Journeying With John - It’s a Trip (JWJ-05)
When the Light Shines
John 1:9-13
This morning John is going to take us to a very deep place that has very profound implications. As a matter of fact, the way you respond in the next few minutes is an indication to me of what your experience of eternity is going to be like.
Our series is entitled, ‘Journeying With John, It’s a Trip’. Our title this morning is, “When the Light Shines.”
Please open your Bibles with me to the Gospel written by John, the Apostle of Love, John, the Apostle of Life, John, the Apostle of Light - and the first chapter of that fascinating gospel. We have looked at the first 8 verses so far in our study. This morning I invite you to consider with me verses 9-13.
John 1:9-13 - Read and Pray
1. The True Light Revealed - John 1:9
Right up front I want to remind us that there is no darkness like the darkness that occurs where God is not present. As a matter of fact, the greatest darkness imaginable to mankind is the darkness of the soul that results from the absence of God. This darkness is the condition of man apart from Jesus Christ.
2 Cor. 4:4 tells us that “. . . 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.”
Last week we looked at the incredible darkness that emerges in the absence of light - a darkness that is thick, blinding, disorienting, confusing. As a matter of fact, Exodus 10:21 describes a darkness that is so dark it can be felt. Sheol, the place of the dead, is referred to in these terms in the Bible, “a place of darkness.” [Job 17:13] The kingdom of satan is described again and again as a ‘kingdom of darkness.’ [Mat. 8:12] And the tragic reality is that outside of Christ man lives this darkness. [John 3:19] “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.”
Precious believer - in this darkness you and I once dwelt. In this darkness we, too, were condemned, in this darkness we too were blinded and confined.
But into this darkness the light of Christ shines, the true light that enlightens every man - not every man without exception, but every man without distinction. That would be a good place for somebody to yell out an ‘Amen!’
So why, then, does the passage describe Jesus as the ‘true light?’ I would suggest for at least two reasons.
Firstly, history tells us that when Jesus stepped into public ministry it was into a season of messianic fever. All of Israel knew the prophetic words that a Messiah was about to come. As a matter of fact, there were a number of messiahs who had arisen during this period and claimed to be the prophesied messiah. Well this was the true light.
Secondly, other lights may flicker with the right truth but they simply give a faint glimpses of reality. The prophets did this. John the Baptist did this. But he declared that he was not the light. Jesus Christ, the genuine Light was coming into the world.
1. The True Light Revealed
2. The True Light Rejected - John 1:10
Listen to me if you would precious believer - this is tragedy. He was in the world - this was not God shouting from a distance, this was the God who made the world coming into the world - but the very world He made rejected the One who made it.
The salvation God brought was the very salvation man needed, expressed in the only way man could receive at the only price man could afford. You could not think of a better, more clear communicated or more reasonably priced salvation plan. It costs you nothing and gives you everything.
Tony Abram noted insightfully, “One of the great mysteries of the world is that the whole world is not Christian.” It absolutely makes no sense. Here is the reason why: Satan has blinded the eyes of the world, dulled their senses, corrupted their hearts and deceived their appetites. Darkness is now all they have and all they know.
The tragic theme song of this world was blazed across the night skies by Simon and Garfunkel - “Hello Darkness My Old Friend.” That’s all they have and all they know. And the darkness is so dark inside of them that they cannot see the light outside of them.
This world hated and rejected Jesus, and the only place they could make for Him was on a cross. And the world would be excused their lostness had they had no witness - but the light has shone in the darkness and they rejected Him.
The world has never been rejected by Jesus - He loves the world. It is the world that has rejected Him.
But God would not leave it there - because “the stone . . . rejected by the builders [has] became the chief corner stone.” [Acts 4:11]
1. The True Light Revealed
2. The True Light Rejected
3. The True Light Reviled - John 1:11
As we saw earlier, the Jews were overwhelmed by the idea of the coming of the Messiah. They had read the prophets. They knew that . . .
● “His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” [Is. 9:6].
● He was going to be called ‘The Son of God.’ [Psalms 2:7]
● He would be of the tribe of Judah [Genesis 49:10]
● and of David’s family [Isaiah 11:1-5]
● the spirit of Elijah would rest upon a man in the wilderness who would announce His coming [Malachi. 3:1, 4:5]
● He would be born in Bethlehem [Micah 5:1]
● and of a virgin [Isaiah 7:14]
● He would spend time in Egypt [Hosea 11:1]
● but live in Galilee [Isaiah 9:1-2]
● He would make His entry into Jerusalem on a donkey [Zech. 9:9].
Oh, my friend, the list goes on and on and on. If they knew all this - then why did they still revile Him?
Their minds were blinded by the same darkness that the rest of the world was blinded by. But He loved them then and He loves them still.
1 Peter 2:21 “and while being reviled, He did not revile in return . . .”
But my friend, the story does not end there. The story of Christ’s life is not the tragedy of rejection but the grace of acceptance. For while it is true . . .
1. The True Light Revealed
2. The True Light Rejected
3. The True Light Reviled
. . . there is a far greater reality our passage celebrates this morning - and that I want to spend the rest of our time talking about.
4. The True Light Received - John 1:12-13
Oh man - I cannot tell you how excited am about the richness, the depth and the profundity of this truth this morning. I feel it deep down welling up inside of me.
I know of no greater honor or privilege I could ever have in this world or any other world that to say with confidence and with understanding that I am a child of the living God. There is no more bold a claim or joyous a proclamation.
Now my friend, you may be excited about your adoption into God’s family, and I hope you are. But I can do better than that. While I think adoption is an honor and a beautiful thing, I did not become a part of God’s family through adoption - I was born into the family of God. God is my spiritual biological Father and I am His spiritual biological son. His blood Son, Jesus, is my older brother I have the same nature, Spirit and Father-likeness that He does. Our DNA is the same and the same blood type runs through our veins. As a matter of fact, when I was in trouble some time ago He gave up His blood for me. Now if you think you can do better than that - go ahead and have at it. But I think that is a good time to shout ‘hallelujah’ and give God some glory.
When I took my son Chester to the DMV the other day to get his driving permit, they asked him for a very important document. They wanted his birth certificate. They did not want a copy or even a certified copy - it had to be an original. Why? Because if they can look at your birth certificate, they can tell who you really are. Well my friend, like you, I have two birth certificates. One is of some worth to me - but I think the fact that I am alive and well talking to you is greater proof that I was, in fact, born than a little piece of paper. I smiled to myself a few days ago reading about a woman who with some bureaucratic knuckle head trying to prove to him that she was not, as his record reflected, dead but alive. But he was not buying it.
Well I have a second birth certificate - it’s not with me - it is held in a safe place in heaven - and it records the day I was born into the family of God. I became a child of God and with that came into a number of things that changed my life forever. And so did you if you are a child of God this morning.
So the question that our verse demands we answer individually this morning is this: Are you a child of God?
Let’s go back to our verse.
John 1:12-13
To receive means to embrace and surrender your life to Him. It means . . .
✔ Recognizing Who He Is
✔ Relying on What He Has Done
✔ Receiving His Exchanged Life
✔ Resolving to Live for Him
This is not simply for those who have heard of Him, seen Him, agree with him or even try and live like Him. This is for those who have received Him. So let me ask you precious friend - have you received Him?
Do you believe in His name? I am not asking if you call yourself a Christian. Do you believe in His name? Do you trust Him to forgive you enough to forgive yourself? Do you trust Him enough to obey Him? Do you trust Him enough to live for Him? Have you surrendered your life to Him? Is it he that now lives in you and through you?
There is a version of this religious experience that does not require power - and nor does it need God. Actually, it has very little to do with God and He has very little to do with it.
This birth into the family of God is so special, and it separates those who are from those who are not so clearly, that the entire world is divided on this line - those who are and those who are not.
And your birth into the family is dependant on and brought about by one thing - the will of God. You may not like that and want to fight with me for saying that - but you are picking on the wrong poor fellow. I am just reading my Bible. If you must take it up then take it up with God.
My friend - and I want to start drawing this to a close now, when that is true of you, when you are a child of the Most High God, He gives you the right, the authority or, as the word is rightly translated, the power to live fully and finally as child of God. And that is the greatest privilege that deity can confer on humanity this side of glory. You see my friend, when you become a child of the sovereign God, He bestows on you the rights, privileges and powers of a son - not as an adopted son but as a blood child.
Eph. 2:19 “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household.”
Because Jordan and Chester are my sons, they have many privileges in my home. They have access to all that belongs to me, my wallet, my tools, my cars. They can walk into my home at any time of the day or night walk up to my fridge and without even asking me, open it and help themselves. The can go up to a room they cal theirs and go to sleep and do so in the comfort and protection of my home. They can call on me in a time of need and anywhere I am in this world I will come to them. My greatest gift to them is my love, my life and the right to be in my family.
Any so it is when you become a child of God.
Precious believer - the greatest privilege is to know that when you cry ‘papa’ the sovereign God of the universe stops what He is doing and immediately comes to where you are. You are kinfolk, blood family - and you came into a sibling relationship with every Christian whoever lived - and with the privileges and responsibilities of that relationship.
Because you are now a child of God . . .
You Have His Spirit
Gal. 4:6-7 “Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.”
You Have Forgiveness
1 John 3:5 “But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.”
You came into the cancellation of your sin debt - comprehensively inclusive of all sin and where and time past present or future.
You Have Eternal Life
John 3:16
You came into a kingdom citizenship that will last for eternity.
You Have an Inheritance
Gal 4:4 “So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.”
You Have Victory
1 John 5:4-5 “for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”
You Have His Love
1 John 3:1-2 “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! Dear friends, now we are children of God…”
You came into an inheritance that you get to now start living - it is called abundant life - and here is the crazy thing - it gets better and better and last for ever.
Now would you pray with me please?
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