Light Into Darkness (John 1:4-14)

TO APPRECIATE THE CHRISTMAS GIFT OF GOD (THE “LIGHT”), YOU MUST COME TO GRIPS WITH THE DARKNESS.

John 1:4-14 “In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him…

John 1:4-14 “…Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 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.”

Darkness is “Hidden”-ness

Spiritual Blindness “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… 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” — 2 Corinthians 4:4, 6

Blindness produces ignorance “But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.” — Proverbs 4:19

Blindness produces ignorance “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.” — Romans 1:21

For some darkness means secrecy “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.” — Ephesians 5:11-12

Darkness is “Imprisonment”

Slavery to sin “Everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” — John 8:34

Captivity to Satan “I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” — Acts 26:17-18

Slave under the Law “And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” — Matthew 25:30

Darkness means doom

Without Jesus, there was no hope. “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air… All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.” —Ephesians 2:1-3

“the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” —Matthew 4:16

“For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 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 God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” —2 Corinthians 4:5-6