The Light

"There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man cave for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all 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 gives light to every man coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him."
John 1:6-10

We have had candlelight services at our church on Christmas Eve almost every year since I have been the pastor there. We turn off all the lights in and around the sanctuary, and let that darkness settle in on people for just a moment or two. That represents a couple things. First, it represents the dark world in which we live, lost without the light of Jesus' love. Secondly, it represents the darkness in our own hearts, spiritual darkness. Our hearts are dark, spiritually speaking, without the light of Jesus in them. It doesn't matter how much of a "good person" you are. Without Jesus, you are dark inside, and on your way to hell, where the fire is not quenched and the worm does not die. But then, back to our candlelight service, the first candle is lit, and people are amazed at how bright just one light shining in a dark place can be. The room is illuminated by just that one little candle, because in the presence of light, darkness hides its face. That is what happens in our hearts, and that is what happens in our world. When we start around the circle, in opposite ways, each person lighting the candle of the person next to him, it is like someone just turned on the switch. The room is lit with such a brilliant light! Beloved, the same is true in our own lives. Are we letting the light of Jesus' love shine in the world around us?

We are introduced to John the Baptist in this passage, not to be confused with John, the writer of this book. John the Baptist was sent to be the forerunner, the witness, the announcer if you will, to the coming of the one true Light, Jesus the Messiah, the Christ. John was both prophet and priest. As a prophet, he stood before the people and spoke to them on behalf of God. As a priest, John stood before God and spoke to Him on behalf of the people. That is what ministry is, both prophetic and priestly. It is talking to people about God, and talking to God about people.

Last time, we talked about how the darkness did not take in the Light that was Jesus. We also talked about how Jesus was there in the beginning of all time, creating the universes, the worlds, space. It says in Psalm 33 that from the breath of His mouth the stars were made, that He is a star-breathing God. It also says in that same Psalm, that He fashioned our hearts individually. He is a star-breather, and a heart-maker. Because He loves us so much. And yet, v. 10 tells us, that He came to the earth and was among the people of the earth, He made the earth and the people of the earth, and the people of the earth did not know Him. In the book of Romans, chapter 1, it tells us that men (mankind) will be without excuse on Judgment Day, because God can be seen in creation around us. So no one will be able to say, "we didn't know." He came into the world, and creation knew Him. Storms obeyed Him, water supported Him, all creation obeyed Him. But not man. Man rejected Him. Crucified Him. Why is it so hard for us to believe, that God loves us, sent His Son Jesus to die for us, so that He could have relationship with us, and us with Him?

I skipped one little phrase that I would now like to revisit. It is in verse 7. It says "...That all through Him might believe." In the original language of the New Testament, Greek, the word "all" translated from the Greek means...you got it....it means "all." Does "all" mean "some"? No. "All" means "all." This is important to know, because there is a doctrine out there that says that God picked some to go to heaven and some to go to hell and you don't have a choice in the matter. I reject that doctrine, because the fact is, in 2 Peter 3:9, it tells us that is it God's desire that any should perish and that all should come to repentance. Again, "all" means "all." Jesus came into this world, as the One True Light, so that all could know Him, receive Him into their lives, and that all could know God through Him. This means you. This means me. This means all. Beloved, if you do not know Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of your life, you can....ask Him to be the Lord and Savior of your life today. Repent of your sins, which means to turn from them and turn towards Jesus. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you through His Word. Ask Him to teach you to love Him and His people. And He will. Shalom.