John 1:6-13

THROUGH THE NEW TESTAMENT

JOHN 1B

10-7-99

INTRO: Matthew presented Jesus Christ as the King of the Jews, their

promised Messiah. And you will find in Matthews gospel no less that

60 O/T prophecies that find their fulfillment in Jesus.

Mark presents Jesus Christ as the suffering servant of God &

since no one was interested in the pedigree of a servant, Mark’s is the

only gospel without a genealogy.

Luke was a gentile physician so it makes sense that he presents

Jesus Christ as the Son of Man. And we’ve seen how Luke focused on

the humanity of Jesus tracing His roots all the way back to the first man,

Adam.

And as we come now to the gospel of John, John presents Jesus

Christ as the Son of God, diety come in human flesh. And we saw last

time how John begins his gospel with the divine genealogy of Jesus.

1-2 Jesus is the Word, Jesus is God. And we will see over and over in the

gospel of John how Jesus is presented as God come in human flesh. In

fact, we see that in the very next verse.

3 Now Jesus was not created as some suggest, He is the creator. Jesus created

everything. If it was created, it was created by Jesus Christ. In Colossians

we read, For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens

and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or

rulers or authorities - all things have been created by Him and for

Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Col. 1:16-17

Now "All" means all. "Nothing" was made without Jesus. He is the Creator.

Now we’re told back in the book of Genesis "In the beginning, God created

the heavens & the earth..." Yet here we’re told that Jesus created all things.

How can that be....unless Jesus is God. You see, He was not the first created

being, as some cults believe; He Himself created all things.

4 In Him - in Jesus - was and is life. You may be alive, but you don’t have life

without Jesus. You are alive physically, but you don’t have spiritual life

without Jesus. Jesus is the Word Who became flesh to show you life - true

life, eternal life. Someone has well said that doctors may help us live longer,

but they don’t give us a reason to live. Jesus gives us a reason to live.

4-5 Now when John says that "the darkness did not comprehend it," the

word "comprehend" means extinguish. The darkness did not extinguish

the light. Oh, they tried. Perhaps the greatest evidence of this truth is

when they crucified Jesus. As they sought to extuingush the light,

darkness fell upon the land. But for only 3 hours. The light shined

again. The darkness couldn’t comprehend, extuingush it.

You see, the message of Jesus Christ is a light shining in the darkness of

sin and death, a beacon to draw men to God. "Darkness" speaks of the

condition humanity is in apart from Jesus Christ. 2Cor. 4:4 ...the god

of this world, has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they

might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is

the image of God.

Maybe you remember the Simon & Garfunkel song from the 70’s

called "The Sounds of Silence." A verse in that song says..."Hello

darkness, my old friend, I’ve come to talk with you again." That is a

vivid and accurate description of the way people feel today - they

are living in darkness. Blinded by the devil to the glorious gospel of

Jesus Christ. But Jesus wants to be the light in our lives. He’s come

to deliver us from the darkness.

6-8 Jesus was the light of men, not John. That’s an important point, because

many people actually thought John was the Messiah. We’ll see next week

how a delegation sent from Jerusalem thought he might be the Messiah.

No, Jesus was the light. Jesus came and shined light on every person.

9-11 Notice that Jesus Christ "gives light to every man coming into the world."

Every man! Like some of you, I am often asked "but what about the

aborigines or the pygymies?" The bible says that Jesus gives light to

every man who comes into the world. Now how does He do that?

I believe we find the answer over in Romans 1:19-20. First of all,

every man has the external witness of creation. Secondly, every man has

the internal witness of conscience.

But tragically, humanity seeks to reject that witness. The world knew

Him not. He came unto His own & His own received Him not. And

if you’re one here this morning without Jesus, then you’re no different