Light Has Come Series

Light Has Come

The Gospel of John Series – Part 2 September 20, 2015

Last week I shared about the beginning of all things; how there was the Word and that Word was Jesus, eternally existing and creating all that has ever been made. We saw how He is life, and that life is the light of all men.

Today, we're going to look a little more at that light that has come into the world.

I'd like to again encourage you to take notes, to write down your thoughts, to highlight your bible, to write out any questions you may have and to also take time to read this again at home and ask God what He may specifically be saying to YOU.

Let's continue this journey through this gospel according to John. Today we look at chapter 1 and verse 6. I'm reading from the English Standard Version. Will you stand with me as we read the Word of God…

Pray – God, speak to us…

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was (Iōannēs) John. (Jehovah is a gracious giver).

This is John the Baptiser who was the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth (Mary's cousin) born shortly before Jesus was. We can read much about his birth and life and death by beheading in all of the Gospels. We're not going to focus too much on John today, we'll save that for next week if you want to do some pre-reading, check out Matthew 3, Mark 1 and Luke 1 & 3…

What I will say about John and what we need to see is that he was SENT FROM GOD. John's birth was to two elderly folks who figured there was no way they could have kids any more. But an angel came to Zechariah (a priest) and told him this would happen and that God had a very special plan for this child. (see Luke 1). He would be great and would lead many people to repentance. God had a mission for his life.

But being an old man, he doubted the message. But all that the angel told him came to be. Do we have doubts about what God can do in and through our lives? Have there been times when we think, 'Nahhhh, that could NEVER happen! God couldn’t really do THAT.'

Oh, ye of little faith! (I think that's what Jesus would say…) What have we missed out on, what glory has God been robbed of when we don't believe what He says? What does it say about our faith when we doubt God's Word? God sends US out as His voice in this world. Jesus told this to His disciples in John 20…'as the Father has sent me, so I am sending you…'

God sent John, He sent Jesus, and He sends us with a message for the world. Do we believe that we are sent with a mission, do we realize the purpose to which we are called? Do we take it seriously when God says, GO? John knew his mission and it was this:

7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

John came as a witness, to share about light. What light? A candle, a 60W bulb, a 220 lumen LED flashlight? I happen to have one of those. I love it! It is a compact, tough and VERY bright flashlight. It's like a spotlight on dark nights that will send a focused beam across a field and light up something on the other side. I'm pretty sure you could see this thing from several miles away, especially when it's on emergency flash mode…it's cool!

But this is not the light John was testifying about. He was witnessing about Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. Again, we see this correlation between what John, the writer of this gospel, has pictured comparing it with the Genesis account of creation – let there be LIGHT.