Receiving the True Light
Notes
Transcript
TEXT: John 1:6-18.
TITLE: Receiving the True Light
Last Week: The Word of Life and Light
John 1.1-5.
This introduction to the Gospel of John (v.1-18) is known as the Prologue. John’s introductory statements of his Gospel are intended to lay the ground work of whom he is writing about.
We also saw last week that the intention of John’s Gospel could not be clearer because he said it directly.
The Purpose of John’s Gospel
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
And because this is his purpose, he opens by answering the question: Who is Jesus?
Jesus predates all things because He is the one eternal God, the second person of the Triune Godhead. Jesus is the true revelation of God the Father, His Word, to humanity. Jesus was the agent of creation, and nothing exists apart from His hand. Jesus is the life that we long for in our sinfulness, and He is the light that reveals our need for Him.
The Light will prevail over darkness.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
This Week: Receiving the True Light
John 1.6-18.
Who is Jesus?
John continues answering this question today in the remaining portion of his prologue because unless this is clear…the rest of narrative, miracles, teaching, and earthly ministry of Jesus have no foundation.
ILLUSTRATION: A Firm Foundation on Which to Build
This reminded me of my time in Puerto Rico with World Changers where we were helping in various building projects around a city. My group was building the foundation for a home to be built, and I remember being somewhat disappointed.
Other teams were either roofing a home, painting a home, or demolishing a home in the preparation for a new home. ALL OF WHICH…sounded much more fun than our team’s project. I knew how to replace a roof, I knew how to paint well, and demolition is pure joy.
All of these things mean nothing if the home cannot stand. If the home is not structurally sound, being fixed on something that is secure, then the roof and paint do not matter.
This is where John begins his Gospel! A firm foundation on who is the person of Jesus of Nazareth and why He alone should be object of our faith. As the Eternal One, the Creator, the Giver of Life, and the True Light… our admiration of Jesus begins with who He is.
***
APPLICATION: Why So Serious?
I’m not sure if this is the right timing for this or not, but it seems appropriate being at the beginning of this new study in John. Both Joe and I sensed something very similar this past week, almost like the message fell somewhat flat with the church.
I just want to encourage you this morning to purposely remain engaged in our preaching time the best you can, and your response to hearing truth from the Word is an encouragement to us. You don’t have to be so quiet!
Responding audibly with an ‘Amen’ is not a praise for Joe or myself. In fact, the term ‘Amen’ in the Greek or Hebrew means TRULY or SO BE IT. So according to the Scriptures, the proclamation of ‘Amen’ attests to the conviction of the hearer that was has be said is true and is specifically tied to the praise of God.
The Opening of the Law
5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
David’s Song of Thanks Giving (also Psalm 106)
35 Say also:
“Save us, O God of our salvation,
and gather and deliver us from among the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name
and glory in your praise.
36 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting!”
Then all the people said, “Amen!” and praised the Lord.
What is My Point?
My desire is that through the Gospel of John, COTV will be blessed with a renewed love for Lord and for His Word.
At times, It seems like we are becoming somewhat lax in our commitment to prioritizing Community Groups, a time of growing in the Word and accountability together.
It seems like we are becoming lax in our commitment to Scripture memory as well, and for all of us I think it is because our love for the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us (aka Christ) is not as great as we think it is.
So because of these things, my prayer and goal for us as a church body is that we would be blessed with a love for the Word like we have never experienced before through the Gospel of John.
Then all the Lord’s people said - AMEN!
***
The True Light
This is a description of our Lord that we are going to lean into together today. The True Light which opposes and overcomes all darkness was coming into the world to reveal sin and offer the greatest gift of all.
Main Idea:
Jesus, the True Light and Incarnate Christ, graciously and humbly stepped into His creation so that sinners might believe in His name and receive new life in Him.
Outline:
The True Light was Coming Soon (v.6-9)
The True Light was Rejected (v.10-11)
The True Light Brings New Life (v.12-13)
The True Light Came by Grace (v.14-18)
PRAYER
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
The True Light was Coming Soon (v.6-9)
The True Light was Coming Soon (v.6-9)
This “JOHN” sent from God is not our author. In fact, the author of this Gospel, the apostle John, never mentions his name in his writing. So, whenever we come across the name “JOHN” in this Gospel, we are talking about John the Baptist.
JTB is a very special individual in the narrative of Redemptive History. Like Jesus, his birth was foretold. An angel of the Lord came to his father Zechariah (a priest) telling him of such wonderful news concerning his wife, Elizabeth who was barren.
Birth of JTB Foretold
11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
Specifically here in the last verse that this child promised to Zechariah and Elizabeth will “go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, … to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” (Lk 1.17).
What does this mean?
The Lord had made a promise through the prophet Malachi (the final book of our OT canon) who had prophesied to the people of Israel in the 4th century BC.
Malachi’s Prophesy Fulfilled in John
5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”
The angel of the Lord’s reference the Malachi 4 makes it clear that after 400 years of silence between God and His covenant people, it was JTB who was chosen to break through the silence!
ILLUSTRATION: Pure Silence is Scary
First trip to Nepal, my brother offered for me to borrow his Sony noise cancelling headphones. I thought if I don’t use them at least I’ll look the part in the airport.
On our long flight to Qatar, I was attempting to sleep and decided to use the noise cancelling feature to drown our the noise of the plane. The problem was… they worked too good. The business of the passengers and workers accompanied with the sound of the plan flying through the air at 600 miles an hour was all transformed into pure silence… and I hated it.
I realized that I need some noise, some background sounds so I did not feel like I was falling into the vacuum of space.
Israel’s history was filled with prophets from the Lord, declaring his words of blessing or warning of coming judgment. And after Malachi…nothing…silence. John was sent from God in the spirit and power of Elijah to break through the silence, preaching a baptism of Repentance from sin.
He Came as a Witness
Now… back to Jesus. JTB was preparing the way for someone. John 1 describes JTB as a witness.
This Greek term means to give testimony concerning something. Imagine a courtroom scene where a witness is brought forth to testify concerning a situation, and if we boil all of the questions of the prosecution or defense down… everyone is wanting to know: What do you know? What did you see? Why can we trust it?
John’s witness - A great Light has broken in! One infinitely unlike we have never seen before.
The Evidence of John’s Witness
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
The prophet Isaiah had spoken of the same Light that was to come over 700 years before this Gospel was written.
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.
A Light that will drown out the darkness and evil of this world forever. A Light that would guide the covenant people of God out of sin and into a Marvelous Light that renews, restores, and transforms.
A Light that promises fellowship with one another and with God the Father.
The Purpose of John’s Witness
John’s witness concerning the Light was not an endeavor towards greater fame. His witness was not to exalt himself, but instead his witness was outward focused and concerning people’s place in eternity.
John was not the Light… and he was perfectly content with that.
The True Light was Coming Soon and only His radiance could permeate the dead hearts of sinful mankind.
APPLICATION: Take Caution
We all keep up with different people in the world, possibly even some other churches or the teachings of other pastors. That is a good thing.
Also, as much as I would love to see it and be a part of it, it is likely that all of us will not remain at COTV for the rest of our lives. People take new jobs and move. People follow where their kids ultimately settle down. Grandparents need to be near those grandkids.
The Lord will call some of us out somewhere else. When that happens, I want to warn you: Take Caution.
Specifically when it comes to the teaching or preaching of the Word, be discerning whether the teacher, pastor, minister… is making more of his name/church or the name of Christ.
5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
The True Light was Coming! And JTB bore witness saying “It is not me” but the one who was coming was infinitely greater than JTB.
Take heart church! Even in this dark, evil, vile, violent, sin-ridden world… the darkness flees when the Light shines. Do not lose heart, but cling to the True Light who has come and is coming again.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
The True Light was Rejected (v.10-11)
The True Light was Rejected (v.10-11)
God stepped down into His creation. Through the second person of the Trinity, Jesus the Son of God, God entered into what he created. This simple statement reveals that from the beginning, God never been limited by time or space. He is entirely outside of those things.
But from the beginning and since the Fall, our Lord knew this would be His mission. This would be His charge from the father, to humble himself and clothe himself in flesh, coming to save a people who through an infinite amount of attempts could never uphold the perfect standards of God.
The world did not know Him
The Word which gives life eternal and the True Light came to those He created in His own image…after graciously giving prophesy after prophesy of His coming… and yet they did not know Him.
The term used for world here is Kosmos, meaning the world of mankind in general. All people did not know who the Son of God was when He stepped on the scene.
ILLUSTRATION: Who are you?
This made me think of these popular videos on different social media platforms where the father (who seems to have always had a beard since his kids have been alive) shaves his face and then comes to see his kids.
Most of them are terrified, but pretty much all of them respond in a way that says: Yeah… that is not my dad.
In a similar way, John tells us here that the True Light (Jesus of Nazareth) came to His own people and they rejected Him.
The use of “His own” here gives us a more narrow view of specifically the people of Israel.
Why did the world and the covenant people of God reject the long awaited Messiah?
Spiritual Blindness.
The divine nature of the Incarnate Christ was not somehow hidden from mankind for His divine nature and His human nature were both surely present (back to this in point #4).
No… more specifically the world was spiritually blinded by their own sin.
The Prophetic Blindness of Israel
1 Who has believed what he has heard from us?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
The Effects of Sin
What effect does sin have in our lives?
Well… if you remember our time in Hosea… sin destroys.
14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
Sin is pleasurable and enjoyable at times, but the promise of lasting fulfillment or satisfaction or joy that it whispers in our ears is always a lie. The schemes of Satan, the father of lies, have been the same for thousands of years. And humanity is still falling for the same deception.
And the deception is a skewed, perverted, distorted understanding of who God is.
God’s Love for and Unloving People
After Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem in Luke 19, He takes a moment o weep over Israel. Why?
Weeping for a Blinded People
41 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side 44 and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
APPLICATION: Spiritual Blindness Continues
Spiritual Blindness is still a perpetual problem today for every soul that is graciously born into this world. We are born into this world as sinners, mysteriously sharing in the sin of Adam, and we stand opposed to a holy God that must judge sin justly.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 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.
Just like the 1st century world and the ethnic people of Jesus, all peoples, tribes, and tongues stand in oppositions to a holy God who created all things, including us, and one day we will stand before His judgment fully exposed.
GOSPEL - The problem only
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
The True Light Brings New Life (v.12-13)
The True Light Brings New Life (v.12-13)
The Gospel (meaning good news) would not be Good News if it stopped there. John continues here in verse 12 with the glorious reality that the True Light was not rejected by everyone.
Some heard… and some received the Him… and the church (the called out ones, those called out of darkness into a glorious light) was born!
A Child of God
JTB had great news for his readers 2000 years ago, and it is till great for us today.
For those who received this great gift of salvation not only received an eternal pardon and forgiveness of sin, but perhaps far greater they have been deemed Children of God.
This is not a title that is granted to all people, but it is only bestowed on those who have RECEIVED Jesus and BELIEVED in His name. In doing so, people are granted the right, the blessing, the status as a Child of the Most High King.
Example: We are All Children of God
If you have grown up in the South and in the church, this is a phrase you have likely heard. It makes us feel warm and fuzzy, and it is also very inclusive language. Some carry this phrase figuratively in their back pocket to pull out hear of their, making themselves or others feel included in the people of God in one way or another.
My goal is not to rain on people’s parade, but my goal…and our goal should be to speak truth and use Biblical language when doing so.
According to JTB, led by the Holy Spirit, We are not all Children of God.
1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
If you have not repented of sin and believed unto His name alone for salvation from sin, then you are not a child of the King. You are an image bearer of God. You are loved by God who created you and provides for you. But… you are not in the family of God.
New Birth
John’s language hear implies NEW BIRTH, meaning NEW LIFE. Those who have received Him and believed in His name have been BORN.
What does this mean?
Jesus Answers Nicodemus (SPOILER ALERT)
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Thus…in order to be with God in heaven, in His kingdom, we as sinners in this world must be born again. Let us allow JTB to shed some light on this for us.
Not Born of Blood
This new life in the True Light is not of natural descent. This is not something that is passed down by heritage. Scripturally, we think if the Jewish people who counted themselves as righteous purely based on heritage.
Modern day, this is the appeal to church going or a faithful parent or grandparent. Mere existence in a certain people ground or in the periphery of another’s faithful living does not make you a Child of God.
Not Born of the Will of the Flesh
The good works of mankind, the good works of the flesh are infinitely below being good enough. In our nature, sin has infected every part of who we are and no amount of good living by the world’s standards can pave our way back to right relationship with the Father. You cannot earn your way into the family.
Not Born of the Will of Man
New Life in Christ is not merely a human decision. God has not set His great plan of redemptive history into motion, and then taken a step back to see if things fall in line by chance.
If New Life in Christ was solely based on human decision, then we would never choose him. We would always choose ourselves and our sin.
Born of God
The birth of a Child of God is not a natural birth, but it is a supernatural work of God in regeneration.
A person welcomes Jesus and responds in faith and obedience to Him, but the mysterious work of the Holy Spirit is “the cause” of regeneration (3:5–8).
Regeneration is the divine action by which God renews the fallen creation so that it reflects his character.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
If you have received Jesus through His the gospel, believed in his name alone for salvation, than the Holy Spirit has done a supernatural work in your heart. You have been renewed and your eyes have been opened to the eternal offense of your sin but also the glorious, gracious gift of salvation and the forgiveness of sin.
You are a Child of God!
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
The True Light Came by Grace (v.14-18)
The True Light Came by Grace (v.14-18)
“ The Word became Flesh” is a phrase that defines an essential truth of biblical Christianity - God became Man.
Many other world religions have a big problem with this concept, specifically Islam, which generally states that the Creator God would not defile Himself in such a way.
A core truth of the Christian Faith represented here in verse 14 is the Incarnation.
Namely that… Jesus of Nazareth is the eternal Second Person of the Trinity, that he has in time taken upon himself a complete human nature by being born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Logos Factbook).
Put more simply… With the great love with which He loved us, God sent His Son into the world in the likeness of men, born of a virgin, sharing in flesh and blood just like us.
19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,
So God became man… but Jesus did not cease being God. Even though Jesus took upon himself a human nature, he still retained his divine nature at the same time. This is called the Hypostatic Union.
The unity of Christ is the doctrine that Jesus, although he possesses two distinct and complete natures—he is simultaneously fully God and fully man—is nevertheless one integral person, God the Son incarnate.
5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
So God himself, the True Light came to give sinful humanity forgiveness of sin and new life in Him… why? Because He is full of grace and truth.
What a blessing JTB had in singing the praises of the One who was to come. The Law given through Moses could not save, but it was given to point to the True Light, Jesus the incarnate Son of God, where we have received grace upon grace.
Meaning His grace a mercy have no ending. He has lavished us his people his saving grace in Jesus.
There was a man sent from God whose name was John… and JTB, this prologue, and the entire Gospel of John all have a singular joint purpose… that is pointing the hearer or reader to the only name under heaven by which man can be saved from sin and receive the gift of adoption and sonship in the family of God.
Main Idea:
Jesus, the True Light and Incarnate Christ, fully God and fully man, graciously and humbly stepped into His creation so that sinners might believe in His name and receive new life in Him.
