Jesus Is Our Light Series

There are seven wonderful titles of our Lord Jesus Christ in this opening chapter of the Gospel of John. He is called

(1) the Word (vv. 1, 14);

(2) the Light (vv. 5, 7);

(3) the Lamb of God (vv. 29, 36);

(4) the Son of God (vv. 34, 49);

(5) the Christ (Messiah) (v. 41);

(6) the King of Israel (v. 49); and

(7) the Son of Man (v. 51).

The first four titles, each of which is mentioned at least twice, seem to be universal in application. The last three titles, each of which is mentioned only once, had their first application to Israel, God’s ancient people.[1]

Today we will be looking at the second title, Jesus is the Light. We will explore the meaning of that title and how it applies to us today.

John 1:4–9

Opening ILL: Have you ever been in on one of those guided tours of any of a number of caves around our country ... like Ruby Falls, or Carlsbad Caverns or another one like nearby Marianna Caverns. Last summer we went and visited a cavern near the Smoky Mountains. And as they do in so many cave tours, once you get to a very inner place place in the cave, far from any daylight, they’ll turn out the lights and you cannot see anything ... not even your hand in front of your face. It is a frightening feeling! Very seldom has any of us found ourselves in total and complete darkness.

So much of wrongdoing, or evil, is committed in the darkness of night or in a dimly lit room. Why, because the devil is the ruler of darkness. It is his domain. It is interesting that the Bible describes heaven as being filled with light and Hell as being nothing but darkness. What’s the first thing we usually do when we walk into a dark room? We turn on a light. What should Christians be in this often dark world? A light. Jesus not only called himself the "light of the world," (John 8:12) but said: "You are the light of the world." (Matthew 5:14). It’s time we showed our lights and revealed the devil for who he really is.[2]

But do you know why the world hates the light of Jesus?

John 3:19–20 (NKJV) And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

Make no mistake about this. The world loves its evil ways and does not want anyone exposing them for what they are. As we read last week:

John 1:4 (NKJV) In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

Our light as Christians is the life that is Jesus. Jesus is life and Jesus is our light.

John 1:5 (NKJV) And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

We understand Light and darkness. Light is good and darkness is bad. We get it. But there is so much more that is intended here.

Light is life, light is goodness and all things good comes from God (James 1:17). Light is knowledge. And most important, Light is Jesus.

Darkness is death, darkness is ignorance, darkness is sin and separation from God.

In short, physically, symbolically, and spiritually speaking, darkness is the absence of light.

When you go into a dark room, and turn on the light, the shines where there was nothing before. Verse 5 tells us the light, which we will see is Jesus, shined where there was nothing before. The nothing that was there, the darkness, does not comprehend the light.

The word that we translate “comprehend,” in the Greek is <katalambano>. Directly translated means to grasp or to lay hold of. It could means to grasp as to understand, or to lay hold of something to overcome it. Here I believe it could mean both, the darkness does not understand the light, nor can the darkness overtake the light nor can the darkness control the light. Herein is the Gospel:

When the light, that is Christ, comes, the light invades the domain of darkness. Satan rules over the darkness and he and his followers will resist the Light. The Light, which is Christ will overcome the darkness and be victorious, in spite of the opposition. This light was foretold by prophets in the OT:

Isaiah 9:2 (NKJV) The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.

Now the writer of John, writes about John. This is not about the apostel John himself, but refers to John the Baptist.