Grow With Pastor Joe

Are you afraid of the dark? You may have been when you were just a little kid, but I would bet that even now you’d have some nervousness if let all alone in the pitch black. Unless of course, you have a light or see a light. Light makes all the difference. As a scared child fears the dark, they are less afraid as they look at their nightlight, though faint, it is bright enough to settle their fear. I remember being that scared kid who depended upon a nightlight to comfort me and if that didn’t do it then I’d yell for my mom or dad so that their voice would do the comforting that the nightlight couldn’t do. Now that I’m older, I realize how much this pictures my walk with the Lord. You and I live in a dark world. Those of us who are saved are saved out of darkness, given light, made light, and commanded to walk in the light (See Col. 1:12-13; Eph. 4:17-24; 5:8-14). This dark world often brings us fear, dread, and anxiety. However, just the littlest glow of knowing an experiencing God’s illuminating glory in Christ through the scriptures and the Holy Spirit calms and comforts us. Even more precious is that in this dark world we can call out in all of our fear, dread, and anxiety and can rest assured that we will always hear the voice of God call back out to His own.

Christmas is celebrated with lights. We have lights on our tree (because of my Christmas crazy wife there are multiple), lights on our gutters, and we drive around to see the Christmas lights in our community. Christmas is to remind us not only that God is light (1 John 1:5), but that He wants us to know Him. The light of God’s infinite glory is illuminated, or revealed to us by His Son, Jesus Christ. The coming of Jesus as an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger is none other that the infinite illuminating glory of God given to us so that we may know the Lord in all of His glory. God tells us that His very essence is light (purity, righteous, holy etc.). This truth implies that God wants to be seen, known, and experienced by His creation. The Bible begins and ends with the illuminating glory of God. Genesis reveals the light of God’s glory and then it will also be enjoyed without need of a temple, sun, moon, or stars because Jesus Himself will be the light of eternity (See Gen. 1; Rev. 22). Jesus always was, is, and shall be the infinite, radiating, revealing, illuminating glory of God to the world. The incarnation (God putting on flesh and coming as a baby, living as a man, dying as a man, and rising in His body) of Jesus is the illumination of the infinite glory, majesty, and beauty of the glory of God.

This theme will be seen in today’s passage and will be expressed throughout the rest of John’s gospel. Our passage today will allow us to see the illuminating light of Christ that enables us to see the glory of God at Christmas, but not just at Christmas time, but each day and throughout eternity. There is never a moment in eternity past or future that the glory of God is not shining forth to illuminate Himself to His creation. It is because of God’s illuminating glory that we can behold His work of redemption in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our study today is John 1:6-13 which says,

^“6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷ The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. ⁸ He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. ⁹ That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. ¹¹ He came unto his own, and his own received him not. ¹² But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: ¹³ Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

            First, we must see the reflection of His illuminating glory. John 1:6-8 comes immediately after the declaration of verse four and five that says, “⁴ In him was life; and the life was the light of men. ⁵ And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” The illuminating glory of His light is seen in Jesus’ very nature. He is life. He is light. He is love. He is the essence and expression of the life, light, and love of the godhead to man. After this declaration, John introduces John the Baptist as the other gospel accounts describe him. This shift is to show us that Jesus is as will be seen, the “true light” and that John the Baptist was one who reflected the light of Christ to the people of Israel. There are a couple of things that these three verses establish. One, it is that John is the lamp of the light. A lamp is not the light itself, it just simply is a tool of the light to shine it forth to light a room. John the Baptist was a forerunner of Christ who acted as a reflecting lamp of the glory of Christ. He was an Old Testament prophet, truly the last one. As a prophet, he was sent from God which means that God Himself authorizes his ministry. John the Baptist, like other Old Testament prophets pointed to, proclaimed, and prophesied of the coming Messiah. John the lamp was sent to bear witness to the true light. Even Jesus described his ministry this way in John 5:31-40 which says, “³¹ If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. ³² There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. ³³ Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. ³⁴ But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. ³⁵ He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. ³⁶ But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. ³⁷ And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. ³⁸ And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. ³⁹ Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. ⁴⁰ And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” To bear witness comes from the word martyria where we get the word martyr or martyrdom from. John the lamp was bearing witness of the true light, Jesus Christ, so that all who heard would believe on Christ, not him. John’s life, ministry, and purpose was to prepare the hearts of people to receive the infinite illuminating light of God, Jesus Christ. This bearing witness of the light would ultimately lead to his martyrdom. Two, these verses show us the clear distinction that Jesus is the illuminating light of God’s glory and that John the Baptist and all others who bear witness of the light are just a reflection. We don’t have the light in and of ourselves. Jesus is the substance and source of all illuminating light of God’s glory. This theme will be seen in Jesus’ teaching in John’s gospel seen in John 8:12; 9:5; 12:46. This leads us into the next verse and point of the passage.

            Second, we must see the revelation of light. John 1:9 says, “⁹ That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” The previous verses already have shown us that Jesus is the infinite illuminating light of God’s glory, but this verse will not only shows us Jesus’ identity but what Jesus reveals by way of His illuminating presence. Light in its very nature is revealing. As the morning sky opens up with the rising sun, things that were present but unseen in the dark now come to light. The incarnation of Jesus Christ illumines the infinite glory of God. This is glorious. Wonderful. Unthinkable. Indescribable. Yet, this is a big problem. The revelation of the light of Christ is man’s greatest problem because Jesus shows us who God is, what He is like, what He has done, is doing, and will do; all of that by the way is gracious and glorious. Then, on the other side of that, Jesus shows us the reality not just of God but our own reality. We are not God. We are not light. We are darkness and in darkness without the knowledge of God’s glory outside of Christ. The revelation of the light of Christ reveals the reality of our sin and the reality of Himself being the savior. Let me illustrate. If you are put in a room without ever seeing it, all the lights off, and you are blindfolded you might be able to make up your own reality of what you think the room may be like. Imagine as well that someone is standing next to you describing it for you. You are totally dependent upon them to imagine the room you are standing in. Although someone else is in the room describing it to you, they too were in the dark. We can’t rely on our own imagination, guesses, or even the description of others in the dark to tell us what God is like. Now, the lights come on, the blind fold comes off. After blinking and rubbing your eyes, you see the reality that the room you imagined looks totally different. The room isn’t what you thought it to be. It is cluttered, dirty, and in disarray. Now you see the reality of what your condition is, the other person in the room, and the room itself. So too the light of Christ does this for sinful man. Jesus’ illuminating light of His coming gives us the plain reality of things. We see this in John 3:18-21; 16:8-11 in describing the light of Christ coming into the world and sending us the Holy Spirit to reveal the reality of things ever more. To sum up the revelation of His light, we can say that His perfect and pure light shines out to show our imperfections and impurity. His light shines on every man. There is none that can hide from the light of the reality of Christ and of sin. One can only close their eyes in ignorance or denial, but the true light and the truth of the light remains. In Jesus, God shows us all that we can and must know about Him and ourselves. Everything that we know or can know of God is in the revelation of the light of Christ’s illuminating glory. 2 Cor. 4:4-6 says, “⁴ In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. ⁵ For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” The revelation of the infinite illuminating glory of God in the incarnation of Christ demands a response. Grace reveals and demands a response of faith. To not respond to His revelation is to reject Him. This is what the next verses of the passage show us. There are only two responses to the revelation of the light of Christ, either rejection or reception.

            Third, we must see the rejection of the light of Christ. John 1:10-11 says, “¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. ¹¹ He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” The response of rejection is sadly man’s first and most natural response to God. All who are in Adam are natural rebels, sinners, and rejectors of God’s light because it shows us that we are not what we think ourselves to be. We see in these two verses that Jesus’ own property and people utterly rejected Him. Notice, the creation rejects its creator. This is declared later on in Romans 1:18-32. Man’s rejection of God is not God’s fault or lack of self-revelation to His creation. God has revealed Himself to us through creation, conscience, the Savior and the scriptures. It is not for a lack of illumination on God’s part, but rather willful ignorance of unbelieving man. Man in his unbelief lives for unrighteous deeds of darkness and rejects the light. Jesus was born into the world that He created, and the world (mankind) rejected Him and would choose to not know Him. To know Him is to trust, rely, and depend on Him. The world was Jesus’ property because He made the world (John 1:1-5). He is the owner and operator, but they still would not obey His authority over them. Not only did Jesus’ own property, the world, reject Him, but Jesus’ own people rejected Him. This was long foretold in Isa. 53 that Jesus, the light of God’s glory would be rejected by all, but especially His own, being the Jewish people as a whole. We know from reading the gospels that the nation of Israel overwhelmingly rejected their God and King, but some would believe on Him. However, corporately, the Jews rejected Jesus just as prophesied. Yet, still Jesus came for them. In rejecting the illuminating light of God’s glory in the incarnation of Jesus, the Jews rejected the very life, light, and love of God. The phrase coming to “His own” is the idea of coming to your own house or household. It would be like you showing up at your doorstep to go in and your family rejects you, kicks you out, and changes the locks on the door. Jesus was a stranger in His own home, Israel and the world, His creation itself. This Christmas, many will still reject the light of Christ. They love the idea of the birth of a baby but will celebrate the taking of innocent life in the womb. They love the idea of Jesus being a good teacher, but not Him being God almighty. They love the idea of Jesus’ love, but not the idea of His holiness. Many will celebrate Christmas while rejecting, ignoring, or even hating the Jesus that it is all about. However, the other side of rejection of the light is the reception of the light.

            Fourth, and finally, we must see the reception of the light. The light of God was always meant to be received because it is the glory and grace of God that we can see, know, and enjoy God. John 1:12-13 show us the reception of the light saying, “¹² But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: ¹³ Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” The reception of the light of Christ is not natural in the flesh, but it is supernatural through faith in Him. All who have ever received by faith the light of Jesus Christ were once rejectors. The good news of the gospel is that all who are saved were once enemies, rejectors, and rebels; but by God’s infinite grace and glory He makes us His own children. This reminds us that God is only the Father of those who are born again and receive Christ. There is no new birth to become a son of God outside of Christ and receiving Him as Lord and Savior. “But as many as received Him,” shows us that the availability of the new birth, or salvation is not limited to one group of people, but that it available to all that will receive Him by faith. Salvation is both limited and limitless. Jesus came to save anybody and everybody, but not all will receive Him. Salvation in the reception of the light of Christ is limitless so that all may come but limited so that only those that receive Him receive salvation. The light of Christ and salvation itself is unconditionally available but conditionally applied. The condition of becoming His son is that you receive His Son. The illuminating glory and grace of Christ initiates, illuminates, and invites souls to receive the new birth. God has chosen that the instrument to receive His invitation to be born again and adopted as a son of God is faith alone. We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone to the glory of God alone. All of this is revealed to us in the illuminating light of God’s Word by the power of the Holy Spirit. Grace gives the privilege and power to be born again while faith is the participation to believe on His name. The new birth is receiving and believing Christ as He has illuminated Himself in His word and work in your life. Notice though the culmination of this thought shows us that we are not born again by descent or mere determination. Salvation can’t be inherited or earned, only received. It is a gift, not a “hand me down.” The new birth is by delivery through the reception of God’s grace in His infinite illuminating glory in Christ. Jesus will make this all the clearer to a religious man named Nicodemus in John 3:1-17. The light of Christ is what illuminates our mind and heart to reality of our sin and the need to receive our savior. It is His light that reveals, redeems, and will one day remake all things.

            In this passage, we see the infinite illuminating light of His glory through the incarnation of Christ. This demands a response from both those who have rejected and received Him. Those who have rejected the light of Christ and exchanged Jesus for religion, good works, experience, or even just outright sinfulness are called now to receive the light of Christ and be born again. He invites and commands you to come. There is no other way, no other hope, no other light that can save you. Only Jesus. Always Jesus. If your eyes have been opened, don’t delay. In faith call upon Jesus who is full of grace, mercy, and love and He will save you. If you already know Him, you must respond now as well. Those that know Christ must examine if they are walking in the light as they ought to be. Those in Christ who have received His light must be driven to continue to receive His illuminating light through His scriptures and indwelling Holy Spirit. Those that are in Christ now are called to reflect and bear witness of the light of Jesus just as John the Baptist did, so that all who hear may see Christ and believe on Him. The questions then must be asked, have you received the light of Christ? If not, you may. Are you walking in the light? If not, you may. Are you pointing others to the light? If not, you may. To put this whole passage together and call each of us to respond to its illuminating truth, read these lyrics of “Heaven Has Come to Us” by Sovereign Grace Music.

“Verse 1 – Unto us from on high Reaching down into the deepest night To the world hope has come In the dark the Light of Life has dawned – Chorus – What a myst’ry, oh what love Oh how can it be that heaven has come to us – Verse 2 – Unto us meek and mild God eternal born a helpless child Set aside heaven’s throne Veiled in weakness came unto His own – Verse 3 – Unto us grace has come Here to seek and bring the sinner home Lived to die, rose to reign Son of Man the Lamb for sinners slain” Behold the infinite illuminating glory of the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Behold His glory this Christmas and enjoy His marvelous grace.