11.27.2011 Advent - John 1 - Jesus, the Light for Jews and Gentiles and All Nations

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This is the first Sunday of advent – and I know many different traditions hold to different meanings for the different candles. We have chosen one where this first Sunday is the Shepherd Candle.

Lord Jesus, we thank You that You are our good Shepherd – and You shepherd us through our time on earth. As we pursue You – may we be Your faithful children, Your faithful sheep. You guide us, protect us from the enemy. And as we worship You – may our hearts be prepared – come prepared this Christmas season as Your servants, waiting for Your coming, that we might serve You forever. That is our heart’s desire, to be Your worshipers and servants.
Last week, we finished a series on Living Like Jesus – and though that finished – we are still going to talk about Jesus – since He is the subject of Advent!
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
When you see the word, ‘Word’ – capitalized as it is – it is referring to Jesus. In the same way, the word Wisdom in the proverbs speaks of Jesus – and John is bringing this out in a larger, brand new way. What you have understood to be the Word of God, the Wisdom of God – is Jesus.
Matthew and Luke talk about the genealogy of Jesus, but John goes much further back. He goes back to the Beginning. Jesus is God. Jesus is fully God. He was not created; He was the creator.
There is a lot of imagery here that takes us back to Genesis 1 – In the Beginning… - He is relating it all and placing it all on Jesus. All of Jesus’ acts and works and all He says – is the same that God would say. John, throughout the gospel talks about Jesus only doing what He sees the Father doing. For the monotheistic Jews – they are seeing for the first time that there is a trinity here – that God became a person – for them it was incredible – that the God of the Old Testament would become one of us.
John 1: 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood/overcome it.
Jesus is the author of new creation. Light comes into the dark world – and the Creator is the Author of the New Creation. Darkness has come into the world – and now there is a new creation. How much does this mirror? In the Beginning…the earth was formless and void – everything is dark and chaos and doesn’t make sense. “And God said, let there be light” – and that is what He is doing here. The light shines in the darkness – Just like God spoke light into a dark world, so the Light of Jesus comes into a dark world. There is a physical creation – and a spiritual creation – and everyone at some point must have a new creation – a complete transformation on the inside – it is not about being religious – but we must be transformed by faith. That point has to exist – it had to have happened at some point in your life. If it hasn’t happened – you are not part of God’s family.
The light shines in darkness and the darkness did not overcome it.
What happened when the Light came into a dark world? It tried to quench it – but it didn’t happen. Yes, they put Him on a cross and crucified Him – but the light overcame.
Advent and Christmas time can tend to be sentimental – we have fond memories of childhood/lights/trees – all fine and good – but advent is much more than that – a time of victory – it is not just a sentimental story, but a time God’s victory is won over a dark enemy.
Luke shows it in the Magnificat – and God is victorious over all the powers of the world. In Matthew, we have the destruction of Herod. Yes, we have this baby born in a manger – but also a sense of power and conquering. What that does for us – it gives us hope. Christmas should be a time of hope – a time where we have, in one sense – victory is available to us. At times we can feel defeated – and it comes out at Christmas for some – but God wants us to understand that we CAN have victory – we can live victoriously in all of our circumstances.
Paul says – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me – that doesn’t mean I can claim that to say I am a professional golfer. But it does mean that we can live victoriously and faithfully in whatever circumstance we find ourselves in. That is what Grace is – a power – that when things do go wrong, makes you wonder WHY you are NOT falling apart. When we look at our faith – there are a lot of times when we should have walked – and it is not you – it is God. I hope you don’t think it is because you are strong, because then you are really in trouble! But God pours out His grace.
Does that mean that everything works out? No! But we can remain faithful and true in it.
There is victory in Christ even in those areas where you have tried and failed. Many have seen this. Many have conquered whatever the issue is – whatever it is you go through. I know it is not an easy thing to gain – it takes faith – and God has to teach us to trust Him.
There is a bit of an interlude here – some say that John was reciting an ancient hymn – maybe one of the first – and here he steps away from it for a few verses:
6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came for a witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but [came] that he might bear witness of the light.
John uses this term testify/bear witness – it is courtroom language – proving the point that something is true by the testimony of eyewitnesses – testimony of the Father, testimony of the miracles – testimony of the disciples – and finally, the testimony of the resurrection – where John is proving, beyond the shadow of a doubt Who Jesus is.
9 There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
World – used 78 times – and it speaks of all of creation that is in rebellion to God. People. When John says – for God so loved the world – it means that God loves every person in rebellion towards God. The world rejected and lived in darkness – but He enlightens everyone. And this tells us that in Christ’s coming – somehow – all people have some light shining in their hearts – all people –
As you read missionary stories – it is amazing how often they would enter new lands and the tribe would be waiting for some light – and then finally God gives the message. Eternity in their hearts.
the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
There is this total rejection – the world rejects and rejects Christ – we see it today…
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, [even] to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
There are all these who reject Him – but all who receive Him – who believe in His name – there has to be a time in your life where you receive and believe. As a human – you automatically reject – but at some point – the light shines on you and you have a decision – you can believe or reject. There is nothing you can do to get to God on your own accord.
It begins with God – there is a pattern here – God sheds light – and a decision must be made by that person.
There must be a deliberate decision of faith to receive Christ fully.
And God makes a transformation.
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
This Word/Wisdom/Divinity – put on skin – became one of us – The Message – ‘moved into the neighborhood’ – the word is TABERNACLED – dwelt among us – God’s presence was seen ONLY in the tabernacle – Moses met with God there – and couldn’t look at that presence – but now that Presence lives among us in Jesus Christ. He came and everyone could see Him and touch Him and watch Him.
15 John ^bore witness of Him, and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'" 16 For of His fulness we have all received, and grace upon grace.
Those living in Old Testament times – if they got too close to the mountain – they were struck down – and now – we receive grace upon grace – and there is this whole new understanding of Who God is – and that couldn’t be revealed until Jesus became flesh. No one has ever seen God – but in Jesus, we see fully what God is like. In that – we see – He is not like anyone could have ever guessed.
Think of the ancient religions – they would take sacrifices – animals – even people! To appease the gods – and all of a sudden – God comes and He is full of grace – full of truth – and He is seen by going to the cross to die for our sins – bearing shame – filled with love for us.