The Light of Men

John 1:1-18

Key verse 1:4

In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

Last week we heard the message based on John 21, the last chapter of John's gospel. It was a very intimate setting. Jesus met with seven of his disciples on a shore and fed them breakfast. He was raised from the dead. And by his grace and love, he helped Simon Peter to confess his love and overcome his sin and failure. And Jesus established him as a shepherd for his flock, giving him a practical way that he could love God not just with his mouth, but with his life. He loved and bore his disciples till they became strong in his grace and reliable servants of God and shepherds of his flock. 

Today we begin the study of John's gospel from chapter 1 which tells us that this Jesus is the Word and He is God.  And the point of his shepherding is to lead people back to God, giving them new life and light for their lives. This gospel is the testimony of John. He was one of Jesus' disciples and an eye witness of these things. This is his testimony that Jesus is The Word, he is God who became flesh, to gives life and light to those who would believe in him. Those who recently completed the 7 I Am program know that of 7 declarations about himself, Jesus repeated only one phrase twice, "I am the light of the world." and in his other declarations, he makes reference to giving life, such as, I am the bread of life, I am the resurrection and the life, and I am the way and the truth and the life. From the beginning, John emphasized the life and light of Jesus, and he did it so that all who hear his testimony may believe in Jesus and have life in his name. This then addresses nothing short of this world's troubled condition of being in darkness and not having life which God provided the solution for in Jesus. Let us then see how God has provided this solution in Jesus Christ. 

I. The light of men (1-9)

First, John tells us that Jesus is God. It is the basis of his testimony that Jesus is the light for all people  Look at John 1:1-2, 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.

This sounds like a riddle, but lets look at it closely. The Word was in the beginning. Words are invisible and express what we have in our hearts and minds. But the word refers to a person, not just a concept or abstract idea. He is living and he is a person. He is God who was in the beginning. This "beginning" is before the creation of the world. It speaks of a time before time. It is just God who existed and there was no created thing yet. 

This tells us first that Jesus is God. Jesus is God who was in the beginning. He was not a created being like you and me or any part of the universe. In fact, verse 3 tells us that he is the Creator. Look at John 1:3, "Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."

This is an important part to tell us that Jesus is truly the light for all people. Of all the characteristics of God, John speaks only about his work of creating. "Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made." 

This is important because in God alone is life. He gave all things life. He gave them form and meaning and purpose. As created beings, we received life from God. But God gives life. Look at John 1:4, “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” Only God the Creator has life, for he gave life to all things. And Jesus is God who has life. This verse tells us that Jesus is not one of many sources of life or alternatives to life. He is the only Creator and life is only found in him. 

Look again at verse 4. “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” The life he gives, the life that is in him, gives light to all people. What is this light? Without having life, being alive, and without the hope of eternal life, all people are in darkness. There is no meaning, no purpose, no direction, no joy, without having life.

Jesus is very unique. He is not another good teacher or do-gooder. He is God who has life in him, and he came to give that life and light to all people. It is because all people are in darkness, the darkness of sin, in which there is no life or light. No other teacher or philosopher or anything else in all creation can give life. “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” 

Look at John 1:5, “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” This verse tells us the problem, that is, darkness. All people are in darkness. Since the fall of man, in Genesis 3, all people have lived in the shadow of death which is a deep darkness, because of sin. As such, this world does not understand what life and light really are. Then people are led into sin further and further deceived by all kinds of deceptive lifestyles and philosophies. But when we have life and know that that life is eternal, we have meaning, purpose, joy, that comes from God. 

Especially for young disciples, you find that the world does not understand your desire to know God, your commitment to Bible study and even worship service, or giving up family or world pleasures in the name of seeking God. Has anyone ever said to you, "What happened to you? You used to have so much fun!" because they think that the purpose of being young is to have fun and then be responsible when you get older  That is because one such popular deception is to live life following your heart. That it is not the destination, but the journey that matters. Its not where you end up, but did you follow your heart along the way without regrets, is what matters. But this is a big deception. It is very foolish. But deceives many young people and puts a heavy pressure on them. If you don't know where you're going, how are you going to get there? And if you don't know where you're going, most likely you will end up in a place you don't want to be. Of course, it is important how we journeyed through this life and how we lived. but it is the destination that determines the journey. This idea is a false light that does not give life, and instead leads many to hell. 

Proverbs 11:4,7:

Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. [7] When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes; all he expected from his power comes to nothing.

These verses tell us the first result of darkness, being deceived and led astray. The second result of darkness is not knowing God, who he is, what he's done and what he's doing. We were made in the image of God. If we don't know who God is, then we cannot know about ourselves, who we are and what we should do with our lives. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, saying, 2 Corinthians 4:4:

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

But he also said, 2 Corinthians 4:6:

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

God sent Jesus to give us life and life. He came to restore our life as children of God and our purpose of life in God. This first chapter of John looks a lot like the first chapter of Genesis, speaking about the beginning, about creation, and about light. god sent Jesus to solve our problem of darkness, of sin and death and not knowing God, and therefore not knowing who i am, what to do with my life, or where my life is going. Jesus is the true light for all people because he is God and in him is life. Those who come into his light can be guided by that light. In fact, Jesus said that he came that we may have life and have it to the full. So this life not only refers to being alive, but to the quality of life and having eternal life (John 10:10).

Look at John 1:6-9 (NIV)

There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. [7] He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. [8] He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. [9] The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

Because the darkness does not understand the light, God sent John the Baptist as a witness to testify concerning that light to prepare people to believe in Jesus. Through John, the people could know that Jesus is the true light. He prepared them through preaching repentance for the forgiveness of sins because that is the source problem. So preparation in the right area is very important. 

This tells us then the importance of witnessing and testifying about Jesus. God uses our testimonies and witnessing to lead others to Jesus the true light. John the Baptist lead john the apostle. And john the apostle lead others such as Polycarp who upheld the truth of the word of God and the Apostles teaching during the second century when many false teachers had infiltrated the church. And John wrote the contents of this gospel for us to come to know Jesus as well. And most of us were led to Jesus by the help of someone else who testified to Jesus to us and helped us to understand the bible message. 

We have been given a very great privilege and duty like the two John's in this passage. Why do we keep doing the same thing of going out fishing and having Bible studies? To witness of Jesus and lead others into his light. The Darkness does not understand the light, and so usually is either ignorant of it or hostile to it. We have a blessed task to witness of Jesus the true light  for every person. Now that all the schools are session we have to pray for God's blessings on our fishing to help witness of Jesus and lead many too him. we have to pray to have wisdom to know what to say while fishing and have meaningful conversations with students on the spot because going fishing seems to be getting more difficult in approaching students. These days I feel blessed to go fishing at CSULA, because of the coworking with Jose and Juan in prayer meetings and fishing for they are a great help and students are open to talking to them more than me and Young James. 

II. Believe in him (10-18)

Look at John 1:10-13:

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. [11] He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. [12] Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--- [13] children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

These verses tell us the right response to Jesus. 

The world did not recognize Jesus, although Jesus made the world. It is the number one proof of the darkness that is over this world. The Creator was actually there among them, living with them, but nobody recognized him for who he is. And if the world didn't recognize him while he was here in a physical body among them, how much more when he is in heaven. 

His own people, the Jews, did not receive him. they had all the resources and knowledge to know him and receive him. In fact, Jesus' ministry was almost entirely in Jewish territory. He came to them.  But they did not receive him. Why? They loved darkness and did not love truth, so they ended up viewing Jesus, the light, as an enemy. 

Look again at John 1:12-13:

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--- [13] children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

To receive him means to believe in his name. They put their trust in him and came out of their darkeners and into his light. It takes humility to receive him, because we confess our sins and our need for life and light. But Jesus is also humble and gentle. He is the one who came down to us and became like us although he is greater, although we did not deserve. He did it for our sake, not for his own, so we can come to him. And he promises that those who believe in him can be born with a new life as children of God, not in theory or just their own desire, or that of their parents or spouse, but actual born children of God. Real, new life. the apostle john shares his own personal experience so we can see what it means to receive him and believe in him. 

Look at John 1:14:

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

This is John's personal experience. He stayed with Jesus and learned from him as his disciple. He left behind his former life, even leaving his father in the fishing boat to follow Jesus. He saw the glory of God through staying with Jesus. He saw God in Jesus. When he received Jesus and believed in him, he committed himself to Jesus. In this way he had personal fellowship with Jesus. And through it he came to see his glory, the glory of God. He came to know that Jesus really is the son of God, that he came from God, and was going to back to God, and is God who is the light of all people. He had a fellowship with God the Creator! He was there among them! The Holy God had come to be with unholy people and make them holy. Not everyone saw this glory and had this fellowship. But Jesus revealed himself to those who received him and committed themselves to knowing him like John the Apostle did. 

So by all means we need to have fellowship with Jesus, and the first important way is by committing ourselves to him and coming to his word following the example of John the 

Apostle. Jesus is the Word and he is God. And he said that his word will never pass away, although heaven and earth pass away. They are spirit and life. 

Several students are setting a good example among us. Last Friday several of them met together to study John's gospel together each week according to the Sunday passage and to be more thoroughly equipped as bible teachers. They are following John's example. I pray that they may devote each Friday to this fellowship and that they may have fellowship with Jesus in his word. that his light may shine in their hearts and that they would indeed be made into good shepherds like Jesus who take care of Jesus' sheep and bring many into the fellowship with God the Father and his Son Jesus. 

There is also a group of students who have agreed to meet once a week to study Genesis together. May they also have fellowship with God and with Jesus through studying Genesis faithfully. 

I also pray that they would be willing to have a closer fellowship like Jesus disciples and live together in a common life, because they share the same lord and prayer to know and serve him. Although Jesus ascended into heaven, the church is called his body. So when we have a close fellowship in the church, we have fellowship with Jesus. Jesus personal fellowship with Peter and John, but he also taught them important things through them living together. He revealed the glory of God among them.

John testified in verse 14 so that we would know and believe Jesus is God, and so have full assurance that life and light are in him so that we would receive him and believe in his name. 

Look at 

John 1:15:

John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, `He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' "

Apostle John and john the Baptist both testified concerning Jesus. They make clear that the Word who became flesh is Jesus. Of course there is a direct relation between those who testify to Jesus and those who know Jesus. Both John's testified to the point of martyrdom. John the Baptist even lost his head to Herod. 

John said that from Jesus comes one blessing after another. The blessings poured out as they remained in Jesus. As we participate in testifying to what we know of Jesus, even if it is just a little, it is the way for us to gain a deeper knowledge and experience with Jesus more and more. Jesus is pleased to reveal himself in this way to such people. So by all means, if you are not going out fishing to invite students on campus, or are not witnessing of Jesus to others, please do so and you will be more blessed to know Jesus better and better. 

Here John the Baptist testified to Jesus' greatness. He was greater than John because he is God. At the same time, the author testified to his grace, saying that he came from the father full of grace and truth. 

 

Look at John 1:16-17:

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. [17] For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 

Grace means undeserved favor. His grace begins to us in that he is God, yet became a man like us, he became flesh and made his dwelling among us. He is the holy God who humbled himself and lowered himself to dwell among sinful people. It was not for his benefit, but for ours. He came to the lowest position to make himself accessible to all people, great and small. Ultimately, this grace leads to the grace of sin forgiveness in him, for Jesus took up all our sin and condemnation and died on the cross. This was his undeserved favor to us. And he is at the father's side interceding on our behalf with prayers constantly. He is still working among us by his holy Spirit and did not leave his disciples like orphans. He reveals who God is to us. That is the difference the law and the grace and truth in Jesus. The law condemns sin whereas Jesus' grace forgives sin and restores us as children of God having a fellowship with God and serving God. 

John says that from the fullness of his grace they received one blessing after another, including persecutions as a bonus. To really know the depths of Jesus' grace, love and power. So the blessings poured our like a fountain from Jesus. Who is the "we" referred to in verse 16? These blessings did not come to everyone, but only to those who received Jesus and committed themselves to him, like the apostle John. 

Let's consider again the events of the last chapter, chapter 21. Jesus was graceful to his disciples, especially Peter. He found them at the sea shore. He made a breakfast for them and helped Peter to confess his love. He didnt accuse them for abandoning him or Peter for disowning him three times. He was at his lowest point, but he became the most steady rock leader for the early church. The same was true with the apostle paul. He was a violent man and a persecutor. But Jesus, in his grace, appeared to Paul and forgave his sin and commissioned him and he became the most fruitful apostle, all because of jesus' grace. And as they remained in Jesus, the blessings increased one after another. We can be included when we follow their example and remain committed to Jesus and be blessed with one blessing after another. 

Finally, from his grace comes the blessing of revelation of God. Look at verse 18: “No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.” Ultimately, Jesus blesses those who commit to him with revelation of God the Father. Consider the Apostle John who testified to Jesus in this gospel. By committing himself to Jesus, he came to testify that Jesus makes the Father known. Later, John wrote the book of Revelation which was revealed he received from Jesus. He saw heavenly things to come. And he learned that this fellowship and revelation is for all who come to Jesus, for he said in 1 John 1:1-3, “1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” 

Of course, Jesus is not here physically as he was with Apostle John. However, we have his word which is recorded not only in John’s gospel but 3 other gospels and in the letters of the New Testament. And his word is living and active. So we can have a fellowship with Jesus by coming to his word and living by faith in him and obeying his word. The Apostle Paul is one example of someone who committed himself to Jesus fully, trusted and obeyed his word, and then received the blessing of revelation about God the Father so that he wrote 13 books of the New Testament. He says in Colossians 2:9, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form…” So, commitment, witnessing, and revelation—all the blessings out of his grace.

In conclusion, Jesus is God and in him alone is life. From his life, we receive light and new life as children of God. May he help us to follow the example of the two John’s in this passage to believe in him, receive him, and witness of him. 

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