your faith in public due to fear or ridicule, challenge yourself to express your beliefs authentically in social situations. Start by sharing a brief personal testimony with someone you trust, demonstrating how Christ has impacted your life. Move beyond your comfort zone by engaging in community service or missions, allowing your actions to speak of His love. By publicly entrusting your reputation and experiences to Christ, you'll build courage and inspire others.
If you are experiencing anxiety about future uncertainties at home, establish a family 'trust time.' Once a week, gather your family to discuss worries and pray together about them. Encourage open dialogue about fears and dreams in front of God, reinforcing the idea that together you trust the Lord with every situation. Use Scripture to guide your discussions, focusing on verses that highlight God's faithfulness. This practice cultivates trust in Christ as a family while alleviating personal anxieties.