Advent 1999 -1- Coming Light: A Light Shines in the Darkness
Reading: Isaiah 53:1-12; John 1:1-9
The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.John 1:9 (NIV)
I. Jesus is the True light (Jn 1:9a)
A. Don’t settle for Artificial light
1. When we’re in the dark, we’re tempted to make our own light (Is. 50:10-11)
a. In the Bible darkness usually stands for sin, death, lack of wisdom.
b. Because we are in the dark (because of sin), we look for some kind of light.
c. We find the true light, or a substitute.
2. Satan tries to trick us with darkness disguised as light (2 Corinthians 11:14)
a. Sometimes what we think is the true light isn’t!
b. Satan and his hosts deceive us with counterfeit light.
3. Don’t settle for anything but the true light!
B. In Him is Life (Jn 1:4a)
1. He is the source of life (Jn 5:25)
a. We mope around in death looking for life–Jesus has it!
b. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself.
2. He gives us full life in the present (Jn 10:10)
a. Not “pie in the sky, by and by.”
b. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full
3. He gives everlasting life (Jn 11:25-26)
a. The life Jesus offers isn’t finite, or temporary, it’s life without end.
b. The purpose of Jesus advent was to give us everlasting life.
C. His life is the Light of our life (Jn 1:4b)
1. Light is the 1st act of creation
a. He creates it 1st in Gen. 1
b. He creates it 1st in us who believe.
c. Light stands for holiness, wisdom, life and the presence of God.
2. He sheds light on our path
a. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (Jn 8:12b)
b. He helps us find our way in this confusing world.
3. The true light gives true life (Jn 12:46)
a. Artificial light can’t yield a good life
b. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
c. Jesus empowers us to come out of our darkness–i.e.–to really live!
II. He shines on Everyone (Jn 1:9b)
A. “I am the light of the World” (Jn 8:12)
1. He gives light to everyone (Jn 1:9b)
a. We call it common grace: God’s way of enlightening all people with His Truth
b. Christians don’t have a corner on what is true, or even honorable.
2. He gives the light of everlasting life to all who believe His message (Jn 5:24)
a. There is another kind of light, everlasting light, that He also gives
b. This he gives to all who believe His message (Believe = stake your life on!)
B. He shines in the Darkness (Jn 1:5a)
1. See Isaiah 53:1-12 (especially v.11)
C. Darkness can’t Understand light (Jn 1:5b)
1. Those who love the darkness don’t want the light. (Jn 3.19)
a. They’ve been in the dark so long and so deeply, the light seems unreasonable.
b. The light hurts them: it exposes the darkness for the emptiness it is.
2. Without God’s help we can’t understand
a. None of us can understand the light unless God helps us.
b. See 1Corinthians 2:14
3. The princes of darkness didn’t understand what He was up to either
a. See 1Corinthians 2:6-8
III. He is Coming (Jn 1:9c)
A. He Came
1. The Father sent Him to us
a. Jesus did not become divine by living a righteous life, or by doing great deeds.
b. Jesus left heaven, sent by the Father
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. (1Jn 4:9)
2. Though God, He was born as a human being (Lk 2:10-11; Jn 1:14)
a. This is, I believe, the most astounding truth of the Bible, except for God’s love
b. How astounding: “The word became flesh and lived among us.” (Jn 1:14)
c. Isn’t it amazing that God was born?!
3. He came to give us life (Jn 6:51)
a. What would make Jesus go through such a great self-humbling?
b. He came to give us everlasting life!
B. He’s Here
1. His name is Immanuel (Matt 1:23)
a. This name means God with us–not for a little while, but permanently.
b. Not a God who resides only in the great, unreachable beyond
2. He’s wherever we gather in His Name
a. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. (Matt 18:20)
b. Jesus is present always, but in a special way when His followers gather.
3. He promises to stay with us
a. He will never abandon us, or leave us to wallow in our ignorance and shame
b. We don’t have to battle the prince of darkness alone and unarmed.
c. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Mat 28:20b)
C. He’s coming Again
1. He will return (See Acts 1:11)
a. In advent we especially celebrate Jesus’ 1st coming–but also his 2nd.
b. As surely as he ascended, he’s returning
2. He will come back for us (Jn 14:3)
a. John 14:1-3
3. We will live with Him in the new heaven and earth forever (1Thes 4:16-17; Rev.21:3-4)
a. 1Thes 4:16-17
b. Rev.21:3-4
The Bottom Line:
| When your life seems Filled with Darkness, go to the Light. |
(HoR: R#293 Christ Whose Glory Fills the Skies vv 1,3)
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Additional Readings for November 28, 1999
Isaiah 53:7-12
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
And who can speak of his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes his
life a guilt offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
11 After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous
servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
1 Corinthians 2:14
The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 2:6-8
6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Acts 1:11
“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
John 14:1-3
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
1Thes 4:16-17
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
Rev.21:3-4
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”