Jesus, The Light
John 1:6-13
Last Sunday morning we began our study on the Jesus of the Bible.
There is no more important truth than the truth that is Jesus.
There is no more penetrating truth than the truth that is Jesus.
In Jesus day, people did everything imaginable with Him, Except nothing.
You can’t do “Nothing” with Jesus.
You are forced to make a decision.
Matthew 12:30 “He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.”
The writer of Hebrews points out the eternal flaw
Of simply trying to ignore the truth about Jesus.
Hebrews 6:4-6 “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.”
When people try to ignore Jesus:
“they again crucify to themselves the Son of God”
It is impossible to do “Nothing” with Jesus.
On that day when He confronts your soul,
You must either yield to Him and call Him Lord,
Or you must resist Him and yell crucify,
But you cannot simply ignore the choice.
There is no more important decision you will ever make in your life than when you decide what to do with Jesus.
That being said, we are examining who Jesus is.
Last Sunday morning we saw that Jesus is the Living Word of God.
This morning John shows us that Jesus is the Light of the World.
4 truths
#1 THE LIGHT IS IMPORTANT
John 1:6-8
John the apostle begins this section by referring to the man
Whom we all know as John the Baptist.
He was the one sent ahead of Jesus in the Spirit of Elijah proclaiming to “make straight the way of the Lord”
John specifically says in verse 7
“He came as a witness, to testify about the Light”
WHY WOULD LIGHT NEED A TESTIMONY?
It seems to me that light generally speaks for itself.
The answer is also in verse 7
“so that all might believe through Him”
Because God wanted to make sure that everyone got it.
Light doesn’t generally need a testimony, but God wasn’t taking any chances that people might miss it.
THE POINT IS, LIGHT IS THAT IMPORTANT.
Think for a second about the importance of light.
The plague of darkness put Pharaoh on his knees.
Put someone in solitary confinement with no light, and they will go crazy.
I heard of a man whose show steers went blind being kept in the dark.
Also for the making of oxygen on the earth, plants need it.
Without light, there is no life.
This is true about Jesus.
He is literally the Light of the world, and just to make sure you didn’t miss Him, God sent a messenger ahead of Him to point out that He was coming.
So let me take just a second and tell you how important Jesus is.
If you were to travel back to the Old Testament, you would find either a tabernacle, or a temple. When you entered, you would see the veil, and immediately be reminded that God was off limits.
Of course the reason is because He is holy, we are sinful.
TURN TO HEBREWS 9:1-12
Man could not get to God apart from Jesus.
Romans 3:21-26 “But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
God could either be merciful, or just.
It was Jesus who allowed God to be both holy and merciful.
to “be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
JESUS PAVED THE WAY TO GOD.
Jesus is important.
So important that God sent a messenger ahead
To make sure the people understood that.
It is the same reason we preach Jesus today.
Jesus doesn’t really need my testimony, He can speak for Himself.
His Spirit can convict you without my help.
But the Light of Jesus is so important that God raises up witnesses about Him just to make sure that you know how important it is.
The Light is Important, without it, there would be only darkness as we continue to be separated from God.
#2 THE LIGHT IS INFORMATIVE
John 1:9
I like what John says here.
“This was the true Light”
It makes you want to say, “John, is there an untrue light?”
WHAT DOES A FAKE LIGHT LOOK LIKE?
He answers that by telling us what it is that makes Jesus true light
“coming into the world, enlightens every man”
The true light shines and enlightens.
True light shines. If something doesn’t shine, it isn’t light.
But True light also enlightens, reveals the truth about something.
Real light is informative. Fake light is not.
(EXAMPLE: The Lights at Canton didn’t tell the truth)
True light shines, and tells you the truth about what it shines on.
We know this because of what Jesus said about His followers.
Luke 8:16-17 “Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light. “For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.”
NOTICE THE TWO ATTRIBUTES?
Light is informative. That’s why people carry flashlights.
That’s why you put lights in your house, or flood lights outside.
I want you to know that Jesus is “the true Light, which coming into the world, enlightens every man.”
Jesus shines, and He “enlightens every man”
We know that doesn’t mean salvation because not every man gets saved.
But rather it is talking about the fact that Jesus exposes every man.
When the light of Jesus shines upon you,
He reveals what you really are, whether you like it or not.
He didn’t just come to highlight your good points.
He didn’t just come to make you look good.
He came to show you what you are.
Luke 2:34-35 “And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed — and a sword will pierce even your own soul — to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
Hebrews 4:12-13 “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”
You can’t hide what you are from Jesus.
He has a way of enlightening every man.
The woman at the well couldn’t hide from Jesus.
John 4:27-30 “At this point His disciples came, and they were amazed that He had been speaking with a woman, yet no one said, “What do You seek?” or, “Why do You speak with her?” So the woman left her waterpot, and went into the city and said to the men, “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?” They went out of the city, and were coming to Him.”
The Pharisees couldn’t hide from Jesus.
John 8:39-47 “They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, ” If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham. “But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do. “You are doing the deeds of your father.” They said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father: God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. “Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. “But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. “Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? “He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.”
Light is Important, Light is Informative (JESUS IS:)
#3 THE LIGHT IS IRRITATING
John 1:10-11
Now I can hear you.
DID YOU JUST INSINUATE THAT JESUS IS IRRITATING?
Absolutely.
He is irritating in the same way light is irritating.
He is irritating in the same way the mirror is irritating.
People don’t like to be exposed, people don’t like to know the truth about themselves, it irritates them.
There was a country singer who used to sing:
“I wish I didn’t know now what I didn’t know then,”
The simple truth is the light is irritating.
That is why you see the tragedy that happens in verses 10-11.
“He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.”
Creation not recognizing the Creator.
“He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.”
A Boy not recognized by his family
But the question that poses after reading those statements is:
WHY DID THEY NOT RECOGNIZE HIM OR RECEIVE HIM?
Well, what is it that causes people not to be able to recognize light?
You must have eyes.
Matthew 13:14-15 “In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ‘YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE; FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES, OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.”
They didn’t recognize the light because they had closed their eyes.
WHY DID THE CLOSE THEIR EYES?
Why do you close your eyes in the light?
Because it is irritating.
John 3:19-21 “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. “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”
People closed their eyes because the true light irritated their sin.
John 7:7 “The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil.”
It was this sort of light that irritated the people in Isaiah’s day.
Isaiah 30:9-11 “For this is a rebellious people, false sons, Sons who refuse to listen To the instruction of the LORD; Who say to the seers, “You must not see visions”; And to the prophets, “You must not prophesy to us what is right, Speak to us pleasant words, Prophesy illusions. “Get out of the way, turn aside from the path, Let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.”
True light is irritating, and this is what Jesus does to your sin.
Why do you think people take a step back when you mention Jesus?
Why do you think foolish evangelists tell you not to use Jesus name?
I’ve seen it more times than I care to repeat, some church growth guru will tell you not to mention Jesus because it offends people. YOU BET HE DOES.
He is irritating, but that doesn’t mean we are to stop.
In fact Jesus compared His followers to 2 things, both of them are irritating.
(salt & light)
I want to tell you something about Jesus.
He came to get real with you. He came to expose you.
He came to irritate your sin.
If you have never dealt with your sin, then you have never dealt with Jesus.
If you have never repented, then you have never dealt with Jesus.
If you have never been convicted, then you have never dealt with Jesus.
When you get face to face with Jesus, it can be irritating.
Isaiah 6:5 “Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”
The Light is Important, the Light is Informative, the Light is Irritating
#4 THE LIGHT IS IRREPLACEABLE
John 1:12-13
There were many who did not receive Jesus.
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God.”
We live in America, and we are accustomed to our “rights”.
The only problem is we often apply these to God as well.
BUT YOU AREN’T BORN WITH THE RIGHT TO COME TO GOD.
You lost your rights when you fell into sin.
You only get the right through Jesus.
HOW VALUABLE DOES THAT MAKE HIM?
You see the Light is irreplaceable.
We live in a day of imitation sweeteners…
You can have a salt substitute…
You can buy “off brand” products…
BUT DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE TO FIND A LIGHT SUBSTITUTE?
THE LIGHT IS EXCLUSIVE
Romans 5:1-2 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.”
There is only One who can give you the right to get to God.
There is only One who can introduce you to the Father.
1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ 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.”
He is the irreplaceable One.
Isaiah dealt with those who followed fake fire.
Isaiah 50:10-11 “Who is among you that fears the LORD, That obeys the voice of His servant, That walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God. Behold, all you who kindle a fire, Who encircle yourselves with firebrands, Walk in the light of your fire And among the brands you have set ablaze. This you will have from My hand: You will lie down in torment.”
You can’t find another way besides Jesus.
You must deal with Him.
And the only way you get “the right” is by believing in Jesus.
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.”
The word “believe” translates PISTEUO
“to believe, also to be persuaded of, and hence to place confidence in, to trust, signifies in this sense of the word, reliance upon, and not mere credence.”
It is more than agreeing with a truth you can’t prove wrong.
It is to totally rely upon Jesus. To surrender your all to Him.
Then John tells us how a person comes to believe in Jesus.
“who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
DO YOU WANT TO BE A CHILD OF GOD?
There are 3 ways it doesn’t happen.
1) GENETICS “not of blood”
Some think being raised in a Christian home will work. WRONG
I don’t care if your granddaddy was a deacon. IT ISN’T GENETIC
2) DESIRE “nor of the will of the flesh”
Wanting to go to heaven won’t work.
Check the Rich Young Ruler…
Romans 9:16 “So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”
3) PERSUASION “nor of the will of man”
Getting preached to does not make you a believer.
GOING TO CHURCH WON’T CUT IT
I can’t even get myself into heaven, let alone you.
I’ll tell you how a person comes to Jesus.
They must be born…of God.
Matthew 16:13-17 “Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”
The ability to come to Jesus is a gift from God.
You come when He calls, not when you want to.
John 6:44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.”
This is why it is so imperative that you deal with Jesus
When you have the opportunity.
That is why Jesus said this.
John 12:35-36 “So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. “While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.”
This is the point I want you to see.
If you don’t come to Jesus when He calls.
If you don’t respond to the Light when it shines on you,
Then how do you ever expect to gain the right
To become a child of God?
Jesus is Important, He is the One who bought access to God.
Jesus is Informative, He will reveal to you exactly what you are.
Jesus is Irritating, He will demand removal of the sin in your life.
Jesus is Irreplaceable, He is the Only way
You must do something with Him.
This morning we are going to honor Jesus
By partaking in the Lord’s Supper.
To eat the bread is to realize His body was broken for you
To drink the juice is to realize that His blood was shed for you
We partake and in so doing testify
That it was the Light of God that proved to be
The only thing that could lead us out of 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.”
