THE WORD OF ENLIGHTENMENT

I am astounded by the number of deep truths that rise to the surface of John chapter 1. Some of them are expressed by the reciprocating metaphors of the word and the light. Look with me at these verses.

John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:4

In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

John 1:9-14

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

All reality is explained in these metaphors. Here are a few things that are revealed.

All Creation Is Explained.
Astronomers have discovered many evidences that we live in an information rich universe. So many variables had to be precisely what they are for the universe to exist and accommodate life. From the discovery of the complex code of DNA, we have learned that instructions produce every characteristic of plant and animal life.

Your genes are not an accident

Detailed instructions never are.

These all demonstrate intent

By the Creator of the Stars.*

Jesus was the living word that burst forth when God said, “Let there be light.”

All Consciousness Is Explained.
In Him was life and His life shines through all humanity. The bright light of human consciousness does not come from inanimate matter, plus chance, plus time. It comes from the living, creating, producing person of God through His Son. All your ability to understand anything is given you by a living, conscious, personal, loving God. Growing in spiritual consciousness comes in relationship with Jesus, the Word of God.

All Communion Is Explained.
Those who receive Him trusting in His name become children of God. We were not made to be independent beings. By His authority and transforming power, and at His invitation you can become God's own child, we are reborn into His family.

All Glory Is Explained.
Light is not simply a metaphor for understanding. The glory of God is depicted as light. Through the light of Jesus in creation, history, and in our lives we bask in the everlasting glory of God.

*From A Poem Penned by God, in Take me to the Garden 

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THE SECRET OF COURAGE

One of the most courageous actions recorded in Scripture is found as Joseph of Arimathea going to ask for the body of Jesus. It does not take much imagination to understand what Joseph must have been thinking when he considered going to Pilate. He must have known he would lose his place on the Sanhedrin and in society by doing that. He had to have considered the fact that connecting himself to a condemned criminal might cost him his life as well.

To be honest, I find the lack of courage one of my greatest character flaws. So I am drawn to this event, praying that God will rub some of Joseph’s courage off on me.

Joseph’s act is displayed for us is in Luke 23:50-53

“Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid.” 

First, Joseph must have carried out this act in Humility.
We might compare his behavior with that of Peter the night before. Peter boasted to the Lord that he was ready to go with him to prison or death. And Peter did show amazing bravado that night. He followed those who arrested Jesus right into the High Priest’s court. Can you imagine doing that? I can’t. He even sat down around a fire with the servants of the High Priest. But Jesus told Simon who he was facing on this night, and who it is that may attack your courage. “Satan demanded to have you that he might sift you like wheat.” I think it is clear that Joseph did not boast to Caiaphas or Pilate that he was going to do this thing. He just went and asked.

I think he must have acted with Resignation.
Joseph could not have known what consequences he would face by going to Pilate and then going among the soldiers who hung Jesus on the cross. He had to have been willing to face them to have carried this out.

Joseph was motivated some by his Expectation.
The Bible says he was expecting the kingdom of God. I don’t know what Joseph understood of the kingdom of God, but he must have had a sense that God himself was involved in this matter. Luke does not tell us that anyone else helped Joseph take his body down. But John does. Do you know who was with him? It was Nicodemus who came to Jesus at night in John 3. It was Nicodemus whom Jesus told about being born again. It was Nicodemus who may have understood that Jesus was not just of this world.

And I believe he had to have some Conviction.
I don’t know how much Joseph believed then or even later about Jesus. But he had to believe enough to risk his life.

Finally, I think some of Joseph’s courage may have come from Devotion.
I don’t think you can picture that scene without recognizing Joseph’s respect for Jesus. And I suspect it took more than respect for him to go through the ranks to speak to the highest ranking officer in Roman Syria. I believe he likely had a sense that Jesus had come from God. Nicodemus certainly did, as others may have. Nicodemus said, “We know that you are a teacher come from God. For no one could perform these signs if God were not with him.” And I suspect courage born in my heart will come from the realization that God is God, and devotion to Jesus His Son as Lord.

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DO YOU SAY SO?

Some years ago I heard a Muslim man in a question and answer time with Ravi Zacharias say Jesus never claimed to be the Son of God.




That is not true. A case in point is found in Matthew 16. When Simon Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” Jesus did not just say Peter was right, He said flesh and blood had not shown Peter this. Our Lord’s Father in Heaven revealed it to Peter. Jesus had first asked His disciples who people were saying he was. He then asked who they thought He was. Jesus consistently wanted others to recognize Him.




In Luke 23:3 Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And He answered, “You have said so.” I assume Jesus was referring to something Pilate had said privately to his wife or other confidants. But this is a pattern that applies to us. Whether you serve or reject Him, the day will come when you will confess that He is Lord. Paul wrote in Philippians 2:10,11 that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father.




Here are some important principles that can be drawn from this fact.




Jesus wants everyone to consider who He is.

Have you thought about this question? Have you honestly and openly looked at the New Testament claims about Jesus? Have you considered His character revealed in scripture? Are you aware of the prophecies made about Him from the Old Testament? Have you considered His love and promises to those who come to know Him? Are you aware of the price He paid to forgive your sins?




Jesus wants us to recognize Him.

Your eternal destiny depends on your recognizing Him, surrendering your heart and will to Him, coming to know Him yourself.




Jesus wants us to tell others who He is.

God draws people to Himself, but He usually draws them by His truth from the lips of His followers. He told His followers that we are His witnesses.





So who are you saying that He is?




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