Go! And Shine: The Light Has Come - John 1:5 Series

Go! And Shine: The Light Has Come - John 1:5

John 1:5 (NLT): “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”

Introduction: Only 12 Weeks to Christmas

Friends, did you know there are only twelve weeks until Christmas? For some of us, that thought brings joy. For others, it brings panic—shopping lists, decorations, endless planning. But for the Christian, Christmas is about far more than presents under a tree or turkey on a table. It is about celebrating the greatest truth in human history: the Light has come.

Christmas is not simply about a baby in a manger. It is about God Himself entering our world in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. John 1:5 (NLT) says: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”

This morning, in our Go! And… series, I want us to hear the call of God’s Word: Go! And Shine, because the Light has come.

Point 1: The Light Brings Hope

Isaiah 9:2 (NLT): “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.”

Isaiah prophesied these words 700 years before Christ, in a time when God’s people were living under the threat of invasion, fear, and spiritual decline. The Hebrew word for darkness here is ?ošek—it means not just physical darkness but misery, destruction, and death. Into this despair, God promised a light.

That light is Jesus. Matthew’s Gospel tells us that Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus began His ministry in Galilee (Matthew 4:16).

Our world feels dark, doesn’t it? Wars, economic struggles, personal battles with sin or depression. Yet the Light has come. Jesus shines hope where despair wants to dominate.

Max Lucado once said, “Hope is not what you expect, it’s what you would never dream.” And isn’t that true? No one dreamed God Himself would step into human history, born in a manger, to bring salvation.

Think of the way dawn breaks after the longest night. Hours of waiting, wondering if light will ever come, and then the sky begins to glow. That is what Christ has done—He is the dawn of eternal hope.

Point 2: The Light Brings Direction

Psalm 119:105 (NLT): “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”

In ancient Israel, a traveller would use a small oil lamp at night. It only lit a few steps ahead, but it was enough to keep walking safely. The Hebrew word for lamp here is ner—a small, steady flame.

God’s Word, and ultimately Jesus the Living Word, is our guide. John 8:12 (NLT): “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

In a world full of confusion, shifting morals, and cultural darkness, the Light of Christ guides us. We don’t need all the answers for tomorrow; we need to trust the One who lights our next step.

John Piper once said, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” If we want direction, we must look to Him, not ourselves. The more we walk in His light, the more we glorify Him.

Imagine driving down a pitch-black country road with no headlights. Terrifying. But when the lights are switched on, the danger is exposed, and the path is clear. Jesus does that for our lives. He exposes what is dangerous and shows us the way forward.

Point 3: The Light Brings Life

John 8:12 (NLT): “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

Jesus spoke these words during the Feast of Tabernacles when giant lamps were lit in the temple to symbolise God’s presence guiding Israel in the wilderness. Against that backdrop, Jesus declared, “I am the light of the world.” Not just for Israel, but for all people.

The Greek word for life is zoe—not just existence, but abundant, eternal life.

Jesus doesn’t just improve our lives; He gives us new life. The Light has come to rescue us from death and bring us into eternal life with Him.

Tim Keller said, “The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”

Think of a seed buried underground. It looks dead, hidden in darkness. But when the sun shines, life bursts forth. That’s what Jesus does—He takes what is dead in us and brings new, eternal life.

The Gospel Presentation: The Light of the Cross