John 1:1-14 - The Light of the King

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Kaleidoscope

Some of y’all are being reminded of the 70’s right now. Stay with me.

A kaleidoscope produces so many colors and the more you look into it, the more you see.

You have to point it toward a light.

There is no light within itself.

It requires the light from another source.

As we consider Jesus’s birth, there was something more than a birth of a baby.

There was something more than what’s on the surface.

There were so many things happening all at once, but the biggest reality of it all was that God had become man. The Light of world was coming into our darkness.

Big Idea: The Light of the King

Stand to read

John 1:1–5 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through 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 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Leader: This is God’s Word

Everyone: Thanks be to God

Who Jesus is (v. 1-4)

John is going to give us the highest form of Christology

The first verse of John speaks more about Jesus than anything else.

He opens with “In the beginning”

Anyone know the first time we hear that in the Bible? Genesis 1:1.

John doesn’t start at Jesus’s birth like other Gospel writers—He starts in the beginning of beginnings.

In the beginning was “the Word”

Greek philosophical term—logic.

Jesus is the logic/revelation of God.

God makes Himself known through Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the direct communication of who God is.

Jesus is God’s ultimate communication about Himself.

The Word was with God.

This is a very Trinitarian passage.

He is alluding to the Father and the Son.

Jesus Christ was with God in the beginning as the eternal Son of God.

In the beginning, when God created everything, He created everything through Jesus.

Everything that exists was made through Him.

He is why anything is.

The Word was God.

John is revealing to us Jesus’s divine identity—This is truly God.

Everything that exists was made through Him.

He is why anything is.

The same child that cried for His mother spoke creation into existence.

In Him was life (v. 4)

No one else can say that about themselves.

We live because someone else says we can.

We do not generate life in ourselves.

Life is something we receive from God.

Jesus doesn’t need another source of life but Himself.

He has life in Himself.

There was never a time He didn’t exist.

Life comes from Him, not given to Him.

What Jesus does (v. 5)

John 1:5 ESV

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Our world is dark and broken.

We do not have light in ourselves.

Perhaps you’re here and you don’t see a light anywhere.

The Christmas season is usually supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year.

Finances are hard because of all the gift buying on top of the already stresses with money.

The whole family might have been together but it would’ve been better had we not.

We can’t seem to see how things are get better.

This is where John’s introduction gets really personally comforting for us.

Jesus is the light that shines in our darkness (vv. 1-5)

A light is barely noticeable in the light.

It’s easy for us to say “God is good” when life is good.

But it also doesn’t carry a bunch of weight to it.

*Light a lighter/keep lights on*

It’s easy for this to be overlooked.

When you *turn the lights out*, this light is the first place your eyes go.

In the dark, the light is the only thing you see and it pushes back the darkness.

The light of the gospel shines brightest in our darkest days.

Gospel presentation

God the Son came into the world to drive back the darkness in our lives.

He took all of your guilt, shame, and sin onto Himself.

You were cursed, but He took your curse.

He became a curse on your behalf.

He took your darkness onto Himself and marched to the cross where He laid down His life.

Jesus was crucified in the middle of the day, and the Bible tells us that while Jesus was on the cross, darkness covered the entire earth in a supernatural way.

*Swing for fences* Jesus died in your darkness for you to live in His Light.

Because Jesus died in the darkness for your darkness, you can live in His light.

How? Because the darkness did not overcome Him (v. 5).

He rose victoriously over the darkness of our sin and death!

He conquered the dark and the brokenness!

He has given us this promise that we live waiting for—He will return to eradicate the world of the rest of the darkness.

When Jesus returns, the sun will stop shining, because Jesus Himself will be our light physically!

Right now, He is the light in our souls that conquers our darkness.

Jesus shines in our darkness.

Transition

This truly changes things in our lives.

When your darkness has been broken by the light, you can see clearly.

It also means you can never be the same.

This reorients our lives to live in the light of the King.

John gives us an example of how to do this.

John 1:6–8 ESV

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.

John was sent from God

John the Baptist was born for one reason—To be a witness to the light (v. 7)

The entirety of John’s identity was oriented around being a witness to who Jesus truly is.

John would tell people, “I’m not the Christ” then point at Jesus and say, “He is!”

The way John worked, rested, hangout with friends, traveled—everything that John did witnessed to who Jesus is.

Why?

Purpose: that all might believe (v. 8)

John was divinely commissioned by God.

God was going to use John the Baptist to bring many people to faith in the Savior of the world.

John was commissioned to witness because it’s through hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ that anyone can repent, believe, and be saved.

When the good news is preached, the Holy Spirit begins working in the lives of those who do not have a relationship with Jesus.

When the gospel is preached, sinners will hear and believe—they will be brought to life by God—and be saved through Jesus Christ!

This is why it is so important that we talk about Jesus!

John knew His purpose—to tell people about Jesus so that they can have eternal life.

John was sent by God to testify about the light.

So are we.

We are sent to testify to about the light (vv. 6-8)

Some of you have concerns about knowing enough/confidence/experience

John was sent by God to bear witness/testify.

Testifying in the courtroom is telling about what you saw/heard/felt.

You can tell anyone what you saw/heard/felt.

Example: “I went to church this past Sunday, my pastor told me that Jesus is the Light of the King and this is how I felt about it. Wanna come to church with me next Sunday? You might like it!”

How do you get the confidence?

You recognize you were sent by God to them, just like John was.

You need the power of the Holy Spirit, so lets start praying.

Who are you going to begin praying for to share the gospel with?

Who are you going to testify to the light of Christ at work in your life?

Those who have receive the light, were never meant to hide it.

If you’re not a Christian, I want to testify about the Light (according to the Word)

John 1:9–11 ESV

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 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.

Today, you’ve heard the good news of Jesus.

Jesus was the Light that came into the world to save sinners.

Some of you have not received HIm. Some of you still wont—You’ll refuse.

Your heart will remain hard to the gospel.

But here’s the promise.

John 1:12–13 ESV

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.

If you come to Jesus with the empty hands of faith, and receive God’s grace toward you… If you believe in His name, that He is the Lord of your life who died to forgive your sins…

The Jesus gives you the right to become a child of God by faith.

You’re not a Christian by blood (not because your Momma what a Christian)

You’re not a Christian by the flesh (you can’t earn your salvation by good works)

You’re not a Christian by the will of man (it’s not even a decision you made)

You can be a Christian by the will of God by believing in Jesus Christ and receiving His free gift of grace.

Will you trust in Jesus as the Light of your life today?

Will you surrender your darkness and your sins and trust Him to save you?

Pray “Jesus, I’m a sinner and I need a Savior. I surrender my life to you”

Take your next step of faith toward Jesus today.

Take the Next Step

Turn to the light of Christ

In order of a kaleidoscope to work to see all it’s amazing colors, it has to be turned to a light.

Our lives only make sense when we are oriented to the Light of Christ.

Pray for one specific person every day this week—and before Sunday, invite them.

Be a practical witness to the Light of Christ in your life.

Sharing your faith can be daunting.

If you invite someone, they will come.

Begin by praying for someone specific.

If you commit to praying for them enough, you can’t not share the hope of Jesus with them.

There are people you know who live in the dark.

the same Light that shattered your darkness is still shining— And it has not, and it will not, be overcome.

This could be the week someone’s entire life is turned upside down.

“You are loved and sent. Go, make disciples.”