Knowing Jesus as the Light 5.1 ...In the future He will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned (Isaiah 9:1-2). The prophet Isaiah knew that his people were in deep trouble for their sins. All is darkness, he reported (Isaiah 59:9). Yet God, in great mercy, promised to shine in a new and brighter way (Isaiah 60:1). God made the same promise through His prophet Malachi (4:2): The sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. Who would see the dawn of this new day? Isaiah (9:1-2) pointed especially to the people around Lake Galilee! Since they were on Israels northern border they were often the first to be attacked by foreign (Gentile) armies. They lived under the shadow of death. Yet these people would be the first to be blessed by Gods great light. ________________________________________ 5.2 - Light in Galilee 5.3 - The Purest Life 5.4 - Defeating Darkness 5.5 - I Am the Light of the World 5.6 - Darkness Hates Light 5.7 - Gods Own Testimony 5.2 LIGHT IN GALILEE 700 years later this prophecy was fulfilled by Jesus arrival (Matthew 4:13-17). He grew up, and did much of His work, in the region of Galilee. His hometown there was Nazareth. At the age of twelve Jesus visited Jerusalem (88 miles, or 140 kilometers, south of Nazareth). When the time came to return home His parents, Joseph and Mary, searched for Him. After three days they found Him at the temple. Teachers there were amazed by His knowledge. Jesus said to His parents, Didnt you know I had to be in My Fathers house? (Luke 2:49). He returned to Nazareth with His parents and was obedient to them. There Jesus became known as the carpenter -- likely doing wood work for furniture and houses. He helped to care for his family, including sisters and four brothers (Mark 6:3). As is true for any young man, there were many chances to sin. He had normal needs and desires. There were pressures from the business world, from harsh Roman rulers, and even from normal struggles between family members. Friends His age were learning worldly ways. Yet Jesus did not go along with them into sin. He never gave in to the pressures. Luke sums up His youth in this way: Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men (Luke 2:52). 5.3 THE PUREST LIFE When Jesus was about thirty years old, He went to John to be baptized. John tried to refuse, saying, I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me? (Matthew 3:14). Johns whole life belonged to God. Yet John already knew that Jesus life was much better than his own. Soon after this John called Jesus the Lamb of God (John 1:29). Lambs used in sacrifice to God were free from any fault. Johns words suggested that Jesus was free from all sin. John also called Jesus the Son of God (John 1:34). This suggested that the character of Jesus was a true mirror of Gods goodness. Satan used his strongest attacks against Jesus. One of these attacks came soon after Jesus baptism. Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days He was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days... (Luke 4:1-2). Satan tried to use Jesus hunger, His greatness and even His faith in God. Each time Jesus used Gods word, the Scriptures, to defeat Satan. Jesus was the first man until then (and since then) to win every battle against the devil. He was the only human over whom Satan had no power at all. He has no hold on Me, said Jesus (John 14:30; like 8:46). All the writers who knew Jesus life agreed with this. The true Light that gives light to every man was coming into the world... We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:9,14). For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are yet was without sin (Hebrews 4:15). He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth. When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly (1 Peter 2:22-23). 5.4 DEFEATING DARKNESS Satan was like a strong man. Yet Jesus claimed to be much stronger. He claimed to defeat Satan, and to take whatever He wanted from Satan (Matthew 12:22-29). How did Jesus prove this claim? By publicly defeating the forces of Satan! He could do this because demons -- the evil spirits who serve Satan -- were working in a very bold and open way. (Compared with the Old Testament, the New Testament shows much more visible activity from the demons.) Demons even forced themselves into some people. They caused much harm to those in whom they lived. On the eastern side of Lake Galilee there is a place of caves and graves. There, Jesus met a man called Legion. He was so named because many evil spirits lived in him. He kept crying out and cutting his naked body. The demons in him recognized and feared Jesus. They made the man shout, What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, dont torture me! (Luke 8:28). Jesus ordered the demons to come out of the man. The demons obeyed at once. The local people were amazed when they saw the man called Legion sitting at Jesus feet, dressed and in his right mind (Luke 8:35). Jesus met many others who had demons. He always had mercy on them. He always healed them and forced the spirits to leave them. All the people were amazed and said to each other, What is this teaching? With authority and power He gives orders to evil spirits and they come out! (Luke 4:36). Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him (Acts 10:38). Jesus shared with His followers the power to defeat Satan. He proved this by giving to those with Him power for miracles and casting out demons (Matthew 10:1; Luke 10:19; Mark 16:17). They too had the same success. (The disciples had only one failure, as recorded in Matthew 17:14-21. That was because of their own lack of faith. After that lesson, every other attempt at working miracles was successful.) When seventy disciples came back from their preaching journeys, they joyfully said to Jesus, Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name. He replied, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven (Luke 10:17-18). Now no force can control Gods people against their will. Nothing can separate us from Gods love (Romans 8:38-39). Christians continue to win their struggles against the powers of this dark world. They do this by using the mighty strength of Jesus. ...This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God (1 John 5:4-5). Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power... Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one (Ephesians 6:10,16). 5.5 I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD Since Jesus came teaching and preaching about the Kingdom of God, He was often called Rabbi or Teacher. There were, of course, many others who claimed to be teachers. To other religious leaders Jesus said, You are not to be called Rabbi, for you have only one Master... Nor are you to be called teacher, for you have one Teacher, the Christ (Matthew 23:8,10). He said the same thing in other ways: I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12). If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:31-32). Whatever I say is just what the Father has told Me to say (John 12:50). Others claiming to be the Light would be making empty boasts. But when Jesus made this claim, people had to pay attention. They were amazed at His teaching, because He taught them as One who had authority, not as the teachers of the law (Mark 1:22). Jesus often used parables. These were usually stories from everyday life that taught spiritual lessons. Jesus teachings were more than just words. He always lived up to His great truths. He also proved His words true by the signs only heaven could send. 5.6 DARKNESS HATES LIGHT The Jewish temple should have been the center for worshipping God. Yet people could hardly pray there. Traders were busy taking money from the worshippers. The temple became a market and a den of robbers (Matthew 21:13). Therefore, Jesus made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables... He said, How dare you turn My Fathers house into a market! (John 2:15-16). Leaders of the temple became angry. (After all, this young man from Galilee had not even been to their special schools, John 7:15). They belonged to a religious group called Sadducees. This group did not treat Scripture with proper respect. For example, they did not believe passages about spirits, angels and certain miracles. They argued with Jesus about this. He proved how little they understood. He said to them, You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God (Matthew 22:29). A group of teachers named Pharisees also argued with Jesus. They were very strict about the law of Moses. They tried to keep it safe by adding many laws of their own. Jesus did not fit in with these man-made rules and ideas. For example, He did not follow their rules about removing sin by washing before eating. They accused Him of leaving the old ways, the tradition of the elders. Jesus replied, Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: These people honor Me (the LORD) with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men (Mark 7:6-7). Jesus told them: You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men (Mark 7:8). Hypocrites means actors. Many were putting on an act of loving God. Beneath their masks they really loved earthly things. They chased after money and power (Matthew 23; Luke 16:14; 18:9-14; John 5:42-44). Their religious rules were a cover for looking good to others and for controlling others. Jesus pure light showed just how deep was their darkness, and how blind their leading. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed (John 3:19-20). Light and darkness cannot be in the same place. The leaders hated the way Jesus uncovered their sinfulness. They became worried when many people went to hear Jesus. Soon they looked for ways to kill Jesus. 5.7 GODS OWN TESTIMONY Jesus warned His followers that He would soon be killed by the leaders (Matthew 16:21). His closest disciples were saddened to hear such things. God chose this time to prove to them, beyond any doubt, the truth about Jesus. Jesus took with him Peter, James and John...and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light (Matthew 17:1-2). Jesus was changed or transfigured. Though still a Man, He shone with glory beyond anything human. Even His clothing became as bright as a flash of lightening (Luke 9:29). You may have seen lightening, or looked into the shining sun. If so, you have an idea of the glory of Jesus body and face. This was what Peter meant when he said, We were eyewitnesses of His majesty (2 Peter 1:16). God had already shown Jesus to be the spiritual and moral light of the world. To this God added visible proof of Jesus own heavenly light. Then God gave His testimony from heaven. He sent Moses (the lawgiver) and Elijah (the great prophet) to appear in glory beside Jesus. Peter wanted to honor all three, but God honored Jesus. While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him! (Matthew 17:5). ________________________________________ God promised to send His Light into the world. God fulfilled that promise, making sure that all could recognize that Light. He lived and taught pure truth. He proved His power to overcome dark forces. He shone in heavenly splendor. If we wish to walk safely by Gods light, then we must listen to Jesus. Jesus keeps His promise to each of us: Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness (John 8:12). ________________________________________ 1) John 1:9,14 - The true Light that gives light to every man was coming into the world... We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 2) Hebrews 4:15 - For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are yet was without sin. 3) 1 John 5:4-5 - ...This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 4) Ephesians 6:10,16 - Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power... Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 5) John 8:12 - I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. 6) John 8:31-32 - If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. 7) John 3:19-20 - Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 8) 2 Peter 1:16 - We were eyewitnesses of His majesty. ________________________________________ God of Glory, you alone can say, Let there be light. You promised to send your Light into the world. You have kept that promise. He has brightened our world and our hearts. Help us not to hide from your Light. Shine on us and drive away our darkness...
Posted on: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 06:43:52 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015