John's Prologue Series Talk 2

Out of the Darkness

Phil Campbell

Mpc July 18^th 1999

The night was dark and stormy. Very dark. Because it was the middle of the biggest power failure New York city had ever seen. City wide. Not a light to be seen anywhere, except maybe the occassional candle flickering in a window.

It's not as if there hadn't been blackouts before. But this one lasted for days. And by the second night, still without power, by the second night in the city of darkness, people started LOOTING. Smashing shop windows, walking away with TV sets and toasters and stereo systems. Whatever they could lay their hands on.

There were similar scenes in LA a few years back in the race riots. But this was different. Because it wasn't a riot. And it wasn't an angry crowd. It was ORDINARY PEOPLE. Taking advantage of one thing. TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE DARKNESS.

Because they knew in the darkness, they could do whatever they liked, and no-one would see. They knew in the darkness they could do what they liked, and they wouldn't be caught.

And it wasn't just a few people who were doing it. It was thousands. Businesses were destroyed over night. By their neighbours. By the people who lived up the road. By ordinary people - who when they knew they wouldn't get caught, took advantage of the darkness. To express their greed.

Darkness. The perfect chance to do what you want and not be seen. And LIGHT. That exposes everything. It's one of the big contrasts right through John's gospel. Darkness and Light. And you can see the start of it here in the passage we just read. What we're doing if you weren't here last week, is we're looking in detail at the introduction to John's gospel, these first 18 verses, and we're pulling out the major themes and tracing them through the rest of the gospel. Last week we looked at verse 1. And saw a little bit of what it meant that Jesus was THE WORD. God's expression of himself in a way he could be known.

But this morning I want to focus in on verses 4 to 9, and see what John's saying about LIGHT AND DARKNESS. And it starts with these words in verse 4 and 5. John's talking about Jesus. And here's what he says:-

He's painting a picture. Of Jesus, who comes into the world; the WORD becomes flesh. And he's says it's like coming into a dark room and turning on the lights. The light shines in the darkness. Here comes the light. Here comes someone so full of LIFE, real life, that it's like he shines like a beacon.

But what happens? The darkness doesn't get it. The darkness doesn't understand. Or maybe closer to the point, the darkness doesn't WANT TO UNDERSTAND.

John's talking about WHAT HAPPENS WHEN JESUS COMES. What happens when ORDINARY PEOPLE are confronted by GOD IN THE FLESH. And it's not a happy picture.

Keep reading. And get an idea of the scope of what he's talking about. Verse 6; John the Baptist.. Because if there's one thing John the Baptist wanted people to do, it was to LOOK AT JESUS. John says, don't look at me. Look at the light. Same idea. Light and Darkness. Jesus is the LIGHT. Read verse 6 to 9

John 1:6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that LIGHT, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

John says, the TRUE LIGHT, the LIGHT FOR EVERYONE, it's coming. And he's talking about JESUS.

Now I want to ask some questions. I want to think a bit harder WHAT IT MEANS that Jesus is the LIGHT. I want to think a bit harder about what THE REACTION IS when the LIGHT COMES INTO THE WORLD. And I want to think as well about WHAT THE REACTION SHOULD BE to Jesus. The light.

And we're going to answer those questions by racing through the rest of John's gospel and have a look at what it's saying about THE LIGHT. And about THE DARKNESS. And about HOW WE SHOULD RESPOND TO JESUS.

First of all, what's John actually MEAN when he tells us Jesus is THE LIGHT? Because in a way it's a strange sort of thing to say. I mean, if you've been in a church with stained glass windows you'll know they usually put a shiny bit behind his head, a glowing halo. But he didn't really HAVE ONE OF THOSE. It's not a LITERAL GLOW he's talking about. So what is it?

Let me suggest for starters, it's a MORAL LIGHT. It's PURITY. And that's one of the reasons people don't want to risk getting too close. Because they're comfortable with their own standards, and they don't want to get too close to someone who'll SHOW THEM UP.

Did you hear the other day they've worked out two new ways to stop teenager troublemakers lurking around Shopping Centres? The first one is, they play Bing Crosby music over the PA system. Kids stay away in droves. And other one is this. PINK LIGHTS. Around the doorways and the areas where teenagers tend to hang round, they're putting in PINK LIGHTS. Which highlight ALL THEIR PIMPLES. Let me tell you, there's no way a teenage guy is going to stand around chatting up a teenage girl in a place where all their flaws are SHOWN UP BY THE LIGHT.

So turn over to John 3 verse 19. Just over a couple of pages. And read what it says. "This is the verdict: LIGHT HAS COME INTO THE WORLD." Just like we saw in chapter 1. The same idea's being picked up here in chapter 3. "Light has come into the world. But men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does what is evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed."

When they were confronted by Jesus, our world said very clearly, we'd RATHER HAVE DARKNESS. When they were brought face to face with Jesus, our world said, WE PREFER IT WITH THE LIGHTS OFF. So we can DO WHAT WE LIKE. When they were confronted by Jesus, our world said CRUCIFY HIM.

And they don't want anything to do with the light of the purity of Jesus, because all it does is expose their evil deeds.

It's a funny thing, isn't it. The thing that's most precious to them. That they value more than anything else. Is their dirty deeds. It's like keeping your fridge full of rotten food. Because you like it that way. And you don't want to throw it out.

When the world was brought face to face with the light, they were like cockroaches. Rushing for the dark cracks. Out of the light. Because they hated the light. And didn't want to be exposed for what they really were.

So first of all, when John talks about Jesus being the LIGHT, he's talking about his PURITY. A goodness that shines out in the darkness and puts our sinfulness to shame.

Well, let's move on. And turn over to chapter 8, verse 12. To a very famous statement of Jesus.

When Mohammed Ali was at his prime as a boxer, he was famous for one statement. He said I AM THE GREATEST. Which made him famous not so much because he was a great boxer, but because he was incredibly arrogant.

Well, Jesus has a bigger claim to make. And it's either incredibly arrogant - or it's TRUE. Which is the thing you have to decide.

Chapter 8 verse 12. When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD."

And I want you to notice what he says next. Because he's telling us what he means.

And that is, he's a light like a torch when you're lost on a bush track. He's a light like the headlights on your car. He's the sort of light that means you're not lost anymore. Read the rest of the verse. He says, "Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

You know, I was at a SUICIDE PREVENTION meeting last year in Mental Health Week. One of the speakers got up and said, we're living in a changing world. That's true. He said, we're living in a world where VALUES have been lost. That's true. He said, we're living in a world where BELIEFS are changing. That's true as well.

He said, the trouble is, WE DON'T HAVE ANY HEROES ANY MORE. No one to look up to. No one to FOLLOW. And because of that, he said, it's no surprise that people are just giving up hope and not wanting to live anymore.

I agreed with him in one way. But you know, at every point, I wanted to jump up and say, "can I respectfully suggest you tell people to TAKE A LOOK AT JESUS." If you want to throw some light on the darkness you're talking about. Take a look at Jesus if you want VALUES WORTH BUILDING A LIFE ON. Take a look at Jesus if you want SOMEONE WORTH FOLLOWING.

And Jesus isn't just talking about a good way to live this life. He's talking about ETERNITY as well. Jesus says, "Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Which doesn't mean if you're a Christian you'll never get depressed. But the thing you've got to keep on doing is to keep on following. And stick with him. Hang on til you see the light at the end of the tunnel.

THE MAN BORN BLIND

Now what we're doing is we're following through some of the references in John's gospel that pick up this theme of LIGHT AND DARKNESS. Jesus is the sort of light that shows up what we're like. Jesus is the sort of light that shows us where to go.

Now turn over to chapter 9. Because it's a whole chapter about LIGHT AND DARKNESS.

It's a long chapter, and it's all about a poor guy who's been born blind. And because of that he's a beggar on the city streets. The disciples ask Jesus what the guy's done wrong to end up a blind beggar.

And Jesus says, the reason he's here is so I can show you something important.

And as he's looking at this man born blind, he says the words you read in verses 4 and 5. He says "As long as it is day we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. WHILE I AM IN THE WORLD, I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD." Exactly what he said in chapter 8. Now you're meant to watch and see that he means business. He says he's the LIGHT OF THE WORLD, he says he's the way out of darkness. So what's he do with this guy who's been living in darkness since the day he was born?

He spits on the dirt, he makes some mud, he puts it on the man's eyes, and he says, go and wash in the pool over the other side of town. So the guy grabs his white stick, I suppose, and he's got this muddy goo stuff stuck on his eyes, and he's bumping into people in his rush to get to the pool of Siloam; and he washes off the mud. And he can see. Dawn breaks for the very first time.

Which of course is very confusing for everyone who knows him. And the Pharisees, who are convinced they know everything that ever needed to be known, who can see everything that needs to be seen - they bring this ex-blind man in for questioning. Because it's the SABBATH again. And Jesus has made mud. And he's told this man to wash in the pool. On the day of rest.

And so they question this blind man who can see, and he spells out a few home truths, and they throw him out.

Jesus finds him. And right at the end of chapter 9, he's talking to him. Because as it turns out, the way Jesus has given sight to this blind man is like a demonstration, it's a lesson; it's like a kids talk with a visual aid. A picture of what he's on about. And it's a picture of the RIGHT WAY TO RESPOND as well.

Jesus finds him, and we're in verse 35. And he says to him, DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE SON OF MAN? The blind guy thinks to himself, "I've heard that voice somewhere before. He says to Jesus, "WHO IS HE? Tell me so I may BELIEVE IN HIM." Stop stringing me along so I can get on with making a LIFE COMMITTMENT to the one who showed me the LIGHT!

And Jesus says to him in verse 37, you've seen him. It's me. You're talking to him. And here's the response; verse 38. "Then the man said, LORD, I BELIEVE. And he worshipped him."

John tells us over and over again that the right response to Jesus is TO BELIEVE IN HIM. To put your absolute confidence in him. And to hang on. And more than that, TO WORSHIP HIM. Which doesn't mean to stand round singing hymns to him. It means to bow before him and say, I'M AT YOUR SERVICE. With everything that I am.

Can I state the obvious here for a moment, and say again, the reason John's showing you this is to ask you the question, IS THAT HOW YOU'VE RESPONDED TO JESUS?

Because there's another way. And you see it in verse 39. He says, "For this reason I have come into this world, so that the blind will see, and those who see will become blind." Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this, and asked "what, are we blind too?"

And Jesus spells it out. "If you WERE BLIND, you wouldn't be guilty of sin. But now that you CLAIM you can see, your guilt remains."

They've got the worst sort of blindness. The sort of blindness husbands get when they're looking for their socks. The sort of blindness that can't see the OBVIOUS, even when it's right under their noses. The sort of blindness RELIGIOUS PEOPLE get; when they want to be thought of as respectable religious people; and yet they don't want anything to do with this LIGHT feller. They don't need any light, they're fine the way they are.

Or more to the point, they don't WANT any light. Cause it shows them up for what they are. And they don't want to face it. They've got the respectable veneer, the one millimetre coating of decency. And they reckon that's enough.

Jesus says, THE LIGHT HAS COME. And THEY'RE BLIND. And yet this blind man, the one who everyone used to tut-tut as they'd walk past and say, gee, he must have been a sinner - he's the one who REALLY SEES.

Conclusion

Can I just finish asking, are you a person who PREFERS IT IN THE DARK? Who's more comfortable not getting too close to Jesus. Not getting too real… about who you really are underneath. Standing in the shadows. Or maybe one of those BLIND types Jesus is talking about.

Respectable. Doesn't OCCUR to you there's a sort of light you need. That you don't have.

You don't have to be like that. And there's a call here in what we've seen this morning to come out of the dark. To open your eyes, to stop hiding. To come into the light. There's a call here to empty out your fridge full of rotting garbage, to let go of the stuff that you reckon's worth more than following Jesus. And to come to Jesus. And instead of keeping him at arms length, make it your life's commitment - to trust him. To follow him. And to worship him. In a way that means business.

I know some of you need to do that. Why not do it today?

Let's pray.