Light, Darkness, and the Light of the World
Notes
Transcript
John 1:1-4;9-13; 8:12; 9:5; Mt. 5:14-16.
The Lights of Christmas
The Lights of Christmas
- referencing the decorations, lights, beauty, qualities of light - visible yet invisible
I love lights. Well, not like I love my family, but I love the effects they have on things. As I’m getting older, I’m finding I need light to see more clearly, to read. I love how light has this ability to impact the atmosphere of a room.
I also love Christmas lights. I love the colors and creativity. As I walk in the early mornings or drive around town, I thoroughly enjoy getting to see how the lights adorn houses and the central part of town. It’s just so special. In fact, if you’d like to see something quite interesting - drive down Chiswell on your way home. You’ll see some amazing lights.
Now, if you’ve driven by our house lately, you might wonder - “if you love lights so much - why aren’t there any on your house?” that’s a great question - For which I have no answers.
But, I want us to think about light for a moment.
Have you ever noticed that light cannot really be seen until it has something upon which to shine? For instance, if I shine a flash light up here - you can’t see the beam of light until it has something to touch - dust particles or a wall or a face. It’s as though light is only there to serve - and not seek it’s own glory.
Darkness cannot exist where the light is. As soon as light is present, darkness must flee.
Light illumines. It helps us to see where to walk, what we are looking at.
Light is a metaphor that Jesus used to speak of himself. You see, Jesus is...
The True Light of the World - Jesus
The True Light of the World - Jesus
John 1:1-4;9-13; 3:19-21; 8:12; 9:5; 12:35-36, 46
Normally, at this time of year we talk read from the book of Luke and we read about the Angels’ visits to Mary and the Shepherds. Sometimes we’ll read from Matthew and talk about the birth of Jesus the Messiah or the visit of the wisemen.
But this year, I’d like for us to consider John’s account. Now, he doesn’t so much talk about the birth of Jesus as he does the nature of Jesus and the purpose of His coming.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
So here, as we celebrate the birth of this child, John helps us to see that this child is actually from of old - from the beginning. His birth did not mark his beginning, but simply his advent or his coming.
But why, why did he come?
I think that fourth verse gives us a hint:
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
John continues a few verses later...
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
This true light came into the world. Not simply to illumine dark places, but to give us life.
Jesus, in the 30 or so years that he lived on earth, demonstrated the life and grace of God. He showed us how to love the unlovely, how to walk with humility, how to give generously, how to glorify God.
He showed us how to live with honor and honesty.
He illumined a path for us to live. In fact, elsewhere in John...
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
At face value, Jesus’ comment here seems to be straightforward - we follow Him and we won’t walk in darkness. We follow his teaching, his way of life. But what does this statement - “light of life” mean?
It seems like this “light of life” is not only an example of how to live, but showing the way to abundant and eternal life. Later, Jesus even invites us to be the children of light.
I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.
So he came as light, and invites people to believe in him in order to be removed from darkness
What do you believe about this little baby? What do you believe about who he truly is and why he truly came?
Sure, he came to be an example - to teach us how to live.
But he also came to bring us forgiveness from the darkness and the gloom of our sin. He came to give his life as a ransom for ours, so that we might be able to walk with him for eternity.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
I hope that as you celebrate Christmas and as you consider what happened in Bethlehem 2000 years ago, that you’ll be reminded of the mysterious ways of God:
how he chose a young teenage girl who was full of grace and truth - who was a godly young woman - to bring the son of God into the world and raise him.
how God chose a blue-collar carpenter to be the step-father to the son of God.
I hope you get to see how the message of Jesus coming was first given to some lowly shepherds - the lowest of society.
But I also hope that you are truly mindful of why he came - to be light - to give life.
But there is one other element about light that I want us to consider. You see, Jesus said...
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
While he would walk on earth, He would be light in the world. So does that leave us without hope, without light in the world?
God has left us to fulfill the mission. You see...
The Extended Light of the World - Jesus’ people
The Extended Light of the World - Jesus’ people
- Mt. 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
If you are a follower of Christ, you bear his light in the world. Don’t hide it.
Have you ever noticed that just the right amount of light can make the moment? Too much and it hurts (like those big pick-up trucks with bright LED lights that are nearly blinding) - too little and it’s ineffective.
Beloved - let people see the light of life in you - in how to speak, how you share, how you serve, how you love. As Jesus’ ambassadors on earth, you represent him. Represent him well! Be more than ambient light in the world.