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Jesus Christ, The Light
“The Lord Will Give Light.”
John 1:1-18
When we speak of light, we normally think of the light we can see - that which emanates from the sun, the stars, a flame, or our favorite, the power grid.
We are all too familiar with the contrast between light and darkness in the physical realm.
Surely every one of us could tell a story about when we had to hold our tongue after stubbing our toe in the dark of the night – even pastors.
The beloved disciple John, here, uses the comparison in a sense that is much deeper.
For just as we stumble in darkness here on earth when we cannot see, this serves as a vivid display of what is taking place spiritually for the universe – stumbling in darkness.
Proverbs 4:19 – “The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.”
- Darkness is hindering in human life, and without it, surely nothing and no one would survive.
So it is with spiritual life, only worse.
The darkness does not just lead to death, the darkness is spiritual death.
- All the world is walking in spiritual death – no light, no hope, no truth.
Consider what John wrote in his first epistle about those who are in sin.
1 John 2:11 – “But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”
Or what Paul said to the Ephesians.
This death and darkness is the curse of sin which has come upon every man because of the first man Adam.
It is a curse that requires a remedy that is far beyond mere effort.
A remedy that is far beyond our human abilities.
It requires an act of God himself.
In this all-familiar passage, we have the account of the birth of our Savior.
The promise of the Old Testament that the Messiah would come was now being fulfilled.
- But this birth was more than just a mere man, this was more than just a human instrument that God would use to accomplish his purpose - no, this was much, much more.
Consider the Words of Simeon that we have seen a few times this Christmas season.
Yes, this child was more than a human - this was the Salvation of God in human flesh.
The words that we find in John 1 give the behind-the-scenes details of all that Luke 2 means - The incarnation of God himself.
The darkness of this world is great, and the prince of the darkness is powerful, but God is greater.
Jesus Christ is the True, Eternal light that no darkness can overcome.
1.
The Light Exists Eternally - Vv. 1-5
1.
The Light Exists Eternally
John begins his Gospel record with familiar words - "In the beginning."
No doubt, our minds turn to Genesis 1:1 where the power of God was put on display in unfathomable splendor.
But these words reach to a time even before creation itself.
Similarly, Mark started his Gospel record with the words "The Beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, The Son of God."
Mark told us of the beginning of the Gospel, and Moses told us of the beginning of the universe, but John tells us of the beginning before the beginning.
John tells us that in the beginning, the Word or Logos was with God, and the word was God.
Who is this Word?
This Logos?
- The Greeks used this term, Logos, to refer to reason and speech.
Further than that, they sometimes used it to refer to "The principle that controls the universe" or "The soul of the world."
By this, of course, they were referring to an abstract principle - something that could only be surmised, but not a physical being.
But what of this Word?
This Logos?
John certainly knew this Greek understanding, but He also knew very well the Hebrews understanding.
In the Old Testament, the Word of the Lord was the expression of Divine power and wisdom.
Consider this statement in Psalm 33
Surely, this Word, This Logos is more than just an abstract principle or an idea.
Of course, from reading ahead to Vs. 14, we know that this Word is Jesus Christ!
John was presenting to his readers that this Word is the incarnation of divine power and revelation.
And far beyond that, John is telling His readers that this Word is God Himself!
What do you think of Jesus Christ?
Who is he?
According to Christianity this is the most important question you or anyone else will ever have to face.
It is important because it is inescapable—you will have to answer it sooner or later, in this world or in the world to come—and because the quality of your life here and your eternal destiny depend upon your answer.
Who is Jesus Christ?
If he was only a man, then you can safely forget him.
If he is God, as he claimed to be, and as all Christians believe, then you should yield your life to him.
You should worship and serve him faithfully
The Word was with God, The Word Was God.
When John says "The Word was With God," he is not merely saying that God and Christ were existing together - but rather this phrase pros ton Theon refers to being face-to-face with God.
It really gives the picture of them being in conversation, in a discourse - as it were.
This gives us insight into the incredible position that Jesus Christ had - he was not merely some creature that existed before the rest of us.
The Word Was God.
John minces no words in stating clearly that Jesus Christ is God.
This is the theme of his whole Gospel record.
Without spending too much time and distracting from the main point, it is worth noting here that many heretical groups through the centuries have used a mis-translation of this very text to diminish the Deity of Christ.
- By translating it as "The Word was a God" or "The Word was Divine"
And although many have been led astray by this, this is an attack on what God's Word is saying, and on the Godhead itself.
He was in the beginning with God.
Jesus Christ was not a created being, not even a special creation meant to be the messiah.
Jesus Christ is God, was God and with God from eternity past, and remained God as he walked the dusty roads of Palestine as a man in human flesh.
Vs. 3 cf.
Colossians 1:13-20
In Him Was Life, and the life was the light of men.
This reference to Christ having "Life and Light" is not simply a sentimental religious prop that sounds good on a Christmas Card, this is a realization of the Divine attributes that Christ has.
cf.
John 5:26
This is what we call Aseity or "self-existence", speaking further to the fact that this "Word" is more than just a creation, He is in deed the Creator.
This is a theme that John will repeat many times, and one that begins to clue us in on the redemptive work of Christ.
He starts here, and He finishes here.
cf. 20:30-31
Jesus Christ, The Word, has life in himself, He gives life to all in Creation, and He offers eternal life in salvation.
Vs. 5
John here moves to the present tense - The Light of Christ shines in the darkness, as He did years ago, and he will continue.
The Darkness that entered through sin and the fall is deadly, and it is black, but it is not absolute - only the light is absolute.
The darkness is not just the lack of truth, the darkness is the lie and deceit of unbelief.
This darkness has not overcome, you may have comprehend.
This word means to grasp, to wrap around, but more emphatically to seize or defeat.
The darkness is strong, but it is not able to overcome the light and life of the Eternal Word.
So this Word is eternal, is God, is life and light, and this life and light is the light of men.
THe light that they need.
2. The Light Transforms Supernaturally - Vv. 6-13
2. The Light Transforms Miraculously
John The Baptist
John, here, fittingly introduces the ministry of another John, the forerunner of Christ.
But what John says about Him here is quite astonishing.
John the Baptist's entire purpose was to bear witness to the true light which was Jesus Christ.
In comparing John to Jesus, it is no comparison.
John was a man used by God, Jesus was God descending to man.
John the man is simply a man, but John's message was of more than a man.
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