WEBVTT 00:00:05.120 --> 00:00:08.320 We're normally study through books of the Bible here at the Village Chapel. 00:00:08.400 --> 00:00:10.160 We'll get back to Matthew next week. 00:00:10.320 --> 00:00:12.720 Today I'd like you to turn in your Bibles if you have them. 00:00:13.039 --> 00:00:15.759 If you don't have one, like one to follow along, raise your hand up real high. 00:00:15.919 --> 00:00:18.480 We're look at uh John chapter one, the prologue. 00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:19.920 John chapter one. 00:00:20.239 --> 00:00:27.359 Lots of people making New Year's resolutions around this time of year, and perhaps you are among them. 00:00:27.600 --> 00:00:35.200 Um I like to just think about what kind of trajectory I would like to begin the new year with. 00:00:35.439 --> 00:00:42.320 And uh so I'm gonna I'm gonna call this uh little study that we'll do out of the prologue of John's Gospel, beginning again. 00:00:42.719 --> 00:00:48.880 And um, I had this question kind of crossed my mind as I read through this, meditated on this, and marinated on it all week long. 00:00:49.039 --> 00:01:02.320 Actually, I've been marinating on it for a couple of weeks, but what would it look like to begin every day conscious of the fact that Jesus is the word, Jesus is the life, and Jesus is the light of God in our lives. 00:01:02.479 --> 00:01:17.920 A Christian is a person who has God as their Father, Jesus as their Savior and Lord, the Holy Spirit as their comforter, keeper, and counselor throughout life. 00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:42.319 A Christian is a person who has come to see that Jesus knows better than they do in every category of life, including spiritual life, interpersonal relationship life, work ethic, finances, social life, their understanding of human sexuality, their physical, emotional, and mental health. 00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:51.680 Jesus knows better than I do, than you do, when it comes to any of those categories of life. 00:01:51.760 --> 00:01:57.840 And so what we do is we find ourselves as Christians bowing before him. 00:01:58.239 --> 00:02:02.879 See he doesn't come just as a counselor or a life coach, he comes as a king. 00:02:03.120 --> 00:02:04.799 And what do you do with a king? 00:02:05.040 --> 00:02:08.400 You bow before the king, you serve a king. 00:02:08.479 --> 00:02:20.400 And so when Jesus is our king, we bow before Jesus intellectually, we bow before Jesus emotionally, we bow before Jesus spiritually and morally. 00:02:20.800 --> 00:02:32.080 And in every way we recognize Jesus as the king we've always wanted and the king we've always needed. 00:02:32.639 --> 00:02:38.560 These are some of the same reasons why John actually wrote this book that we call the Gospel of John. 00:02:38.719 --> 00:02:44.400 Therefore, many other signs John wrote, lots of signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples. 00:02:44.560 --> 00:02:46.400 And they're not written in this book. 00:02:46.719 --> 00:03:01.120 But these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, not just another religious leader among many, but that he's the Christ, the anointed one of God. 00:03:01.280 --> 00:03:04.319 The Messiah is the Old Testament version of that word Christ. 00:03:04.479 --> 00:03:07.280 It's not his last name, it's his title. 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:22.719 So that, John wants to persuade us, so that you might be it's not just to win the argument, it's that in believing you might have life in his name as you set the course, the trajectory for 2023. 00:03:23.599 --> 00:03:46.960 If you're looking for a sure and a certain word, if you're looking for a life that is flourishing, if you're looking for a light that will push back on the darkness that's all around you, and we're honest around this church, the darkness that sometimes takes up residence inside of us and tries to gain a foothold inside of us. 00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:59.520 If we are looking for a light that can dispel even that darkness, John says, I seek to persuade you that Jesus really is the one. 00:04:00.240 --> 00:04:02.080 You need look no further. 00:04:02.400 --> 00:04:03.840 Turn to him. 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:12.240 And so we come to this very interesting, you know, really honest couple of verses in chapter 20, which is really at the end of the book. 00:04:12.400 --> 00:04:21.680 And it's interesting to me that John puts that toward the end of the book because what he's basically saying is, I wrote all this other stuff before it, so that you would believe that Jesus is the Christ. 00:04:21.839 --> 00:04:26.720 That you'd believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that in so doing, you would find life in his name. 00:04:26.879 --> 00:04:30.639 Here we have his strategy: evidence, evidence, evidence. 00:04:30.879 --> 00:04:32.639 These signs, these ones. 00:04:32.800 --> 00:04:34.160 I've chosen these signs. 00:04:34.240 --> 00:04:36.720 And there are seven of them in the Gospel of John. 00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:40.399 And there are seven discourses of Jesus in the Gospel of John. 00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:42.079 He's really careful. 00:04:42.480 --> 00:04:44.879 He's a very selective writer. 00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:49.519 And he wants you and I to know that Jesus is the one. 00:04:49.600 --> 00:04:51.439 We need not look any further. 00:04:51.519 --> 00:04:52.000 He really is. 00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:56.399 So the strategy is there, the subject matter is there, all in these verses up on the screen. 00:04:56.560 --> 00:04:58.160 The subject matter is Jesus. 00:04:58.399 --> 00:05:03.040 And the purpose for writing is up there as well, so that we might come to believe in Jesus. 00:05:03.199 --> 00:05:13.920 John records the seven I am statements of Jesus, where Jesus, in a multi-layered way, poetically, with these amazing images, says, Here's who I am. 00:05:14.079 --> 00:05:17.040 If you're interested in knowing me, here's who I am. 00:05:17.279 --> 00:05:19.279 I'm the light of the world. 00:05:19.920 --> 00:05:21.199 I'm the bread of life. 00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:22.319 I'm the door. 00:05:22.399 --> 00:05:23.279 I'm the good shepherd. 00:05:23.360 --> 00:05:25.439 I'm the resurrection and the life. 00:05:25.680 --> 00:05:28.959 I'm the way, the truth, and the life. 00:05:29.279 --> 00:05:31.839 And I'm the true vine. 00:05:32.800 --> 00:05:34.560 Jesus isn't playing around. 00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:35.680 He's not trying to hide himself. 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:39.759 He's not in any way trying to shroud who he is. 00:05:40.160 --> 00:05:51.199 He is boldly, plainly, and poetically, and just in case you're wired poetically, or just in case you're like me, you're more kind of thick headed and you just need it said straight up. 00:05:51.839 --> 00:05:52.480 You know? 00:05:52.720 --> 00:05:54.800 He's saying it straight up. 00:05:55.040 --> 00:05:56.480 I mean, I'm the door. 00:05:56.639 --> 00:05:57.279 Bonk. 00:05:58.399 --> 00:05:59.759 How bluntly. 00:06:01.199 --> 00:06:02.639 You looking for a way to the Father? 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:04.240 You're looking for a way to God? 00:06:04.560 --> 00:06:05.519 Do you want to know what? 00:06:06.079 --> 00:06:09.040 You want to know where to find real life? 00:06:09.439 --> 00:06:11.920 And Jesus says, I'm the way, I'm the truth. 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:14.079 I don't point to the way and the truth and the life. 00:06:14.240 --> 00:06:16.879 I am the way, the truth, and the life. 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:18.800 It's a bit of his ontology. 00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:20.879 It's about his being. 00:06:20.959 --> 00:06:22.800 It's wrapped up in who he is. 00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:26.560 It's not just something he points to or can give you. 00:06:26.800 --> 00:06:28.240 It's who he is. 00:06:29.439 --> 00:06:32.319 You really don't need to look any further. 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:39.120 So, in his own words, there you have it up on the screen pretty boldly. 00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:46.879 The reason I go back to it over and over again is because my subjective feelings need the objective truth of God's word. 00:06:48.319 --> 00:06:55.279 I might wake up in 2023 on the 1st of January and go, man, 2022 just wrung me out. 00:06:55.439 --> 00:07:00.160 It took my soul and dragged it through the dust and the dirt and the mud. 00:07:00.480 --> 00:07:11.279 And I got so angry and I was sick for so long, and I had to struggle in so many different ways, I just don't know why I should even be looking forward to a 2023. 00:07:12.959 --> 00:07:20.879 And here's Jesus saying, Because I am all of these things. 00:07:22.240 --> 00:07:23.839 Come and believe. 00:07:24.079 --> 00:07:32.319 And man, John is seeking to do that as he even begins in the first 18 verses of John chapter 1. 00:07:32.399 --> 00:07:38.160 Now, before we read these, and I might actually have you read the scripture out loud today, if you don't mind, I've got parts for all. 00:07:38.480 --> 00:07:40.160 I've got parts for men and for women. 00:07:40.240 --> 00:07:42.399 You just follow up on the screen in a moment. 00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:47.199 Let me pray for us as we have this, our first Bible study of 2023. 00:07:47.360 --> 00:08:10.000 Lord, thank you for your word that it's living and active, that you're faithful to not leave us in a cold, dark, and silent universe, but to break through with words of life and light in the person of Jesus. 00:08:10.079 --> 00:08:19.759 And we turn to him, we pray for a clearer vision of your truth, a greater faith in your power, and a more confident assurance of your love for us in Jesus' name. 00:08:20.079 --> 00:08:21.519 Amen and amen. 00:08:21.680 --> 00:08:26.720 Let's read the scripture from the first uh, I think I'm gonna put the first 14 verses up on the screen. 00:08:26.800 --> 00:08:42.639 If you have a paper Bible or a Bible on your device, swipe there anyway, but let's read aloud from the slide here, because you might on your device or in your lap, you might have a different translation, and so it might sound like we're charismatics or something if you start you know reading from a different translation. 00:08:42.799 --> 00:08:44.639 We just want let's all read it the same way. 00:08:44.799 --> 00:08:48.720 First 14 verses, anyway, right up here, and nothing wrong with that, by the way. 00:08:48.799 --> 00:08:50.080 If you are, that's good. 00:08:50.320 --> 00:08:52.559 Um ready? 00:08:52.799 --> 00:08:59.519 In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. 00:09:00.240 --> 00:09:02.879 He was in the beginning with God. 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:06.639 All things came into being by him. 00:09:12.720 --> 00:09:23.440 In him was life, and the life was the light of men, and the light shone in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. 00:09:24.080 --> 00:09:28.720 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. 00:09:29.360 --> 00:09:37.120 He came for a witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him. 00:09:37.919 --> 00:09:39.120 He was not. 00:09:49.840 --> 00:09:56.799 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world did not know him. 00:09:57.360 --> 00:10:03.279 He came to his own, and those who were his own did not receive him. 00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:15.840 But in as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in his name, who were born. 00:10:23.039 --> 00:10:36.960 And the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:39.519 Now look with me in your Bible if you have it with you. 00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:42.639 And I know I've tired you just a little for public reading. 00:10:42.960 --> 00:10:49.519 So let me let me just read the last four verses here, because I think there's this, I love this, the way this sort of bookends work here. 00:10:49.679 --> 00:10:50.399 Verse 15. 00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:52.159 John bore witness of him. 00:10:52.480 --> 00:10:57.279 This is John the this is John the Apostle talking about John the Baptist bearing witness of Jesus, okay? 00:10:57.440 --> 00:11:04.320 And cried out saying, This was he of whom I said, he who comes after me, has a higher rank than I, for he existed before me. 00:11:04.559 --> 00:11:10.240 For of his fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:12.960 For the law was given through Moses. 00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:20.240 Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:22.399 No man has seen God at any time. 00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:30.159 The only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, he has explained him. 00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:39.600 Now it's really awesome to every now and then pull out if you have a copy of a Greek dictionary or access to one or one online or something like that. 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:42.080 It's interesting to look at that last little phrase. 00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:43.679 He has explained him. 00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:54.000 And see that it's really the same root that is the word realized in verse 17, that grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 00:11:54.559 --> 00:12:01.200 And here at the very last bit of verse 18, he meaning Jesus, has explained him, meaning God. 00:12:01.759 --> 00:12:04.720 Jesus has explained God. 00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:09.600 He has helped us realize who God is. 00:12:10.240 --> 00:12:15.679 Which is fascinating to me because this whole thing began with in the beginning was the word. 00:12:16.720 --> 00:12:18.399 He has explained him. 00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:26.720 If you're curious about God at all, look to Jesus. 00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:42.159 He has revealed him, he has explained him, he is the exact representation of God's brilliant, luminous, splendorous glory. 00:12:43.360 --> 00:12:44.799 Look to Jesus. 00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:48.720 How will you set the course for this year? 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:50.639 How will you begin again? 00:12:50.799 --> 00:12:52.639 Is it possible to begin again? 00:12:52.799 --> 00:12:55.200 So much has gone on in the past. 00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:56.240 I'm reading a book. 00:12:56.399 --> 00:13:02.960 I think I mentioned it last year, started reading this book, and I have to keep my dictionary handy because this is one of those books. 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:04.480 It's a tome. 00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:08.159 But it really is quite brilliant, and I highly recommend it to you. 00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:21.840 The prologue to John's Gospel, Christopher Watkins says, must be one of the richest, most poetically potent treatments of any theme within or outside the Bible's pages. 00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:28.960 Uncurling tentacles of meaning in all directions. 00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:34.320 So beautifully said, so poetically said by Watkin. 00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:37.840 And again, I'm really enjoying the book. 00:13:37.919 --> 00:13:43.600 I just really want to focus on these three metaphors, if you'll allow me to do it. 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:46.639 Jesus is the word, Jesus is the life, Jesus is the light. 00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:51.200 Here we have that right, really in the first five verses, actually, don't we? 00:13:51.519 --> 00:13:55.679 In the beginning was the word, the word was with God, and the word was God. 00:13:55.840 --> 00:13:58.240 He was in the beginning with God. 00:13:58.639 --> 00:14:06.639 All things were created by him, and apart from him, nothing has come into being that has come into being. 00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:08.639 In him was life. 00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:13.120 And the life was the light of man. 00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:17.919 And the light shines in the darkness, but the darkness did not understand it. 00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:21.440 Jesus is God's self-disclosure. 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:24.480 He's the word of God. 00:14:25.679 --> 00:14:27.840 He's God's self-disclosure. 00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:35.039 He's the eternally relevant, sure, certain word that can never be deconstructed. 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:52.480 No matter how hard our world works to deconstruct language and meaning, which then leads us to despair and confusion, particularly the youngest among us, to great confusion. 00:14:54.399 --> 00:15:04.799 And here, into all of that kind of chaos, comes God saying, a word that is eternally, it's timeless. 00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:05.600 In the beginning. 00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:11.679 That means before the beginning even began, in the beginning, he already was. 00:15:12.320 --> 00:15:28.000 And that's in the imperfect tense, that verb, meaning continually, he is already and continues to be the word of God, the self-disclosure, the self-revelation of God. 00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:45.279 John claims that Jesus existed before the creation event, was actually present at the creation event, and actually was the active participant in the creation event. 00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:47.679 By him all things were made. 00:15:47.840 --> 00:15:50.960 Apart from him, nothing has come into being that did come into being. 00:15:51.120 --> 00:16:01.360 It sounds so much like what had already been written in an epistle by the Apostle Paul by this time in Colossians chapter 1. 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:06.399 And if you have time later, encourage you to go and read that on your own. 00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:13.200 But the claims about Jesus in that early letter, they're so bold, they're astonishing. 00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:16.720 And it's the Apostle Paul saying the same thing the Apostle John here is saying. 00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:18.000 You need look no further. 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:19.440 He really is the one. 00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:23.360 By him, through him, and for him, all things came into being. 00:16:23.519 --> 00:16:25.679 You included, me included. 00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:28.480 You know the meaning and the purpose for your life? 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:30.960 The meaning and purpose for my life is him. 00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:34.720 I look to him for that. 00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:39.120 You see, the Christian gospel is rooted in language, Eugene Peterson said. 00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:46.000 God spoke a creation into being, and our Savior was the word made flesh. 00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:49.919 Verse 14, right here in John chapter 1. 00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:51.360 Jesus really is the word. 00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:53.840 Jesus really is the life also. 00:16:54.480 --> 00:17:00.879 He is the designer and the source of life. 00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:06.480 All life and all of creation, really, is what the claim is in the first couple of verses there. 00:17:07.119 --> 00:17:10.880 But let's just talk about our little sputtering lives, okay? 00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:13.200 In this big universe. 00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:26.720 And by the way, if you haven't taken the time to go online and check out some of the James Webb space telescope photos and just to continue to see how big and massive this universe is, it's awesome. 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:34.880 And the bigger it gets and the more massive and complicated and beautiful it all gets, the more I sit here just with my mouth hanging open. 00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:35.839 Wow. 00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:50.799 Why would the God who did all of that and can do all of that even think at all about imprinting his image in a little speck of dust called gem? 00:17:52.559 --> 00:17:54.400 That's mind-blowing. 00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:58.160 And why would he do that in you as well? 00:17:58.240 --> 00:18:00.000 It's just astonishing. 00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:03.839 It's wonderful, is what it is. 00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:14.960 And Jesus, in his own language, uh in chapter 14, says things like this: I am the way, I am the truth, and I am the life. 00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:16.640 No one comes to the Father but through me. 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:21.839 If you want to know God, Jesus is the door to knowing God. 00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:26.799 Jesus is the door to the way, the truth, and the life. 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:27.680 It's interesting to me. 00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:34.160 This little triplet, way, truth, life is just slightly parallel to what we have in chapter one, in a way, isn't it? 00:18:35.119 --> 00:18:36.799 Here's Jesus, the word. 00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:39.119 That's kind of like truth. 00:18:39.839 --> 00:18:41.599 Here's Jesus, the life. 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:43.599 That's kind of like life. 00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:50.480 And here is Jesus also the light that brightens my way. 00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:56.000 Because thy word is a lamp into my feet and a light into my path. 00:18:57.039 --> 00:19:19.359 And so over and over again in John's gospel, we have both Jesus and John both speaking poetically and plainly to help us come to this conviction, this place that we understand that Jesus is the source that we're looking for as we move through life. 00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:30.799 And if we want to intentionally set a trajectory for this year, spiritually speaking, oh my goodness, let's head in the direction of Jesus. 00:19:32.079 --> 00:19:36.559 Now, a lot of other churches will bang on the moralism drum. 00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:38.480 Let's head in the direction of being better people. 00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:42.160 Let's head in the direction, and there's nothing wrong with some of that stuff. 00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:51.599 But ultimately, if I want to transcend politics, if I want to transcend the things that divide us, I have to go to something that's higher than those things. 00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:57.039 And there really is only one thing that is the highest thing, and that's Jesus Himself. 00:19:57.279 --> 00:20:03.519 So when Jesus is preeminent, when he's first, when and I loved it that we began this way. 00:20:03.680 --> 00:20:10.559 When we walk into this room, and the first thing we do is say, holy, holy, holy. 00:20:11.599 --> 00:20:15.759 Did you feel your soul drawn into his presence? 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:16.720 Maybe it didn't. 00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:20.079 Maybe for you it was just too much by road at that point. 00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:25.519 But for me, it was like holy, holy, holy. 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:32.480 Oh come to be awake to his presence here when you walk through the door. 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:34.799 And let's do that together. 00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:36.880 Let's be the people of God. 00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:42.160 Let's find in Jesus the word, the life, and the light. 00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:47.279 I love it that he didn't say in the beginning was the hum. 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:55.920 I love it that he didn't say, in the beginning, was this political party or that political party. 00:20:56.799 --> 00:21:03.359 I love it that he did not say, in the beginning, was a proper ordering of societal justice. 00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:06.160 And I'm for justice. 00:21:06.640 --> 00:21:09.759 But that's not what he said was in the beginning. 00:21:10.640 --> 00:21:16.640 In the beginning was the warm, fuzzy feeling of L-U-V. 00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:20.079 He didn't say that either. 00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:23.680 He doesn't reduce love to love. 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:45.440 Because love, the love that God is, is the kind that enters and pierces the darkness on a rescue mission and suffers and lays down his life for those who are trapped in the darkness and can't seem to overcome the darkness, as it says here. 00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:50.720 And he, the light, comes into, and it's all it's not effortless. 00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:58.000 He has it, it's costly, but he does it motivated by this great love. 00:21:58.400 --> 00:21:59.359 L O V E. 00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:01.200 Don't you Shorten it to L-U-V-E. 00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:02.559 L-U-V. 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:11.200 God had not created the world to just be a feeling. 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:21.119 And I'm I I feel like we're adrift and somewhat off course because we're thinking with our feelings too much. 00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:24.319 That doesn't mean intuition is bad. 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:25.759 I'm not saying that. 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:31.359 And it doesn't mean, but think of how many times you say, well, I feel this, and I feel that. 00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:36.079 And what you really mean is I think this or I believe that. 00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:49.519 And we're getting sloppy and we're just getting lazy and we we've we've sort of begun to use, put thinking into the place where feelings are supposed to be, and feelings into the place where thinking is supposed to be. 00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:56.240 And Dallas Willard does a brilliant job of sorting that all out for us in a book called Renovation of the Heart. 00:22:56.319 --> 00:23:00.000 If you haven't read that, it's a great book to look at it. 00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:01.920 Well, I digress, I've gotten off track. 00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:03.119 Please forgive me. 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:05.119 Here's what Jesus said. 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:08.319 I am the light of the world. 00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:15.519 He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life. 00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:18.400 See, he's picking up on what John says here in the prologue. 00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:23.920 Some Bible scholars think that John wrote the prologue, those first 18 verses that we've read now. 00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:27.599 They think that he wrote that after he wrote the rest of the book. 00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:33.279 He kind of went back and said, I'm going to come up with this little section right here that's going to be sort of a foreshadowing of the entire book. 00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:34.160 Is that possible? 00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:35.759 Yeah, I think it is possible. 00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:38.720 I know a lot of modern writers actually do that. 00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:42.000 They write their forew or their preface after they've written their book. 00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:45.759 And so it very well could be that that's what he did. 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:56.160 Because in those 18 verses, we really have sort of a summary statement of everything he's going to say in the rest of John's gospel. 00:23:56.480 --> 00:24:10.400 As he points us all the way, not all the way back to Abraham, not all the way back to David, not all the way back to just that first century or anything like that, but all the way back to the beginning of time and even before the beginning began. 00:24:10.640 --> 00:24:17.440 Because before the beginning began was the beginner who began all of the stuff that began. 00:24:18.559 --> 00:24:20.400 And he is the word. 00:24:23.119 --> 00:24:27.839 Because of Jesus, we do not have to remain blinded by spiritual darkness. 00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:39.920 But according to John, he's describing here what is kind of indescribable, and that's why I'm so glad John is the poetic gospel writer that he is. 00:24:41.119 --> 00:24:47.200 I often need the gifts of the poets and songwriters to help me, Mr. 00:24:47.839 --> 00:24:50.640 Analytic, theoretical, you know, propositional guy. 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:54.799 I need their insight and their words. 00:24:55.440 --> 00:25:01.599 Because there comes a point where when we're talking about God, we must acknowledge we cannot define God. 00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:03.119 We can describe God. 00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:10.400 And we do best, we do that best when we use the words that God has given us to describe Himself. 00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:17.359 And those words, at least for this morning, are word, life. 00:25:18.640 --> 00:25:19.279 Light. 00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:38.160 And as you set the trajectory for year, year, I wonder what it would look like to begin every day conscious of the fact that Jesus is the Word, Jesus is the life, and Jesus is the light. 00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:42.400 Thank him that he's not left us alone in the dark to come up with us ourselves. 00:25:42.640 --> 00:25:46.720 Thank him that it's not God as you understand God to be. 00:25:47.119 --> 00:25:56.079 Because when I'm left to that, this sort of contemporary notion of you, you know, you, what do you think, God, you know, as if it's up to me who God is? 00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:56.640 You know. 00:25:56.880 --> 00:26:02.000 Well, if that were, if I were to answer honestly, I'd say, well, God looks a whole lot like Jim. 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:06.480 God likes everything Jim likes. 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:11.119 And God is bothered by everything that Jim is bothered by. 00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:28.480 So what happens to us as human persons created in the image of God is that our tendency is to create God in our own image instead of living safely, blessedly in the image of God, the way He's created us. 00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:34.720 And so He's the designer, He's the Creator, He's the Word, He's the life, He's the light. 00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:48.240 And the more we consider these powerful images, we begin to realize John's claim that the, and I think the entire Bible's claim, is that Jesus is the antidote to a dark, cold, and silent universe as the Word. 00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:58.480 Jesus is the world, antidote to a world of confusion and uncertainty, a world without meaning, purpose, and hope. 00:26:58.720 --> 00:27:19.519 And that Jesus brings the light of God's salvation and the possibility of a flourishing life by that light and that word, and it all breaks through the darkness that surrounds us and that tries to rise up within us as we turn to Jesus and bow. 00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:22.319 Lift up the empty hands of faith. 00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:23.119 And what do we get? 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:24.400 It says here at the end of this. 00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:25.200 I love this. 00:27:25.359 --> 00:27:26.480 What do we get? 00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:30.240 Well, the law was given through Moses, verse 17. 00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:35.519 Grace and truth are given through Jesus. 00:27:35.759 --> 00:27:53.680 I don't know about you, but uh while I appreciate that the the law is articulated clearly in the Bible that I know what God's standards are, and I think the law is good, but here's what I need: grace and truth. 00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:55.759 I just I'm not good. 00:27:55.920 --> 00:27:56.880 Maybe maybe you are. 00:27:58.079 --> 00:28:00.880 It's not enough to just tell me what the rules are. 00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:05.200 I need grace and truth. 00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:08.720 I need to I need to be moved. 00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:12.960 I need to tremble in his presence. 00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:29.920 Because he, the Almighty, holy God, has set his love on me, sinner though I am, broken though I am, and he's called me, he's chosen me, he's called me to himself. 00:28:30.319 --> 00:28:31.839 And that involves repentance. 00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:32.559 Yes, it does. 00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:38.480 I must turn away from my selfishness and my sin and to him in faith, believing. 00:28:38.640 --> 00:28:40.240 That's so true. 00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:45.119 John is not just talking about believing in God, however you imagine God to be. 00:28:45.359 --> 00:28:54.559 This is the God who's revealed himself as word, as life, and as light, and as more, but at least for this morning. 00:28:54.880 --> 00:28:58.079 What if we got a glimpse of just those three? 00:28:58.559 --> 00:29:06.400 And that we set our course this year to live with Jesus as the word in our lives. 00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:11.279 The very source of life that we draw on. 00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:18.880 And the one who, by his glorious light, can push back the darkness in our own souls. 00:29:19.200 --> 00:29:32.559 John was not talking about some amorphous, shapeless spirituality, subject to his imagination or your imagination, or somehow subject to our momentary moods and feelings. 00:29:33.200 --> 00:29:41.440 The ancient songwriters of Psalm 27 said it this way: The Lord is my light and my salvation. 00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:48.559 And then the next line that comes right along, but it's basically whom shall I fear? 00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:55.839 That's the that's when you turn to him and you see him that way, that's a natural question. 00:29:56.720 --> 00:30:00.480 It's rhetorical, and the idea is you don't have to be afraid of anybody. 00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:00.880 Why? 00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:05.440 Because the Lord is your light and your salvation. 00:30:05.839 --> 00:30:09.200 And therefore there's nothing to fear. 00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:20.799 The emphasis on light and darkness, Tim Keller says, comes from the Christian belief that the world's hope comes from outside of it. 00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:25.440 Jesus comes as a light because we're too spiritually blind to find our own way. 00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:32.559 Jesus became mortal and died because we are too morally ruined to be pardoned any other way. 00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:39.440 Jesus gave himself to us, and so we must give ourselves wholly to him. 00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:44.880 As we enter this new year, as we begin again, yeah. 00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:48.720 Rejoice, O people of God. 00:30:50.240 --> 00:30:51.759 The word has come. 00:30:53.119 --> 00:31:08.160 He's brought life, and he has the light that I need and that you will need as well, to begin to dispel the darkness around us and the darkness that rises up within us. 00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:10.880 That darkness could look like so many things. 00:31:11.200 --> 00:31:18.720 And even as I was preparing for this particular Bible study this week, it it can come from so many different sides. 00:31:18.880 --> 00:31:36.960 I mean, it's just amazing how that darkness will masquerade like something else as it approaches your mind, your heart, um, and seeks to derail you or in some way distract you from your focus being on him, the one you really need. 00:31:37.119 --> 00:31:39.039 I'll close with this Dietrich Bonhoeffer quote. 00:31:39.200 --> 00:31:48.960 Look up you whose eyes are fixed on this earth, you who are captivated by the events. 00:31:49.359 --> 00:31:52.400 This is just so, so, so brilliant. 00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:54.400 Captivated by the events. 00:31:55.200 --> 00:31:56.480 I don't have the right one up there, do I? 00:31:56.559 --> 00:31:57.519 I want you to see this. 00:31:57.680 --> 00:32:05.200 Look up you whose eyes are fixed on this earth, who are captivated by the events and changes on the surface of this earth. 00:32:05.440 --> 00:32:11.759 Look up you who turned away from heaven to this ground because you had become disillusioned. 00:32:11.920 --> 00:32:13.039 Maybe that's you. 00:32:14.240 --> 00:32:22.319 Look up you whose eyes are laden with tears, you who mourn the loss of all that the earth has snatched away. 00:32:22.559 --> 00:32:27.759 Look up you who cannot lift your eyes because you are so laden with guilt. 00:32:28.079 --> 00:32:29.039 Is that you? 00:32:30.319 --> 00:32:31.200 Look up. 00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:32.799 Look up. 00:32:33.359 --> 00:32:36.960 Your redemption is drawing near. 00:32:38.480 --> 00:32:41.519 And it has in the person and work of Jesus. 00:32:41.599 --> 00:32:49.359 And one day he intends to return and complete the unfolding of his kingdom and set all things right. 00:32:49.519 --> 00:32:50.799 What would it look like this year? 00:32:50.960 --> 00:32:51.599 I don't know. 00:32:51.839 --> 00:33:06.079 What would it look like for you to wake up and every single day live with a conscious understanding that Jesus is the word you've been looking for, the life you have always wanted, and the light you have always needed. 00:33:06.400 --> 00:33:07.119 Let's pray. 00:33:07.279 --> 00:33:09.920 Lord, thank you for this passage. 00:33:11.359 --> 00:33:16.480 Jesus, I want to know you that way this year, this day even. 00:33:18.559 --> 00:33:28.559 So stir us all to go back to the beginning and to begin again with the beginning in mind. 00:33:29.680 --> 00:33:34.799 Thank you that your mercies are new every morning. 00:33:35.920 --> 00:33:55.839 And so for the next 364 days of this 365-day year, I pray that we'd be aware of that and aware of you, Jesus, as the sure and certain word we hope to hear, need to hear. 00:33:56.559 --> 00:34:06.480 The truth that we need to know, the assurance of your presence, your power at work in our lives. 00:34:06.720 --> 00:34:13.679 Lord, bring us the life and the light by the Holy Spirit as well. 00:34:13.840 --> 00:34:47.119 And may we, as your people, reflect your glory in our homes, in our cars on the way home, in our places of work, in our neighborhoods, as we gather with friends and family, and as this year begins to unfold, whatever it holds, Lord, may we have that calm, confident assurance that you hold your people fast. 00:34:47.280 --> 00:34:48.800 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:34:48.960 --> 00:34:49.599 Amen. 00:34:49.760 --> 00:34:50.719 And amen.