Bible Study - Present Light

John 1:1–14 KJV 1900

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 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. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Main Idea

Jesus, the eternal Word, stepped into our world as the true Light so that we no longer have to stumble in the darkness of sin, confusion, and fear. In His coming, God moved near to us, revealing His heart, His holiness, and His hope in a way we can see, hear, and trust. This Light does not flicker, fade, or fail, but shines victoriously over every shadow that tries to cover our lives. When we receive Jesus by faith, we experience peace with God, new life as His children, and the courage to shine His Light in a dark world.

Introduction

John 1:1–5 shows us that Jesus is not just a good teacher or a spiritual leader. He is the eternal Word who already existed when the beginning began. The world has seen many religious voices and moral examples, but only one Person can truly be called the Light of the world. John wants every believer to be clear about this, because your confidence in Christ will never rise higher than your understanding of Christ. When you see Jesus as He truly is, you will trust Him more deeply and follow Him more boldly.

God could have sent angels to proclaim the coming of Jesus, yet He chose to use a man named John. That is important for every believer to notice. Before the Light was fully revealed, God raised up a human witness to point people to Jesus. This is how God still works today. He uses ordinary people with a clear message and a humble heart to invite others into the Light.

Light does more than just reveal what is in the room. It changes how you move. When the lights come on, you stop stumbling, start walking with confidence, and see where you are going. John 1:10–14 shows us what happens when the Light of Christ shines into a dark world and into human hearts. Some reject that Light, but others receive it and are completely transformed.

I. Identification of the Light (John 1:1–5)

When you walk into a dark room, the first thing you reach for is a light switch. You know that the light will not change the furniture, but it will change how you see everything. In the same way, John opens his Gospel by turning on the light for us. He does not start with the birth of Jesus, but with the identity of Jesus from all eternity. Before we can understand what Jesus does in our lives, we have to understand who He really is.

John 1:1-5 tell us that Jesus is eternal, divine, creative, and victorious over darkness. That means He is big enough for your questions, strong enough for your battles, and bright enough for your darkest days. Before John tells us about miracles, parables, or the cross, he anchors our faith in the unshakable truth that Jesus is God, that He is life, and that His Light overcomes every form of darkness. This is where our peace begins.

Synopsis

In John 1:1–5, we discover that Jesus is the eternal Word, fully God, the powerful Creator, and the conquering Light who shines in the darkness. He is the same God who said, “Let there be light” in Genesis 1:3, and He still brings light into dark hearts today. His life is our light, and His presence is our peace. When we trust the One who created all things (Colossians 1:17), we can rest knowing that nothing in our lives is beyond His power to hold together. The Lord who is our light and salvation (Psalm 27:1) is the same Jesus who stepped into history, so we never have to face the darkness alone.

Jesus is eternal God, not a created being . John 1:1 - “the Word was God.”

Hebrews 1:8 “8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.”

Jesus is the divine Agent of creation. John 1:3 - “All things were made by him.”

Colossians 1:16 “16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:”

Jesus is the source of both physical and spiritual life. - John 1:4, “In him was life.”

John 10:10 “10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Jesus is the Light who reveals God and exposes darkness. - John 1:4, “the life was the light of men.”

John 8:12 “12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

Darkness cannot conquer the Light of Christ. - John 1:5, “the darkness comprehended it not.”

Romans 8:37 “37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

II. Invitation to the Light (John 1:6–9)

John the Baptist understood his role. He was not the Light, but he was called to point to the Light. In a world full of religious noise and spiritual confusion, John had one assignment. He came “for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe” (John 1:7 KJV). His life reminds us that God’s invitations often come through human voices. Someone who shared Christ with you was being used by God to shine the Light into your life.

Today, the invitation to the Light still goes out through believers who are willing to speak, serve, and shine for Jesus. People around you are walking in darkness, carrying hidden burdens, and wrestling with unanswered questions. God has placed you in your family, workplace, and community so that your life can say what John’s life said. You are not the Light, but you know who the Light is, and you can point people to Him.

John 1:6 tells us, “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John” (KJV). John did not volunteer for this role; he was sent. Isaiah had prophesied, “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord” (Isaiah 40:3 KJV). John’s life fulfilled that prophecy. He was God’s chosen voice in a dark world. Luke 1:15–17 describes how he would “go before him in the spirit and power of Elias” to turn hearts toward the Lord. This reminds us that every genuine witness is part of God’s plan, not a human idea. When you share Christ, you are joining a long line of God sent messengers.

John 1:7–8 shows us the heart of his mission. He came “to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe” (John 1:7 KJV). His goal was not fame, applause, or influence. His goal was faith. John knew he was not the Light, but was “sent to bear witness of that Light” (John 1:8 KJV). The apostle Paul captured the same spirit when he wrote, “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord” (2 Corinthians 4:5 KJV). God calls every believer to that same kind of humble, Christ centered witness. Our words, actions, and attitudes should help people see Jesus more clearly, not us.

Synopsis

In John 1:6–9, we see that God lovingly invites people to the Light by using human witnesses. John the Baptist was “a man sent from God” with a clear calling to point others to Christ, just as Isaiah had foretold (Isaiah 40:3). He knew his role was to bear witness, not to be the Light. Today, God still works through believers who simply say, like Paul, “we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord” (2 Corinthians 4:5). The true Light “lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:9 KJV), and God wants to use our lives as signposts that point people to Jesus.

God uses human messengers to prepare people for Jesus. - John 1:6, “a man sent from God.”

Isaiah 40:3 “3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

The purpose of a witness is to lead people to faith in Christ. - John 1:7, “that all men through him might believe.”

Acts 1:8 “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.”

Believers must remember they are not the Light, only servants of the Light. - John 1:8, “He was not that Light.”

2 Corinthians 4:5 “5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.”

The Light of Christ shines toward every person. - John 1:9, “which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”

Titus 2:11 “11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,”

Faithful witness requires humility and obedience. John was content to be a voice, not the focus.

John 3:30 “30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”

III. Illumination by the Light (John 1:10–14)

John tells us that the Creator entered His own creation, yet many did not recognize Him. “He came unto his own, and his own received him not” (John 1:11 KJV). That is one of the saddest verses in the Bible. The One they were waiting for stood right in front of them, but they turned away. Yet the story does not end in rejection. The next verse lifts our hope. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God” (John 1:12 KJV). When the Light is received, everything changes.

Then John takes us to the heart of the Christmas story. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14 KJV). God did not stay distant. He stepped into our world, wore our humanity, and walked where we walk. In Jesus, we see the glory of God, “full of grace and truth.” The Light does not only shine around us. It shines to us and in us, giving us a new identity as children of God and a new way to live in His grace and truth.

John explains, “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not” (John 1:10 KJV). The tragedy is that people missed the One who made them. Sin blinds the human heart. Second Corinthians 4:4 says, “the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not.” Even His own people, who had the promises and prophecies, “received him not” (John 1:11 KJV). Rejection of Jesus is not a new problem. It is the age old response of a darkened heart that prefers its own way. Yet God’s grace is greater than human rejection.

John gives us hope in verses 12 and 13. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God” (John 1:12 KJV). To receive Jesus is to believe on His name, to trust who He is and what He has done. Those who do are “born… of God” (John 1:13 KJV). This new birth is not based on heredity, effort, or human decision alone. It is a work of God’s Spirit. Jesus later explains, “Ye must be born again” (John 3:7 KJV). Then John declares the wonder of the incarnation. “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14 KJV). Philippians 2:7 says He “took upon him the form of a servant” and was “made in the likeness of men.” In Jesus, we see the glory of God in a human face, “full of grace and truth.” His grace welcomes us. His truth changes us.

Synopsis

In John 1:10–14, the Light of Christ shines into a world that often rejects Him, yet God still offers a gracious invitation. Some do not receive Him, but those who do are given the right to become children of God through a new birth that comes from God alone (John 1:12–13). The eternal Word becomes flesh and lives among us, revealing glory that is “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14 KJV). Because Jesus came, we can move from spiritual blindness to spiritual sight, from being strangers to being sons and daughters, and from living in darkness to walking in the Light.

The Creator entered His creation and was rejected by many. - John 1:10–11.

Isaiah 53:3 “3 He is despised and rejected of men; A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: And we hid as it were our faces from him; He was despised, and we esteemed him not.”

Those who receive Christ by faith become children of God. John 1:12

Galatians 3:26 “26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”

The new birth is a supernatural work of God. - John 1:13, “born… of God.”

John 3:3 “3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

The incarnation reveals God’s glory in a personal and visible way. - John 1:14, “we beheld his glory.”

Colossians 1:15 “15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:”

Jesus embodies both grace and truth perfectly. - John 1:14, “full of grace and truth.”

Titus 2:11–12 “11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”