Jesus is the true light ( joh1:9~16)
9 That was the true Light, which lighted every man that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, this was he of whom I spoke, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
16 And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.
Intro)
1. If you have an important guest within an hour what would you do? You will be busy cleaning your house most of the time, but not always. This will change depends on who is the guest you are about to have.
2. one day, some pastor visited one of his church members without notifying them. Pastor pressed a door bell, and they replied 'who's this?' and checked the door. After they saw it was pastor they said "oop! one moment please" and took few minutes to let him in. Pastor said "Jesus comes when we do not expect like this."
In fact, Pastor do usually let them know before they visit in US, but unlike to what happens in Korea.
How was Jesus? Did he call us before he visited? Back then there was no technology, but Jesus send message through many prophets hundreds of times. Therefore, we can say Jesus is nice and well mannered.
3. Every December many churches all over the world celebrate Jesus' visit and praise his amazing grace of salvation. However, now or during the old days this world is not really welcoming Jesus the right way, and even on Christmas.
America have been arguing about Christmas tree's name for decade which was should they either call Christmas tree as holiday tree or not. Some of region started to call it holiday tree already such as Chicago, and Boston. Atlanta decided to even remove the prefix before tree, because they did not like it. The name itself have Christian's characteristic.
Nowadays people often say Happy holiday, than Merry Christmas. What a joke.
This type of thing is pointing fingers at heaven, which is not a good thing to do.
Then, who gave this happy holiday people say? It is from God when he sent Jesus to land not because it is end of the year.
4. Today's America might be forgetting something when they accepting immigrants, which is we have to keep Christian as main group. If America is just taking them, because of their skills and abilities it is one way to weaken the country. Donald Trump says we have to stop immigration. This is quite dramatic, so we should probably minimize the immigrants from other religion.
For example, people from Islam can move into USA when they are young and speak perfect English, but once they grow up they could be people who can terror our cities. Why? Because they believe in Islam. We have to believe in God. America needs to believe in God more, because he is source of every blessing.
(body)
A) Jesus is the true light.
John 1:9 says
'9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.'
This verse is saying there is true light, which means there is false light as well like an idols.
For example Moon light is not true light, because it's using sun's light to shine.
Every biodiversity is living under sunlight as energy source, and without sun there will not be our ecosystem. We need to know that rain falls, because of sunlight, and that a light bulb is an imitation of the sun light. Why does the sun create rain? It is because sunlight evaporates water and vapor goes up to sky. Once rain falls and we gather around into dams and create hydropower to make electricity, which is well known as one of best renewable energy.
Sun light is important to vegetables, because it's part of their respiratory system.
For humans we eat vegetables, and we need sunlight to create Vitamin D.
In magazine 'Geographic' in one section they show plants in Amazon where there are so many plants some plants do not get much of sunlight, but those plant could do just fine for days when they receive few seconds of sunlight. This is amazing that eventually every living thing is depending on solar energy.
Who created this sunlight? God. In Genesis 1:3-4 says
3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
Actually this light is even before sun, which is light in galaxy.
God creates Sun and stars on fourth day, which is in Genesis 1:16-18
16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good
If then light is God's creation and even Sun had other light before Sun. In the universe there are something bigger and wider lights than sun, which shows greatness of our God.
Anyways, why does the bible presents Jesus as the ‘true light’?
It is to show that Jesus is creator of universe and master of living thing. If we did not have Jesus we would be living under curses and darkness or not even alive.
This light has arrived 2000 years ago.
We have to accept this light, but darkness of sin wants to deny light.
2000 years has past, but influence of Satan is still doing the same work, which is avoiding and refusing light. But, like living organism cannot live without light, without Jesus everyone would be sent to hell.
B) This light is all flashing to individuals.
John 1: 9-11 says
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
True light shines the world, it shines to each individual. However, there are some denied of light. Why denied?
It is because they have been living their lives as children of the darkness. Serving Satan as their master and slave of darkness made them to hate light and love the darkness. This is the reason why we are all receiving the final judgment's day. God is fair, so who accepts the true light will earn God's grace.
D) Who received the true light will earn amazing power.
John 1:12-13
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Bible says those people who accept Jesus with joy will earn power of being children of God.
If we accept the true light, Jesus, will be granted with great privilege. What is that privilege? The privilege is to be the children of God.
He forgives our sins; therefore we become righteous men in front of God. Faith, hope, and love will sprout in our soul, and have fruit of Holy Spirit. We pray and God will fulfill our request. Receive citizenship of Heaven, live eternally. Hallelujah!
Con)
When Jesus came to this world there were many changes done. People became Jesus' disciples; they all had different kinds of characteristic. Coward Peter became disciple who was not afraid of death, Greedy Zacchaeus became a person who shared his asset with the poor, Saul who persecuted Christian became a missionary, Paul spread gospel all over the world. Roma became Christian nation, England and American had change. Hallelujah! Countries that believed in Jesus earned blessing in strength.
If there is someone who has not accepted God? Decide to do so! What is the biggest sin? It is to deny God, the true light, and Jesus. Accept Jesus and your life will change amazingly. Hallelujah!
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