JOHN 1:1-14
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 He was with God in the beginning.3 Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.4 In Him was life, and that life was the light of all humankind.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 testify concerning that Light, so that through him all might believe.8 He himself was not the Light; he came only as a witness to the Light.
9 The true Light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him.11 He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him.12 Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
JOHN 1:1-14 JESUS, LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS
Springford Baptist Church: July 9, 2023.
We can know that we as followers of Jesus are called to imitate Jesus and to walk in His steps.
If we are serious about BECOMING more like Jesus, then we will need to repeatedly be asking the question, “WHAT WOULD JESUS DO”? and looking for honest answers to that question.
This will be our focus throughout these summer months. When we think of Jesus coming as Light in the darkness, we consider how are we called to be light in the darkness? How will people around us encounter Jesus and His Light and Love through us? Jesus is “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14) and this is how we also are to be known.
The book, In His Steps was written by a pastor, Charles Sheldon, many years ago. When a homeless man confronts the people of a small church with their lack of Christ like mercy, the pattern of their lives is forever changed. This congregation of Christian believers is challenged to commit to a full year of life beyond Christianity as usual. Before every decision, they will ask themselves one question: What would Jesus do?
But the congregation finds that this is easier said than done, as family strife, politics, and complicated relationships test their resolve-and they soon see how a simple question can cause major ripples far beyond their quiet little church.
When we ask the sincere question, “What would Jesus do”? it will require God’s grace for us to follow through.
I want us to consider this week what might seem like a fairly straightforward matter when it comes to the Light of Jesus shining in the darkness. It is the matter of what we say and what we don’t say.
How will our conversations reflect the Light of Jesus?
Hear again this truth from Scripture regarding Jesus:
5 “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)
We sang together last week, “This little light of mine. I’m gonna let it shine…”
If Jesus the Light is to shine through us, then the words that we speak or don’t speak matter greatly.
When we find ourselves saying, “I probably shouldn’t say this…” there is a strong likelihood that we probably shouldn’t say it.
I wonder how the words that we choose to speak will be impacted by consistently asking, “What would Jesus do”?
Let me describe a common scene. We are talking casually with some family or friends and there are some critical and negative things that are said about another person. Stop right there. Before we even speak, we can choose to ask the question, “What would Jesus do”?
We know that Jesus regards all people with love and compassion. Jesus would not participate in a conversation that was putting anyone down. Jesus is all about lifting people up. I can hear Jesus inviting an understanding of the person being criticized and a realization of some of the struggles that person might be going through. I can also hear Jesus speaking about ways to help or to offer friendship to a person who others consistently look at with a measure of disdain.
If we choose words of kindness, then we can be confident that we are accurately reflecting an answer to the question, “What would Jesus do”?
And it is not just a matter of avoiding participating in negative toned conversations, it is also surely a matter of the times that we do need to speak up. There are things that happen that we will need courage to confront. Our tendency at times might be to “go about our own business.” But if we only mind our own business, we will not be following the example of Jesus. When Jesus came to be Light in the darkness, He did speak up against prejudice or failure to respond to meet the needs of those who are hungry or thirsty or needing clothes and shelter. Jesus responded in these kinds of situations because He cared deeply for every individual.
So then when we ask, “What would Jesus do”? we can know that Jesus, out of a profound sense of love would speak up to promote justice and to defend the misunderstood.
Have you noticed that so often those who are different in some way from others get picked on. This happens in schoolyards amongst children when there is someone who gets bullied. It also happens with adults when someone who may not conform to the way others are becomes the focus of criticism and bullying.
What we say or don’t say when unloving words are being spoken or unloving attitudes are being expressed will either be consistent with what Jesus would do or it won’t be.
We read in today’s Scripture:
9 The true Light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him.11 He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him.12 Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— (John 1:9-12a)
This reminds us that as Jesus came to be Light in our world, He was not always well received. Yet we know that the darkness could not overcome the Light.
There are those who choose to follow the way of Jesus the Light and to become children of God.
When we are willing to live the answer to the question, “What would Jesus do”? in the words that we speak or do not speak, we should not expect that will always be popular. It was not the case for Jesus. There were those who rejected Him and what He had to say.
A consistent living of the answer to the question, “What would Jesus do”? necessitates caring more about what God thinks than what other people think.
If we are constantly concerning ourselves with what other people will think of us, that will interfere with doing what Jesus would do.
This does not mean that we as followers of Jesus are to be obnoxious and disagreeable. This would not represent Jesus well.
As has been the pattern of Christ followers, we can be known as those who stand up for truth. We can be known as those who do love their neighbours. We can be known as those who speak carefully and with respect for others. All of this is involved in us asking, “What would Jesus do”?
This is our challenge for this week ahead if we choose to take hold of it. Will we sincerely pray about every conversation whether in person, on the phone, or over social media? We can pray that the words that we speak will be a refection of Jesus and as a result that His Light will shine in the darkness.
In the darkness of our world, God can use each of us to shine the Light of Jesus through the words that we speak, if those words are the result of asking and accurately answering the question, “What would Jesus do”?