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The Gospel of John, The Word, Part II - Lesson 3
Light is stronger than darkness, darkness cannot prevail against it light is eternal, darkness is not.
1 John 2:8, Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
If a little light shines you cannot say turn up the darkness in order to dim the light, The darker it gets, the little light appears to be brighter.
This is the message of Romans 5:20, Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
Also Isa. 59:19, So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
Darkness is settling into this land but it is almost exciting to expectantly wait to see the hand of the Lord as He will work in our midst to dispel the darkness with His standard.
Darkness of the Religious Mind-superstition Darkness of the Philosophical Mind-speculates vainly about the ultimate nature of things Darkness of the Carnal Mind-enmity against God, ready to entertain hurtful and destructive lusts. Darkness of the Scientific Mind-life is only chemistry and must have a body.
The goal of darkness is to envelop the earth so as to prevent the light from penetrating into human souls.
That is beyond the power of darkness.
Any light at all dispels darkness, darkness flees.
Proverbs 4:18, But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
Skipping to verse nine we will come back to vs 6,7,8, when we study John the Baptist.
John 1:9, That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
true light=all genuine illumination proceeds from the Word.
Whatever measure of truth men and women of all ages have known has come form this source.
The Word is the author of all spiritual illumination that dispels the darkness of sin and unbelief.
By coming into the world the Word provided the supreme illuminator-Jesus Christ
If the sinner does not see in this light there is no other light available to him.
They deliberately prefer the darkness.
lighteth=continually is lighting
Light is the the source of the soul-The body is make of clay but the soul of man, the spirit of man is not matter (every man that cometh into the world)
All men are lighted by means of a conscience, by means of creation, by means of reason.
All these are sufficient to lead one to exercise faith in the true light.
The conscience decides the right or wrong at the first glance.
Every conscience for 4000 years before Christ clearly and strongly testified for God, against the sinners as it does now.
But men refused to ask for more light or more convincing truths.
"Our Lord who reaches "every man" thus renders the soul sensible (or able to sense) of its connection with virtue or vice as the needle is sensible of the approaching magnet". (from Van doren's Gospel of John) "Conscience, the lesser light, leads men like "the sun shinning in its strength"
No one escapes one or another of the sources of light God gives to mankind.
A) Creation B) Conscience C) Covenant D) Commandment E) Light of Christ
The Holy Spirit sees to it-People are without excuse, there is light.
Vs 10, He was in the world and the world was made by him and the world knew him not.
He=the true light
Paraphrase=He was in the world, but the world, although it owed its existence to him, failed neverless to recognize him.
The world (cosmos) is the universe-the all things of verse 3 (used 77 times in the gospel of John)
John refers particularly to mankind as Paul does in Romans 1:28, And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; (to do what ought not to be done)
vs 22 Professing themselves to be wise they became fools
Rom 1:20, For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Van Doren says: "He was here by thousands of witnesses-the rains, the fruitful seasons, the nightly dew, the healthful breeze, the genial sun, and cheerful morn, but with an infatuation utterly wild, men worshipped these gifts as God.
From creation He was guiding, sustaining and unfolding all things.
Isaiah 49:15, Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
His wisdom, infinite, seen in every leaf, bud and flower His power in wheeling the changes of spring, summer and autumn. His justice that fell ever and anon like a thunderbolt on the impious.
We then see that the divine Word was in the world before that "special coming into the world" that John was the voice or the signal of.
The world response to Jesus Christ was no different to the world's response to the Word in earlier ages.
The world did not respond positively to the overtures of the Word or when the Word became flesh and dwelt among us!
the World knew him not.
1 John 3:1, Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
The love of the world blinds even though the world was made to reveal its maker.
When you marvel at a sunset do you glorify God?
When you joy at the beauty of a flower do you recognize its creator?
Do we thank God the Creator for his creation or do we stay at the low plain of glorying in the created instead of the creator?
The Word and Men
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 (authority and ability) 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.
These verses individualize and personalize the matter discussed in verse 10, this shows how contact with men was made.
He came unto his own, means he came home.
The first his own refers to things, the fields, the cities, dwelling.
The second his own - refers to persons, those enlightened and exalted by divine revelation.
The Lord's people: I Peter 2:9 His Glory: Isaiah 46:13 Heirs of the Kingdom: James 2:5 Peculiar treasure: Ex 19:5 A special people unto himself: Deut 7:6 God's first born: Psalm 89:27
Isa 1:2, Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
John 7:5, For neither did his brethren believe in him.
It refers to property or to those things that makes ones unique surroundings.
Discuss home-Home Sweet Home-Expect to be welcomed and to relax, to be yourself, to take off your shoes and get out of your formal clothes, to see your oved ones, to enjoy a good meal and laughter and conversation.
He created all things and came for a visit asserting inherent right and ownership.
But his own received him not- he was rejected.
Those who were his own peculiar people connected with his proper surroundings did not accept him, did not honor his authority over them.
Luke 20:9, Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.
Luke 20:10, And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.
Luke 20:11, And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.
Luke 20:12, And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.
Luke 20:13, Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.
Luke 20:14, But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.
Luke 20:15, So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?
Luke 20:16, He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid. |