12-03-06-Advent Light
Last week we lit the candle of promise to remember the wonderful promises God made to send a Savior to the world. Today, we lit the candle of Light, so I want to examine the scriptures about the Savior concerning Light.
¨ John 1:1-9 (NIV) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In Him was life, and that Life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. 6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that Light, so that through Him all men might believe. 8 He himself was not the Light; he came only as a witness to the Light. 9 The true Light that gives light to (enlightens—NASB) every man was coming into the world.
In a moment of time, God stepped out of heaven and was born on the earth as a little baby, named Jesus. As we celebrate the advent season we are remembering the reason for Christmas is because of the birth of Jesus. But we must never forget that Jesus Christ is also eternal God—His life did not begin with the birth in Bethlehem. As the apostle John said in vs. 1-3, He is God and has always been God.
He is called the Word. He is the vital Word of God, the personal wisdom and power of God. He is the voice of God. He is the revelation of God. He is God’s agent of creation of the universe, and the reason for the entire world’s life.
But John goes on to say that He is the Light. What does it mean that Jesus is the Light? That is the question I would like to explore today.
Vs. 4 tells us that the “Life was the Light of men.” This is a peculiar phrase. How is it possible that life can be our light? As the Life He is the source of our existence. God’s life breathed into us is the only reason we exist today on this earth. As God breathed the breath of life into Adam (Gen 2:7), so each person who is born today has the breath of life in them. When a little baby takes its first gulp of air, its lungs begin to fill with life. Each breath we take thereafter brings life into our bodies. Once we stop breathing, we cease to exist on this earth. Life is the gift of God that He gives to us each moment of our life on earth. Eternal life is the gift He gives us after we become born again, by accepting Jesus as our Savior, so that we will live with Him for all eternity.
¨ John 3:16 (NIV) “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John begins to answer this mystery about God’s Life being our light in vs. 5-9. He says that “the Light shines in the darkness.” Now it is a fact that light dispels darkness. If you are in a dark room, what happens when you turn on the light switch? Light comes into the room. Light has a unique quality that allows it to penetrate into every corner and crevice where there is darkness. But where does the darkness go? The darkness does not go anywhere because it does not exist. Darkness is simply the absence of light. Darkness cannot exist where there is light.
John continues to say, “but the darkness has not understood it.” Here is the problem with darkness, it cannot understand light. Light and darkness are opposites. So when people are walking in darkness, they cannot understand the Light. But God sent His Son Jesus as the Light to a dark world, and to those walking in darkness, so they can see and not continue to walk in the darkness. That is the good news of the Advent!
Thus, John is telling us that the Light has come to shine in our darkness, whether we understand it or not—the Light has come as the Word of God for our lives. The Light of God has come to give us life by showing us the way out of the darkness. The entrance of sin into the world, through Adam, brought darkness to the hearts of men. The world was plunged into darkness in the sense that men in general neither knew God nor wanted to know Him. Into this darkness the Lord Jesus came—a pure, bright, light shining in a dark place. Thank God He did not leave us to grope around in the darkness to try to find His Light!
Yet, many times we may feel like we are stumbling along in the darkness trying to find the light switch. That is when we must realize that God has shined His Light in our lives through His Word.
¨ Psalm 119:105 (NIV) Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
So we must learn to use the Word of God to “turn on” the Light in our darkness. When we are in fear, we must use the Word of God to bring light into the darkness.
¨ 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) For gGod has not given us a spirit of fear, hbut of power and of love and of a sound mind.
When we are sick, we must use the Word of God to bring healing light into our darkness.
¨ 1 Peter 2:24 (NKJV) bwho Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, cthat we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness— dby whose 7stripes you were healed.
When we need wisdom to make a decision, we must use the Word of God to bring light to our path.
¨ James 1:5 (NIV) If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Is there a sin that keeps rearing its ugly head in your life? Then do as David, and put the light of God’s Word in your heart and meditate on it.
¨ Psalms 119: 11 (NIV) I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Whatever situation we are in, the Word of God can give us the light that we need to guide us and show us God’s will for our lives so we don’t have to stumble around in the darkness.
John the Baptist in vs. 6-8 (this is not John the apostle who is writing the gospel) was divinely appointed to witness to the truth about Christ the “Light of the world” so that men might believe. The word “believe” means “to trust in, rely upon, or cling to.” So John the Baptist wanted people to believe or trust that Jesus Christ was sent to be their Savior exactly as God had promised. He makes it very clear that He was not the Light, but that Jesus is the Light of God.
In vs. 9, John (the apostle) says “The true Light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.” Jesus is called the “true Light” because He is the real thing. Many imposters may claim to be the light, but He is the only One who is the Light of God. Many religions may claim to have the true light, but only Jesus is the true Light who can bring light to the darkness we are in.
The NASB says that this true Light “enlightens” every man. To enlighten something is “to illuminate, shine light on, or make it clear.” That means that Jesus brings His Light into the darkness of our souls so that we can truly see them as they are.
5461 φωτίζω [photizo /fo·tid·zo/] v. From 5457; TDNT 9:310; TDNTA 1293; GK 5894; 11 occurrences; AV translates as “give light” twice, “bring to light” twice, “lighten” twice, “enlighten” twice, “light” once, “illuminate” once, and “make to see” once. 1 to give light, to shine. 2 to enlighten, light up, illumine. 3 to bring to light, render evident. 3a to cause something to exist and thus come to light and become clear to all. 4 to enlighten, spiritually, imbue with saving knowledge. 4a to instruct, to inform, teach. 4b to give understanding to.
“It was by the coming of the true Light ... into the world that every man was given light. This does not mean that every man has received some inward knowledge concerning Christ. Neither does it mean that all men have heard about the Lord Jesus at one time or another. Rather, it means that the Light shines on all people, without regard to nationality, race, or color. It also means that by shining on all men, the Lord Jesus has revealed men in their true character. By His coming into the world as the perfect Man, He has shown how imperfect other men are. When a room is in darkness, you do not see the dust on the furniture. But when the light goes on, the room is seen as it actually is. In that same sense, the shining of the true Light reveals man as he actually is.”[i]
The purpose of this illumination of our souls is not just to show us how dark they really are, but to show us that when we accept God’s Light the darkness of our sins can be dispelled (removed). If all we did is turn on the light to see the dust and dirt in our lives, we would be miserable people. But when the Light of God shines brightly in our lives, we see that there is an answer to the darkness and desire to receive that answer—the Son of God, Jesus Christ—the Light of the world. Then the Light no longer reveals the darkness of sin in our life, but instead the righteousness of God as we learn to walk with Him. Listen to what John says in 1 John 1:5-7:
¨ I John 1:5,7 (NIV) This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. . . . 7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.
Now that is good news!
The same One who supplied us with life is also the light of men. He provides the guidance and direction necessary for man. It is one thing to exist, but quite another to know how to live, to know the true purpose of life, and to know the way to heaven. The same One who gave us life is the One who provides us with light for the pathway we travel. [ii]
As we continue in this Advent season, let us remember that the Light of the world has come to bring salvation to all men. When you see the Christmas lights on houses or trees, remember the true Light who has come to reveal and dispel the darkness from our lives. As we celebrate Advent, let us remember the light that God brought into this dark world just for us. He gave the Light of the world so that we would no longer have to stumble around in the darkness caused by our sin. Praise His name forever!
Is the Light of God shining in your life today? If so, then don’t pull down the shades and shut it out, let it shine brightly for all around you to see. Is the Light of God not shining in your life today, because of your sins? Then come to the Light and find forgiveness for your sins.
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g John 14:27; Rom. 8:15; 1 John 4:18
h [Acts 1:8]
b Is. 53:4, 11; 1 Cor. 15:3; [Heb. 9:28]
c Rom. 7:6
d Is. 53:5
7 wounds
v v: verb
TDNT Theological Dictionary of the New Testament
TDNTA Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Abridged in One Volume
GK Goodrick-Kohlenberger
AV Authorized Version
[i]MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (electronic ed.) (Jn 1:4). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[ii]MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (electronic ed.) (Jn 1:4). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.