Light that Shines in the Darkness

Welcome

1. Good evening! (welcome to English Bible study) (our "online community” Bible study) (as always, we like to do some introductions… type your name and where you are from)

2. Please keep us “up-to-date” on you how you are doing. (words of care and love from Amanda)

Introducing the Gospel of John

We are going to begin not only John’s gospel, but in truth, we are going to make are way through 1, 2, 3, John and Revelation.

Together, these are known as Johannine literature. (Why?… the reason is that somebody named John has something to do with each of these books) (there is a lot of discussion about authorship, but is enough to say that John, the “beloved disciple,” wrote the gospel of John)

The gospel of John, is not a “synoptic gospel.” (it is distinctively different from Matthew, Mark, and Luke) (those three Gospels are called the Synoptics, which means “with one eye.”)

The presentation of Jesus is very similar in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, but in John—it’s not just that the volume is turned up, in many ways, is different and deeper.

There seems to be two levels of understanding in the gospel of John… there is basic level and a deeper level.

NT221 The Wisdom of John: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on Johannine Literature Two Levels in the Gospel of John

One scholar has said about the Gospel of John, “It’s shallow enough for a baby to wade in, but deep enough for an elephant to drown.”

Show video overview of John from the Bible Project.

The Advent/Christmas Connection

There is an appropriate timing about beginning a study of John right now… because this is also the beginning of the Advent season!

Advent is special time of preparation. (we often celebrate hope, joy, love, and peace in the weeks coming up to Christmas… which is, of course, a celebration of the birth of Jesus)

In the advent season, we celebrate the coming of Christ… (past, present, and future) (it’s a time of anticipation and waiting expectantly)

We see this in the gospel of John, but it’s very different from the other gospels. (there is no manger and no shepherds… but it is perhaps the best picture of the “incarnation” of God)

Read John 1:1-14

The New International Version Chapter 1

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

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all 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 everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and  is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

Community

Right from the begin, John gives us a picture of God’s nature. (God is community) (we see God the Father and the Word) (the Word is more than just spoken language… the Word is a part of God, but not the same as God) (the meaning of this is what we mean when we say “Logos”)

This is where it gets very deep. (it means that Jesus was an active part of creation) (Jesus was not created, but a life force behind creation) (this is the Jesus we will see in the gospel of John) (Jesus has power over the created word… and yet, His presence is not terrifying or distant) (if fact, it is exactly the opposite)

Light

In this “Logos,” we see that there is life and this life is a light to the darkness… a light to the world. (this is an important point because we are drawn to light)

This is true physically (Christmas time is a perfect example) (the winter is very dark) (everyone like to have Christmas lights) (we put them on our trees, we see them at the mall, we have advent wreaths that have candles for light)

There was a man in our neighborhood in Michigan who went “all out” with Christmas lights on his house.

3. This is true physically, but it is more true spiritually. (we need the light of Christ in our lives) (there are times, when we need someone who can bend the laws of nature… to help us) (there are times we need to “see” the road ahead of us… we need the light of Christ to help with our past mistakes and the future God has in mind.

4. Those moments when the light of Christ breaks through of some of the meaningful moments of our lives. (there are so many stories in my life, when God broke through the darkness and the fog of this world.... just to say, “I love you and I am close.”

Incarnation

Verse 14 says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”

This parallels the Old Testament tabernacle. (this was basically a big tent the represented the “presence” of God to his people) (this was how the people could look and remember that God was with them)

This image is hard for us to really grasp. (we don’t live in tents and we aren’t nomadic people)

Yet, I will never forget one occasion when my children were much smaller. (we had a tent) (it was an indoor tent)

We had just set up the Christmas tree. (the kids were drawn to the lights on the tree) (they wanted to spend the night in front of the tree with their tent) (but they didn’t want to sleep their alone) (they wanted their daddy)

You know where this story is going. (what adult, in their right mind, would voluntarily give up the comforts of their own bed, to sleep on hard cold floor with children)

Yet, isn’t this the picture of the incarnation of Jesus?

Verse 14 says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”

God came to us that first Christmas… He comes to us today (in so many ways)… and he promises that one day, He will come again)

The God who created the world and has power over creation itself, loves you enough to sleep on cold hard floor next to you.

The light of Christ shines brightly!

Can you see it?

Prayer

Discussion Questions:

1. How is Christ a light for you?

2. How are you a light for others?