The Advent of Love (2)

Intro: Today begins the second week of Advent. This weeks focus is love. I’ve asked Wendy Taylor to read a passage of scripture and to light the Advent candle. Isaiah 60:1-3

John 1:1–17 CSB

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 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, 13 who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God. 14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified concerning him and exclaimed, “This was the one of whom I said, ‘The one coming after me ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’ ”) 16 Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, 17 for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

It is true that today’s theme of Advent is “Love” , you may be wondering why I would pick a passage of scripture that doesn’t actually mention the word “love”. But I hope as we look at this passage together by the end of it you will see love woven throughout its verses.

As we look at this passage of scripture we see three major themes “The Word” ,“The light”, and “The only begotten”. As a rule, when you are studying scripture, anytime you see a term or idea repeated you should mark it in your mind a as a major theme of the passage. We see the term “The Word” 4x . The Light 7x. And the “one and only son” is mentioned twice.

So it is with the book of John. One of the major themes that we find throughout the book of John is the divinity of Christ. So John starts his gospel with the foundation being Christ is God.

I. In The Beginning...

# 1 - John 1:1-3

John 1:1–3 CSB

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 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.

John uses very familiar wording to begin his message.

We see this same wording used in Genesis 1:1

Genesis 1:1 CSB

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

To make sure that no one is confused by this idea or makes the claim that Christ was a created being, John makes it clear that Christ was present before the creation of the world and actually took part in it.

From this we see these three names that John uses these names for the savior

II.The Word

This term for God was not unfamiliar to the Jewish audience. They also at times would us a similar name when describing Yahweh.

However, the Greeks would have had harder time discerning this term through John’s intent. for they believed in “the mind of the universe”. We see this same idea found prevalent in kids movies in an attempt to influence children's minds that God and the universe are the same. We could also call this the star wars theology or cosmology. He is more of a distant power than a loving Father. Isn’t it interesting that the same lies are repackaged and regurgitated throughout history.

Don’t be lulled into passivity. Wcked people are using media in an attempt to subtly shape your child’s view of God. If they can achieve this goal, than my everyday actions are not important. The universe will find balance and my life is the grand scheme of things is inconsequential.

But unlike the Greek understanding of “The Word”, John records for us that “The Word” does something unexpected.

John 1:14 CSB

14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The “Word” enters into the world of men and in this we see the plan of God’s love beginning to unfold.

John 1:9 CSB

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

III. The Light

We see this term used 7x in 5 verses.

What is the nature of this Light?

John 1:4 CSB

4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

So what is the Light? The life of Christ.

Notice that this verse doesn't say the “light to men” but rather the light of men.

John in his gospel is not directing us to some type of enlightenment ,but rather that Christ life is the light and the light transforms us.

In fact the word used for “light” in this phrase “light of men” refers to the visible light that comes from an outside source.

Jesus, who is also the creator is life and that life is that source of light. In other words He shines in us.

He is the the Light of the World....He is

The Light Shines in Darkness

John 1:5 CSB

5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.

The word “darkness” has the idea of the realm of darkness. If sin cannot be found in the realm of heaven than it must be confined to the realm of earth. After Satan’s fall he was cast to the earth. Yet Jesus in his great love entered into the darkness of the physical realm.

Just like it is today, darkness is associated with everything evil. In darkness, evil conceals itself. In darkness we are lost and incapable of finding our way.

Darkness produces confusion and chaos. Mankind in their sin wanders in darkness without hope.

Trans: In this we see the purpose of the Light shining into darkness.

John 1:6–9 CSB

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

We see that the Light shines so that all might believe in him. Notice it doesn’t say all will believe in him.

And we see this amazingly absurd reality

John 1:10 CSB

10 He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him.

Would’t it make sense that the created would accept and be able to recognize the reality of the creator.

I mean let that sink in for a moment. How absurd is it that mankind being made in the image of God fails to recognize the God who created them?

How many of you have ever had the joy of watching small children play hide and seek? There is always that one child that will hide in the middle of the floor, facedown covering their eyes or the child that stands in the open facing a corner.

It’s hilarious to watch. Not yet fully fully grasping the reality of the world around them. They simply believe that if they can’t see the one seeking them than they can’t be seen.

And Just like these small children, people live as if by simply turning their back to the light and not recognizing him as the creator, judge, and savior changes the reality of His existence.

John 3:19 CSB

19 This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.

But even though many would choose to ignore the light . Light and love entered into the world, anyway.

IV. The One and Only Son

John 1:14 CSB

14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:17 CSB

17 for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

John 1:18 CSB

18 No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.

This term “One and only or “only begotten son” has the idea of supremely unique. There is only one. Jesus is the only Son of God. Yet is God loved us so much that he did the unimaginable....he became God in the flesh.

John 3:16 CSB

16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

1 John 3:16 CSB

16 This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

Application:

Jesus Christ, the light of world left the perfection of heaven and took on flesh. (The word became flesh and dwelt among us) Immanuel. He was born of a virgin into the most humble beginnings. The scriptures tell us he was wrapped in strips of cloth and laid in a feeding trough.

He was not born to live a long life but instead he was born to die.

Jesus Christ the light of the world, shown down on us. By His life he revealed to us our sin, but the light was not overcome by darkness. Through His death we are redeemed. Through his death and Resurrection, we have hope of eternal life. This is the advent of love.

I think sometimes in our celebration of Christmas we miss the fullness of its meaning because we only focus on Jesus birth. But the plan of God’s rescue was not complete in Jesus birth alone, but in His death and resurrection.

He was a substituionary atonement for our sins.

Just like last week, we mentioned that you cannot celebrate Christmas with out the Hope of Christ. I would tell you, you can’t celebrate Christmas fully without an understanding of His death and sacrifice.

He came into the world to die for you......This is the advent of Love.