A PROMISE WAS GIVEN BY THE PROPHETS:
ONE DAY THE PEOPLE WALKING IN DARKNESS
WOULD SEE A GREAT LIGHT
HERE THIS PASSAGE IS PUT TO MUSIC IN HANDEL’S MESSIAH:
15th Century Italian artist
WHEN JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS BORN,
HIS FATHER, WHO HAD BEEN STRUCK DUMB BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF,
WROTE ON A SLATE THAT HIS NAME WAS JOHN.
THEN ZECHARIAH’S TONGUE WAS UNLEASHED TO PROPHESY,
TO TELL ALL THE PROMISE WAS FULFILLED,
FOR HIS SON WOULD POINT TO THE TRUE LIGHT,
“THE SUNRISE FROM ON HIGH.”
“Because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
to give light to those who sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
(Zechariah’s Song in Luke 1:78-79)
These prophecies from Isaiah and Zechariah inspired the carol,
“O Come O Come Immanuel,”
the hauntingly beautiful song filled with images of light overcoming darkness.
is sung here by Enya with visuals from The Nativity Story.
INDEED, JESUS WOULD SOON BE BORN ON EARTH,
A LIGHT THE DARKNESS WOULD NOT OVERCOME,
A TRUE LIGHT THAT ENLIGHTENS EVERYONE.
THIS WEEK WE ARE CONTINUING TO MEMORIZE THE FAMOUS PROLOGUE
FROM JOHN’S GOSPEL.
THERE ARE THREE, AT LEAST, VERY RICH WORDS IN THIS PROLOGUE,
AND THIS WEEK WE WILL LOOK CAREFULLY AT TWO OF THEM TO DEEPEN
YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHY JESUS CAME
AND WHY HE IS RESISTED, BOTH BY UNBELIEVERS, AND, IF WE ARE HONEST
BY OURSELVES AS BELIEVERS.
Sunday: Icebreaker
1. Christmas provides some of the most beautiful art and music on earth. Comment on Jocopo’s painting — what do you see? And comment on either of the musical classics.
2. What other comments or thoughts do you have as you consider the opening or the journey we are on?
We are continuing to memorize the famous prologue — if you are doing ESV, print this off and put it in a plastic sleeve.
(1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(2) He was in the beginning with God.
(3) All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
(4) In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
(5)The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
(6) There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
(7) He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light,
that all might believe through him.
(8) He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
10. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
Monday: Review 1 through 8. As Twila says, Review, Review, Review.
3. The first word we are going to consider is “logos,” translated word. In part, Keller explains, the “logos” for something is the purpose or design for it. In other words, Christ came, in part, to show us our purpose or design. He, as the Word, is the “Master’s Manual” for our lives. He knows better how to run our lives than we do. And submitting to the Word brings freedom and enlarges our hearts.
A. What thoughts to you have on this meaning of the word “logos?”
B. Give an example of how The Word knew better than you did how to handle a particular problem and how, if you submitted to it, you were helped.
C. What challenges are you facing today that the Word could help you with?
Tuesday: Review 1 through 8 and add verse 9.
4. The second word we are going to consider is “overcome,” sometimes translated “understood,” “comprehended,” or “extinguished.” Again, a very rich word. Keller likens it to the word “master” because it contains both ideas of overcoming something and understanding something. What thoughts do you have on “the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it”?
5. What thoughts do you have on verse 9, on the fact that the true light enlightens everyone?
6. Romans 1:18 explains why not everyone responds to the light they are given. What is it? How is this also true of you as a believer?
Wednesday: Review 1 through 9 and add verse 10.
7. What irony do you see in verse 10?
The human heart is able to suppress what is obvious in order to do what it wants to do. As Woody Allen said famously, after sleeping with his daughter, “the heart wants what it wants.”
But then there are those who have a childlike wonder at creation. If you have time, watch this TEDS talk by a professor of medicine at Yale, and see his wonder.
8. Comment if you had time to watch.
9. As you submit to the Creator, do you experience more of His presence?
Thursday: Review 1-10 and add 11.
10. Any new revelations on this passage?
11. Listen to this optional (not free) Keller sermon and share your thoughts.
http://www.gospelinlife.com/in-the-beginning-7937.html
Friday: Review 1 through 11.
12. Any new revelations on this passage? How is it impacting you?
Saturday: Review 1 through 11.
13. What is your take-a-way and why?
135 comments
I love that you quoted Psalm 19 that Rebecca sang
5. He came for everyone, not just for His own people, is my first thought on verse 9.
The true light is represented by the sun. It gives light that nourishes plant growth (and human, vitamin D), purifies water, lifts the human heart out of depression and I am sure that we have no idea of the benefits of sunlight. In modern life today we have a lot of artificial light. It is beneficial in many ways but does not replace the true light of the sun.
This makes me think of how we have many blessings in our lives. They are good but they do not replace the one True Light. The True Light is perfect in every way, meeting every need in us. We were made for Him and only He is for us. Perfection. The True Light, tabernacled with us.
12. Any new revelations on this passage? How is it impacting you? “The light shines in the darkness…” This has sent my thoughts to “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.” Could it be that His light of grace is like a candle in the dark? Captivating in and of itself with beauty but also beautiful is how it casts light on those around it. Everyone looks good in candle light. The things of earth, the imperfections of my face, my soul, grow dim as I turn my face to His candle, my sin melts away to the viewing eye because He sees me through His light, the light of grace. And this is how we should see each other, through the light of His grace, beautiful. My thoughts have been turned to this often this Advent as we contemplate John. The light in the darkness can be a fierce refining light but the light of His grace is soft and warm and lovely that casts beauty and sees beauty.
Jill love your thoughts here and seeing you here this morning! I love that song and how true it is. I will never forget a teen who was leading worship with me in kids church singing that song and just weeping as he did! Such a powerful truth!
Susan I am praying for your son. And peace for you!
Oh, Jill….. I love this. Thankyou.
“the light of his grace is soft and warm and lovely that casts beauty and sees beauty.” Yes, I see this, too,Jill.
As I meditate on these wonderful verses, I am focusing on the true light. I am praying for those in darkness to be drawn to the light.
6. Romans 1:18 explains why not everyone responds to the light they are given. What is it? How is this also true of you as a believer?
Because they suppress the truth in unrighteousness. I think we all have a desire for unrighteousness as a result of our fallen nature. In order to partake of unrighteousness the truth must be suppressed. The two cannot coexist. As believers we struggle with this but we have victory in Christ. Unbelievers can only recognize this through the call of the Holy Spirit. That is the only way they can see their sin and need for salvation. Believers can deny, ignore or justify their sin and that separates us from God, hardening our hearts. So I think that we all do it. Sadly believers don’t do it in ignorance as do unbelievers.
“You know Michael_______, they are voting on him for sainthood and we prayed to him for this Knight of Columbus brother whose heart stopped during our convention. There were many of us who right away were instructed by our priest to pray to Michael as this brother of ours were being worked on by EMS personnel. And you know what, Bing he survived after his wife has been told by the doctor that there was nothing they can do to save him anymore!” My friend was so excited to tell me about the miracle that happened in front of her a few days before. Knowing I am a nurse, she thought I will appreciate her story. I did and I do. But I had the most sinking feeling realizing my friend/colleague does not know she can pray to the true Light, our Advocate and High Priest, Jesus. The realization was so great I felt I’ve been punched in the gut and felt the wind knock out of me. I care for this friend of mine-her classroom is next to mine.
Our Enemy is hard at work. “HE was in the world but through 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 recognize Him. ” Please pray for me as I rub shoulders with this friend and colleague of mine. We have been in the same building for 9 years now and this was the closest I have ever been to her. Pray I will have the opportunity to love on her despite all of our differences and the Light of Christ will shine through me and she will know Jesus for who He is and can be in her life.
My take away: I can suppress the Light by my busyness and preoccupation with how to do life and ministry rather than focusing on the person of Jesus’ Christ. My offerings of time, money, efforts are to be an outflow of time well spent in His presence. I need to seek His kingdom first, ask for His wisdom, trust Him and He will make my paths straight.
I love the practice of memorization and will make effort to continue doing it. I have memorized Philippians before 🙂 and will try to go back and memorize it again. Thank you, Dee and everyone for the encouragement I continue to receive through this blog. To God be the glory!
Today I came across an article, Time magazine,April 28, 2014, Finding God in the Dark. This is a very strange article. I will not comment on it other than to say
there are many strange beliefs that abound these days. And people think they are right!
The truth of John 1:5 is so relevant. The sermon this week has so much information and I could listen for a second time to really grasp it all.
The 3 main points: 1. A Claim about the Word, 2. the Rejection, and 3. The Answers to the Rejections.
Jesus is the Word. Logos, according to Greek philosophers was a spiritual cosmos, a principle. The Source of our design is not a principle, but a Person.
He is divine and is without beginning, never created, but always existed.
Two ways of rejection: 1. overtly hostile or 2. Just not comprehending.
It is a revolutionary idea that Christianity is a relationship with a person, who is our author.
I had some difficulty as he talked about absolute truth and moral relatavism.
The part that stood out to me was that our culture now views religious fanatics as the “bad people.”
In conclusion the true followers are committed to Christ in a covenant relationship, we are his children by grace.
We need a non-oppressive absolute. Praise God for his love , and that Christ came to save sinners.
My prayer is to love others as Jesus has so graciously loved me.
5. What thoughts do you have on verse 9, on the fact that the true light enlightens everyone?
So, as I listen to “holiday” music, the words to “Here Comes Santa Claus” are echoing through my head…here’s why:
“Here comes Santa Claus,
Here comes Santa Claus,
Right down Santa Claus Lane,
He’ll come around when chimes ring out,
It’s Christmas time again.
Peace on earth will come to all,
If we just follow the light,
So let’s give thanks to the Lord above
‘Cause Santa Claus comes tonight.”
Why is it that people had no trouble with this back in “the day,” but do now? There is another line from the Elvis Presley version that rings out as well:
“He doesn’t care if you’re a rich or poor boy
He loves you just the same
Santa knows that we’re God’s children
That makes everything right”
Love it! The “light” is EVERYWHERE!