“The Restoring Light”

Scripture: John 1:6-14

John’s Gospel begins as no other does – it begins with the time that was before all time, with that which existed before anything else did, with the Life that is the source of all life. It speaks about the Light that came to dispel the darkness, and the truth that the darkness couldn’t understand. John begins his book of Good News, not with the Hope itself, but rather with the source and proclamation of that Hope.

This gospel will speak of the power of God that came to earth in flesh, and how it came to bless and enrich the lives of humanity. And today’s text doesn’t begin with the coming of that blessing, or with our need of that power, or even how this Godly flesh can enrich us. It begins with the one who would introduce this Hope to the people of Israel, and ultimately to all of earth. It begins with “another” who was sent by God.

Read John 1:6-9

This book treats John differently than do the other 3 gospels – it doesn’t speak of his human relationship to Jesus, it doesn’t refer to him as a baptizer, it doesn’t even call him a prophet – it reveals John solely as a witness to the Light that has come into the world.

The reason for any witness has one, and only one purpose – and that is to publically proclaim the truth. Whether in a court room, or in service to the Lord, it is seldom our own idea – we are called, summoned, to reveal the truth to others. We can always refuse to cooperate in either court or faith, but there will always be consequences to our denial of the call.

The prophets of the Old Testament were called to proclaim, and they did. The world, in general, didn’t want to hear those words, and tried to suppress them with every means at their disposal, but the “called of God” remained faithful to the Lord’s desire, which would turn the world against them. That has been the case since the beginning of time, and the world will hate the Truth until the end of all time. It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me, but that narrowness of thought still exists, none-the-less.

But regardless of what the world may think or do, the Light of God will continue to shine and illuminate all that is, and will, at the same time, reveal all that is not. Our gospel tells us that John was not the light itself, but came to show us the way to the light of God’s truth. What an incredible opportunity – to be God’s witness to the people of earth! The call to witness to Divine truth is a gift unlike any other, but how many times do people see it as an obligation instead of a joy? Certainly, it is a great responsibility, but being a witness to the Lord’s presence and activity should be the cause for ecstasy, for elation, to experience the thrill of this lifetime! That was John’s attitude to his call, and it should be ours, too.

The call to share the Light and Word and Truth of God with the people of earth should be the greatest joy that we will ever know.

Read John 1:10-13

The darkness that tries to suppress the light will never, can never, overcome it. Darkness may surround the light, it may make it difficult for us to find the light, it may even think that it is more powerful than the light, but nothing – nothing - is greater than the Light. Light dispels the darkness and it will never be the other way around - the dark of earth can never stand against the light of Almighty God.
But the darkness is blinding! It makes us believe that nothing else exists. It obscures the truth, and as we venture further and further into its gloom, it is so easy to believe that this is all that there is. That is when a “witness to the light” becomes so important for the blinded of earth. That is where we find John.

God had created the world, but when he came into the world, the created order that owed him so much had become so engrained in their own brand of truth, their own depth of darkness, that when the Truth of God finally arrived, they thought that it was Satan’s deception. Even those who had been chosen by God to be a blessing to the rest of the world refused him. In Genesis 22:15-18, the angel of the Lord tells Abraham “I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring, all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” God’s blessing comes to us through obedience to his commands.

And because of the imposing darkness, Israel fell away from obedience. Jesus himself would one day tell a parable about what this disobedience would bring (Matthew 21:33-42). Those who refuse the Lord’s way will be left where they are - in the darkness - but the light of God will bath the faithful. The people had to be shown the way back – but by who? Who, indeed! It would, first, be by the Lord’s chosen witness John, and later by the disciples, and now by the Church!

John, and all who will witness to the glory of Jesus Christ, will be the ones who point the way toward the light and the truth of God. And why should the people of earth believe them? Because those who would accept that redirection for their lives will come to know, not just the name and way of God, but will live within the heart of God. The gospel writer tells us that when we receive the Light, we become “children of God” – not children in a human way, not like God’s children, but truly and fully His children in a way that only God can. Later in John’s gospel, Jesus will have a conversation with a Pharisee by the name of Nicodemus, where He will tell us even more about this new relationship as a child of God, and how it comes into our lives. (John 3:1-21)

Read John 1:14

The Word, the “Logos”, Messiah, the Christ, would leave glory and take on the fleshly covering of earth. He would become, not only like us, but would become one of and with us. Those who believe in this truth - this Light of God, and who will follow and proclaim this truth throughout the world of darkness, will come to know his glory for themselves.

We have become the called to be his witness to the world. And just like John, even though we aren’t the light that we testify to, even though we may not have a total understanding of what the Light can be for us, we are to carry it, and shine it, and share it with those who are hopelessly lost in the darkness of unbelief. Christmas is the time when we refocus our lives on that call, on our witness, and on how that light came to be in this place.

This Christmas season is a time to refresh the joy that may have begun to ebb from our lives, and to find the “Merry” of Christmas once again. May each of us find that child-like joy in Christ.