John Chapter1 verses 4-13 - The Light

Chapter 1

The Light

Vs 4

The Word (Jesus) IS life

Life is man's most important asset, without it we’re nothing.

John’s gospel focuses on the importance of knowing that life comes from Jesus

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

John 20:31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

Other References: John 5:26; John 6:57 (the word eat mean to consume); John 10:10; John 17:3

Jesus, is the source of physical and “eternal life”

John 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies

Resurrection – to raise up
Life – to be alive

This statement may seem perplex someone living even though they’re died. Its meaning is twofold; Jesus is talking about the coming resurrection at the end of time. But also, Jesus is saying that he who TRULY believes in me will die to self and I will raise him up and give him life anew.

Note: one must die to self (our sins) first and then have life anew (NOT LIKE THE ONE OF OLD).

Jesus, the light of men

The word “Light” in the Bible symbolizes “of God”. * “Darkness” is commonly used to signify death, ignorance, sin, and separation from God.
Isaiah described the coming of salvation as the people living in darkness seeing a great light (Jesus)

Isaiah 9:2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.

Other Reference: Matthew 4:16

Light (Jesus) is to expose our darkness

John 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."

John 12:46 "I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.

Other References: John 9:5; John 12:46

2 key points to avoid if we are to truly FOLLOW Jesus

i. Not to walk in the darkness (8:12)

ii. Not to remain in darkness (12:46)

·We need to watch (be prayerfully alert) where we are walking

Ephesians 5:8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light

Romans 13:12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near, Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Vs 5

The Light shines in darkness ·
“Shine” means to bring forth into the light or to expose to the light

“Darkness” is personified in this verse: John makes darkness personal

Darkness is unable to “Comprehend” light.

Comprehend – means in the Greek “to lay hold of”

Dictionary defines Comprehend

to grasp the nature, significance, or meaning of
to understand

We have problems with darkness in our lives because we allow it to confuse our thoughts and actions to the point where we can not see or comprehend the Light

John 3:19 "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.

Note: what in our life could be causing us to not fully comprehend Jesus?

Vs 6

Sent by God
came = “came into being” or “arrived”
Before John the Baptist (not John the gospel writer) was born he was given a special mission (Luke 1:11-17)
John was the great forerunner mentioned in Isaiah to prepare the way for Jesus.

A caller was one who would go before a king’s arrival and announce his coming (this was a custom for time of Jesus).

Isaiah 40:3 A voice is calling, "Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.

Being sent meant like the Old Testament prophets before him John was equipped and commissioned by God for special ministry.

Note: Your life is for a purpose, God has a special plan for you.

Vs 7

John mission was to pave the way
John was to pointed to the light switch (Jesus)
John is one of the witness to testify of Jesus

John 1:15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'"

Note: John is referring to Jesus deity because John was born 6 months prior to Jesus’ birth.

John 1:34 "I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God."

Note: John is referring again to Jesus deity by calling him the Son of God. Other References: John 1:32, 34; John 3:11, 26; John 5:31-32

The Father also testify of Jesus John 5:36 "But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish--the very works that I do--testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me. 37 "And the Father who sent Me, He has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form.
People in sin are in such darkness that they need someone to tell them where the light is

Note: We’re all called to be a pointer to the light switch

Vs 8

John was not the light

John the Baptist was awesome, but not the Light.

This is important to point out because some evidence suggests that the movement begun by John the Baptist continued after his death and even after the death and resurrection of Jesus

John 4:1 Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John

Luke 5:33 And they said to Him, "The disciples of John often fast and offer prayers, the disciples of the Pharisees also do the same, but Yours eat and drink."

Other References: John 1:20; Mark 6:29

Twenty years after Jesus' resurrection Paul found about 12 disciples of John the Baptist in Ephesus.

References: Acts 18:25; Acts19:1-7

A Mandaean (măn´dēenz) sect still continues south of Baghdad and in parts of Iran which, though hostile to Christianity, claims an ancestral link to John the Baptist and follows this teachings.
Be careful not to look up to or lift up man, but Jesus. When eyes are taken off of the Messiah and onto one’s self or another, disaster will follow.

Note: There is only one true Light and that is Jesus

Vs 9

Light of the World

· There’s only one true light

· Christ gives light to every man. This does not mean universal salvation or general revelation. What it means is that Christ as the Light shines on each person either in salvation or in illuminating him with regard to his sin and coming judgment.

John 3:18 " He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 "But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought (to work) in God."

Other Reference: John 9:39-41; John 16:8-11

What man can see in the dark?

Note: soiled clothes in the light; Jesus as a light to reveal sin to mankind. If we are having trouble seeing in the darkness, it’s because we are not looking for the light switch.

Vs 10

Jesus walked among us
He was in the world

“world” in Greek is = Kosmos, this is where we get our word “cosmos”
This world is in disobedience to God and under the ruler ship of Satan

John 14:30 "I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me

Man refused to recognize Him

o The Logos (Jesus) came among people in living form, but mankind did not recognize its Maker

Isaiah 1:2 Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth; For the LORD speaks, "Sons I have reared and brought up, But they have revolted against Me. 3 "An ox knows its owner, And a donkey its master's manger, But Israel does not know, My people do not understand."

o The failure to recognize Him (Jesus) was not because God's nature was hidden. Rather, it is because of human ignorance and blindness, caused by sin.

John 12:37 But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him.

Vs 11

Jews did not see Him

The chosen ones (Jews) could not even see Him. In some ways this is one of the saddest verses in the Bible.
The nation Israel, as a whole rejected Him.

Jews believe that because they are descendents of Abraham they have entrance into heaven

Luke 3:8 "Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father,' for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. 9 "Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

Other Reference: Matt 3:9-10

They were blind to their own ambitions and expectation.

Note: Never place high expectation on someone.

It’s easy to say that the Jews blew it, but how many of us today would do the samething if the Lord would come. “It can’t believe him because he’s wearing different clothes”, “His hair is not combed”, “He listens to that music”. What are your expectations for Jesus?

Vs 12 - 13

God’s Inheritance

Gentiles (non-Jews) can become children of God

The only way to become a child of God is through the Son of God
People are not naturally children of God but can become so by receiving the gift of the new birth.
In order to be a part of the family you must be spiritually born into the family

John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 "Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8 "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

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