Posted on 12/22/2007 1:13:13 PM PST by WileyPink
Lesson Passages: John 1:1-18
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
John 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
John 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
John 1:7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
John 1:8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
John 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
John 1:12 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:
John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 1:15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
John 1:16 And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.
John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
“Accept God’s Promised Savior”
With the bright lights of Christmas appearing across the landscape, I am reminded of a children’s song “This Little Light of Mine” which continues “I’m gonna let it shine.” Other verses suggest putting the light under a basket or puffing it out. The light of that little song is Jesus, God’s promised Savior. Are we accepting Him as the light of the world?
1. Identify the Savior, John 1:1-5
The spiritual light to all mankind came from God through Jesus, His son. “In Him was life; and the life was the light to men” John 1:4 KJV. Jesus is the light to man — His salvation. The Gospel of John emphatically states that “In the beginning was the Word,” John 1:1 KJV — before time, eternal, no beginning and no end — the Word existed. “The Word was with God and the Word was God” (John 1:1 KJV). He existed and spoke the creation into existence from nothing. We owe our very existence and breathe of life to Him. Even man’s refusal to accept Jesus, would not dim the light that God had sent. To John, it was plain and simple the “Word” was the good news of Jesus Christ as He was fully God and fully human. To identify with the divine Creator and Author of life is to accept Jesus as the light of the world.
2. Heed the Witness, John 1:6-9
John the Baptist could certainly qualify to sing “This Little Light of Mine”. His light was shining brightly from the wilderness as he proclaimed the coming Messiah. Witness, light, and belief describe the ministry of John the Baptist. He was sent from God to be a witness of the Light that all through Jesus might believe (John 1:7 KJV). John was a reflection of the Light to come. His ministry was to point to the true Light which was and is available to all who will believe.
3. Respond with Faith, John 1:10-13
The Light comes to all who responded in faith to receive—accept and know Him, to believe on His name. They become the children of God. Having the right or authority to be in God’s Family is a marvelous free gift. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God” (John 1:12 KJV). The family of God is reserved for those who believe in His name and accept Jesus by faith. Although Jesus lived among men in a world that was created through Him, He was not recognized as the Messiah by all. For the most part, God’s chosen people, the linage of which Jesus was born, did not receive Him. To believe in faith is the sheer joy of knowing, receiving and following Jesus. In Romans 10:17, we are told that faith is by hearing and hearing is by the Word of God. That Word is the Light of the world.
4. Experience Grace and Truth, John 1:14-18
“And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us…full of grace and truth” (John 1:14 KJV). The gift of grace comes from the light of truth — Jesus Christ. To claim that gift, Jesus must be accepted as the Savior. Matthew and Luke give detailed accounts of Jesus Christ’s birth, God’s only son. He was born in a manger of the Virgin Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit. Joseph hearing from God in a dream willingly became Jesus’ earthly father. Even the heavens proclaimed His birth in the lowliest of settings surrounded by animals of God’s creation. “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” (Luke 2:13-14 KJV). The shepherds and wise men came to proclaim His birth and worship Him born King. A brilliant star came to rest in the heavens over where Jesus, the Light of the World, was born. The Law of Moses had pointed to Jesus, Isaiah and the prophets had prophesied of Jesus coming, John the Baptist was His forerunner. All of creation, heaven and earth, knew of this marvelous gift. Would man, God’s most intelligent of creation, accept or reject Jesus as the Light of the World?
Moore is a member of Macedonia Church, Petal, MS.
This week we celebrate the birth of the humanity of Jesus not the birth of Christ (He always was...is…and will be to come), but the birth of the man Jesus. When John called Jesus the Word, he wasn’t only referring to the written and spoken words of Jesus while He was on this earth as a human. John was also referring to the thought, the reason, and the logic of the Son of God. He has always been.
These first five verses automatically cull many “religions” of today by declaring the Divinity of Christ. He was not created, He was the creator. He was not a sibling; He was with the Father when those beings were created and is the ONLY begotten Son of God. He was not made of the darkness; He was the light that shone in the darkness to be the light of men. Think of it this way…If you turn on the light in your bedroom, then that room is illuminated, right? What happens if you open a door in that room which leads to a totally dark room? Does the room in which you are in get darker because you ‘let the dark in’? Or, does the dark room become lighter because of the light that is in your bedroom? Jesus’ appearance on Earth was the same way. He was and is the light of the world that illuminates all darkness, deceit, lies, and evil.
Jesus Christ IS God! He is there for us to accept. We must ask ourselves the very same question that Pilate asked the crowd that day in Matthew 27:22a, “Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?...” What will we do with Jesus which is called Christ? We must heed the witness of John, …that all men through him might believe.”
God has given us the opportunity or power to become His Sons. There is one prerequisite though; John 1:12b-13 “…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.
Won’t you experience God today? If you don’t know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, the Bible says that, ”… behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2Corinthians 6:2b Simply acknowledge that you are a sinner; Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Who is included in “All”? Me, you, your son, your daughter, your spouse...ALL of us are sinners and because of that, we will not see the Kingdom of God without redemption and perfection. We pay the wage for our sins by death, but Jesus Christ gives us THE gift that will save us. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. And don’t think that you can “do your own thing” or BE good or DO good or Do anything to get into heaven. Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. And… John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Now during this time of year, let us not forget the priceless gift that God gave to us. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Thank you for your participation this week. Your Biblical opinions are welcome. Let us strive to keep Christ in the center of our lives, not only this week of the celebration of the birth of Christ, but for the next 51 weeks as well.
In Christ...Alone!
Happy Birthday Jesus!
Dwelt GSN-4637 tabernacled among us. Sukkot as the date is supported by Elizabeth's pregnancy of John the Immerser. Zacharias served as a high priest and based on his tribe, we know when he served John would have been born on Pesach. Most Jews believed that Factor in when Miriam visited her cousin Elizabeth, John(1:14) tells us that Yah'shua was made flesh and tabernacled among us. Eight days after the beginning of Sukkot is another Holy Feast Day called Shemini Atzeret. Eight days after a Jewish male is born he is circumcised. Nine months back from Sukkot is Chanukah where the light entered the temple.
Yah'shua birthday was not on the Pagan feast of of Sol Invictus
The question is whether you believe and trust
the Holy Word of Elohim in Luke 1
or you trust the traditions of man Yah'shua's birth on Sukkot (September 26 at sundown to October 3 2007)
shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua
(Sukkot is the Feast of Tabernacles or booths, where we live in temporary shelters.
Sukkot is when YHvH took on a temporary garment to be with His People
and to die as the Lamb of G-d on Pesach in order to bring salvation to all
who would call on His Name : Yah'shua ( YHvH is become my salvation)).
The time sequence is outlined by the Holy Word of Elohim in Luke 1 with Zacharias.
and when he was struck dumb and when John was conceived.
Elijah would come at Pesach to announce the coming of the Messiah
timing of Yah'shua's birth can be ascertained.
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Isn’t it wonderful to remember that Jesus Christ truly is the LIGHT of the world? How our dark world needs HIS light...and how much those who know Him must not put their lights under a bushel but go into this dark world as “light bearers” bringing and spreading HIS LIGHT into every corner of this sin sick world. That’s right, that when LIGHT floods a room, darkness MUST flee. DARKNESS CANNOT STAY. LIGHT IS ALWAYS VICTORIOUS over the darkness!
Thank you, Mighty God, the Ancient of Days, that Jesus came into this world bringing the HEAVENLY Light to a people, a world, that sat in great darkness. And that whenever HE comes into a situation, into a nation, into a person’s heart and mind and soul, HE BRINGS THAT SAME LIGHT and His LIght brings LIFE where there has been only death.
Hallelujah! Praise you, Lord Jesus!
I concur and I don't involve myself with the pagan feasts. Even though I fail miserably, I try to celebrate His birth and especially His resurrection every day.
In Yah'shua...Alone!
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FWIW, Dr. Walter Martin (when he was alive) used to say that the word "power" could be translated as "authority" - and thus, Dr. Martin used this verse to show where Christians "get their authority" to preach the gospel to non-believers.
Merry Christmas Alex.
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