Light In The Darkness
John 1:1-18
Introduction
-80th birthday party
-People came from Vancouver, Toronto and
-If 80 is significant, how much more significant is 2000?
-we have great reason to celebrate.
-reflection of what the year of her birth was like.
-a card
-the time in which Jesus was born, --- darkness.
-violence - gladiators // people to lions
-Slavery
-spiritual darkness.
-Paul in Athens,
-the Jews
-Isaiah 9:2 speaks about “the people walking in darkness…”
-have seen a great light.
-John 1:1-18 Jesus is the light
-7 times in 5 verses, more than any other word
-photo studio // At a certain point the light could be turned on. What a relief
-great celebration of Jesus birth - He came as a light into a dark place!
I. Jesus is the Light
-night hikes.
-Jesus, however, is the light and not merely the one holding the light.
-mirror on a sunny day
-Jesus, however, is the light and not merely the reflection of light.
-Jesus came from God,
-verse 1, - the Word.
-Jewish and Greek imagery
- Jesus was in the beginning with God // he was God.
-he was creator.
-he was the life.
-verse 18, - “In the bosom of the Father”
-When He shone into this dark world, He shone as the source of light because He came from the source of light.
-reason to celebrate
-Many people honor Jesus as a great teacher
-not merely a teacher, He is the truth.
-not merely a philosopher, He is the main idea.
-not merely a reflection, but the light of the world.
II. Jesus Came Among Us To Bring Light
- At concerts or shows, there is a person who runs the spotlight.
-Jesus was not the one shining from afar, but came right into this dark world and shone the light among us
-John 1:14. “The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us. We have seen his glory, glory of the one and only Son who came from the Father full of grace and truth.”
-light shining in our midst
-George Burns in the movie “O God” - “I picked a look you could understand.”
Maker of the sun,
He is made under the sun.
In the Father he remains,
From his mother he goes forth.
Creator of heaven and earth,
He was born on earth under heaven.
Unspeakably wise,
He is wisely speechless.
Filling the world,
He lies in a manger.
Ruler of the stars,
He nurses at his mothers bosom.
He is both great in the nature of God,
and small in the form of a servant.
-In the Old Testament, God had lived among the people in the tent of meeting. - hidden in mystery and fear.
-Now Jesus, God himself has come among us.
-John 1:18 says, “no one has ever seen God…”
-emanations
-the source of light has personally shone
III. In His Light We See!
-“Where is this light?”
- Calvary temple production of the Messiah.
-conversation at work - Christmas was the spirit of giving realized in Santa Claus.
-Corydon,
-darkness in this world is very great. where is the light?
A. People Prefer Darkness
-1:5, “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.”
-10,11, “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.”
-get up about 6:30. - “I am going to put the light on.”
-people of this world do not want to see the light.
-sad part of Christmas.
-we are reflectors of his light and need to keep on shining his light into the world.
B. Those Who Received Him
-1:12
1. The light of salvation
-Monday
-Is there darkness in your world, in your life?
-Jesus is the light of the world who has come to dispel that darkness by offering salvation.
2. The light which comes to the world
-teacher who has offered to give her kidney to one of her students.
-light which Jesus brought into the world shines when people live giving and sacrificial lives
3. The light of missions
-“Joyous Christmas” in 6 languages.
-into all corners of the world wherever the gospel is being proclaimed.
4. The Light of Relationship
-to know God in closeness of relationship.
-in the bosom, or lap of the Father.
-1:12 - children of God.
-Verse 14 says that “we have seen his glory”
-verse 18 - “ has made Him known.”
-not only forgiveness and salvation from our sins, but the adoption as sons and the possibility of knowing God in a close and personal relationship.