Shining the Light on Jesus

John 1:1-9

Introduction

Good morning church family.

Tonight at 6:00 PM we begin our Vacation Bible School, "Illumination Station." Throughout this week, children will gather to learn truths from God's Word, but the purpose of this week is far greater than simply having a successful program. Our goal is to shine the light on Jesus Christ.

Every generation faces confusion about who Jesus is. Some call Him a great teacher. Others see Him as a prophet or religious leader. Many admire Jesus while denying His deity and rejecting His authority.

Yet the most important question any person will ever answer is not what the world says about Jesus. It is the question Jesus Himself asked in Matthew 16:15: "But who do you say that I am?"

Our salvation, our worship, our hope, and our eternal destiny all depend upon the answer to that question.

If we misunderstand who Jesus is, we misunderstand everything else.

That is why John begins his Gospel the way he does. He does not begin with Bethlehem, the shepherds, or the manger. Instead, he pulls back the curtain of eternity and reveals Christ as He truly is.

Before John tells us what Jesus did, he tells us who Jesus is.

Before he tells us about Christ's miracles, he tells us about Christ's majesty.

Before he tells us about the cross, he reveals the glory of the One who would hang upon that cross.

As we prepare for Illumination Station tonight, there is no better passage we could examine than these opening verses of John's Gospel. They shine the light directly on Jesus Christ.

John 1:1–2 NKJV

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.

I. JESUS IS THE ETERNAL GOD

John opens with words that immediately remind us of Genesis 1:1:

"In the beginning..."

But John is not taking us back merely to creation. He is taking us back before creation.

He writes, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

Notice carefully what John says. He does not say the Word came into existence. He does not say the Word was created. He says, "In the beginning was the Word."

Before there was time, before there were angels, before creation itself, Jesus already existed.

There has never been a moment when Jesus did not exist.

Jesus did not begin at Bethlehem. Bethlehem was His incarnation—the moment the eternal Son of God took upon Himself human flesh.

John refers to Jesus as "the Word." Through words we reveal ourselves to others. Jesus is called the Word because He is God's perfect revelation of Himself.

If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus.

Hebrews 1:3 says that Christ is the brightness of God's glory and the express image of His person.

Then John says, "The Word was with God."

Jesus is not the Father. The Son exists in eternal relationship with the Father. From eternity past there has been perfect fellowship within the Godhead.

Then John reaches the climax of his statement:

"And the Word was God."

John could not be clearer.

Jesus is not a created being, an angel, or a lesser deity. He is fully God.

Thomas declared, "My Lord and my God" in John 20:28.

Paul declared in Colossians 2:9 that in Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

Hebrews 1:8 records the Father saying to the Son, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever."

Church, if we are going to shine the light on Jesus this week, we must begin here.

Jesus is not merely a good man or a moral teacher.

He is the eternal God who became flesh and dwelt among us.

John 1:3 NKJV

3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

II. JESUS IS THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS

This verse leaves no room for exceptions.

All things means all things.

Everything from the stars above to the oceans below owes its existence to Jesus Christ.

The universe did not happen by accident. Creation is not the product of blind chance. Creation is the work of an intelligent Creator.

The Bible consistently attributes creation to Christ.

Colossians 1:16 says all things were created through Him and for Him.

Hebrews 1:2 says God made the worlds through His Son.

The One who walked among us in human flesh is the very One who created all things.

Think about that for a moment.

The Creator entered His own creation.

The Author stepped into His own story.

The King entered His own kingdom.

The Creator became a man in order to redeem those He created.

What incredible grace.

What amazing love.

John 1:4 NKJV

4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

III. JESUS IS THE SOURCE OF LIFE

Life originates in Jesus Christ.

Every heartbeat is sustained by Him.

Every breath is a gift from Him.

Acts 17:28 reminds us that in Him we live and move and have our being.

Yet John is speaking of more than physical life.

He is speaking of spiritual life.

The great tragedy of humanity is not merely physical death. It is spiritual death.

When sin entered the world through Adam, humanity was separated from God and became spiritually dead.

No religion, good works, or human effort can solve that problem.

The problem is deeper than behavior.

The problem is the human heart.

Only Jesus can give life to a dead heart.

That is why Jesus declared in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life."

He is the source of eternal life.

He is the giver of abundant life.

He is the only Savior who can reconcile sinners to God.

This is why VBS matters.

We are not simply teaching Bible stories.

We are introducing children to the One who gives eternal life.

Our desire is not merely that children know about Jesus.

Our desire is that they know Jesus Himself.

John 1:5 NKJV

5 And the light shined in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

IV. JESUS IS THE LIGHT THAT OVERCOMES DARKNESS

Darkness throughout Scripture represents sin, rebellion, deception, and spiritual blindness.

Ever since Genesis 3, humanity has lived in darkness.

We see the evidence of that darkness all around us in brokenness, confusion, and hopelessness.

Into that darkness came Jesus.

Notice John says the light shines.

Present tense.

The light is still shining.

Every force of darkness opposed Him—from religious leaders to Roman authorities and even the grave itself.

Yet three days later He rose from the dead.

The darkness could not overcome Him then.

The darkness cannot overcome Him now.

His gospel still saves.

His truth still transforms.

His Word still changes lives.

His light still shines into the darkest places.

And every person who comes to Christ discovers that His light is stronger than their darkness.

John 1:6–9 NKJV

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all 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 gives light to every man coming into the world.

V. JESUS IS THE LIGHT WE MUST PROCLAIM

John introduces another man named John—John the Baptist.

His mission was simple.

He came to bear witness of the Light.

He came to point people to Jesus.

John understood something every believer must understand.

He was not the Light.

Jesus was the Light.

His purpose was simply to point others to Christ.

That is our purpose as well.

The church, the preacher, the music, and even VBS are not the Light. Their purpose is to point people to Jesus, the true Light.

Everything we do this week should point children and families to Jesus Christ.

Our prayer is that children see His glory.

Our prayer is that children understand the gospel.

Our prayer is that children trust Him as Savior and Lord.

Conclusion

As John opens his Gospel, he shines a spotlight on Jesus Christ.

He is the eternal God.

He is the Creator.

He is the source of life.

He is the Light of the World.

And He is the One we must proclaim.

Tonight Illumination Station begins.

But before we shine the light on Jesus to the children of our community, we must make sure His light is shining in our own hearts.

Have you trusted Him?

Do you know Him?

Have you come out of darkness and into His marvelous light?

Perhaps there is someone here this morning who has heard about Jesus for years but has never truly surrendered to Him.

Today the Light is shining.

Today the invitation is open.

Come to Christ.

Trust the Savior.

Believe the gospel.

And church family, let us pray that throughout this week God would use every lesson, every volunteer, every classroom, and every conversation to shine the light of Jesus Christ into the hearts of children and families throughout our community.

May many come to know the Light of the World.

Amen.