Here is the reformatted sermon transcript, structured for improved readability while preserving the original content with strict fidelity. No wording has been added, removed, summarized, or rewritten for style. Paragraphs are broken at natural pauses and shifts. Key theological terms and emphatic phrases are bolded where they serve as topic anchors. Scripture readings and quotes are in blockquotes.
Scripture Reading: John 1:1–11
John chapter 1 and this morning we’re going to be focused on verses 9 through 11 but I want to just go ahead and read beginning reading at verse 1 and and read through verse 11. So John chapter 1 beginning at verse 1 and listen now to the reading of God’s Holy Word.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for witness, to bear witness of the light that all through him might believe. He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of that light.
That was the true light, which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world did not know him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
Opening Prayer
Let’s seek the Lord’s blessing on this His Word.
O gracious God and Heavenly Father, we do rejoice and give thanks to You for your word. We know it is our only infallible rule for faith and life that it gives us instruction about who you are and what it is that you require of us. And so we pray, Lord, that as we come to this passage this morning, we pray especially that your spirit is truly with us and that you would give us understanding and insight to see the truth that is here. And we pray that as your spirit goes forth with your word, that it would truly find within each and every one of our hearts that rich, fertile soil that will bear great and abundant fruit for your glory. And so we ask now for your blessing upon your word. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
Introduction: Theological Foundation in John’s Prologue
Well, so far, as we’ve been studying the prologue of John’s gospel, we’ve seen how the apostle is seeking to establish, really, the theological foundation for who Jesus truly is. That is, before his incarnation, Jesus was the eternal Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, a distinct person, yet one God. the same in substance and equal in power and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
And the Son was preexistent before all creation with God, for the Son was God. And as such, He is readily called the Creator, because for by Him and through Him all things were created and made. And then He is the giver of life to all His creatures. But in a special and unique way, He is the Creator and the Life Giver to mankind. Having created man after His own image, with a reasonable soul, as well as with true holiness and righteousness.
There were many who were sent to bear witness to these truths of who Jesus is. The first being John the Baptist who heralded the coming of Jesus who was the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world.
And so this is all that we have learned about Jesus so far in these first eight verses. And to make these points, the Apostle John has used various images or word pictures to speak about Jesus. And so far, the Apostle has yet to explicitly mention the name of Jesus or even give a clear identification of who he’s talking about.
The first image that the Apostle uses was the Word, and he used that to reveal the eternal pre-existence of the Son, His divinity, and the fact that He was the Creator of all things.
After introducing the Word, John has then shifted to the second image, the Light, or as he mentions here in verse 9, the True Light. He’s using this image to begin a transition from a general, even physical aspect of the work of the Son, that is, as creator and the giver of life, to now a deeper spiritual aspect, which will ultimately culminate in Jesus’ own declaration of himself in John 8, verse 12, when he says, I am the light of the world.
And so when this passes before us this morning, we see that this true light has come into the world. But the critical question that is set before us is that this true light has come into the world. How will he be received?
Verse 9: The True Light
And so we begin with verse 9.
John says, that was the true light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
The Meaning of “True”
And the first, we want to focus on this word true, the true light. What is the distinction being made by this descriptor? Now true simply means real or genuine. And so the light that has come in to the world is the real deal. It’s not a reflection and it’s certainly not an imitation.
It is the light. The true light is the very source itself of light.
Now the first mention of light in the scriptures, of course, was something that was created and called into existence. Remember that there was darkness over the face of the earth, and God said, let there be light. And there was light. Now this light wasn’t pre-existent.
But again, it was called into existence by the Word, that is, by Jesus, the Son of God. And then we know later on the fourth day of creation, God created the sun, the moon and the stars as sources of light for the earth and to help regulate time and seasons.
And so the light that we have in our day comes from the sun. And the light that comes at night comes from the moon, which actually the moon’s light is just simply a reflection of the light from the sun onto all the earth. But again, these things are created.
And we’re even told in Revelation 22 that one day these lights will no longer be needed. And so these aren’t the true light.
Neither is John the Baptist the true light. The apostle has just made this point very clear in verses 6-8. And we know that many mistook John as that true light.
They thought that he was the promised Messiah who would come. But both the baptizer and especially the apostle, with the repetition that the apostle makes here, makes very clear that the baptizer wasn’t the light. He merely was a witness to herald the coming of this true light.
And we might even say that the baptizer, like the moon, reflected the light of something greater than himself. So this was John’s testimony. that the one John the Baptist testimony, that the one coming after him was greater than himself. John said that he must decrease, but he, the coming light, must increase and must shine brightly.
And so the true light isn’t the physical light in the world. It’s not the sun, the moon, or the stars, and it’s not John the Baptist. The true light is God Himself.
And specifically, it’s the Word through whom all things were created. It’s the eternal Son of God, Jesus Christ. Again, as we noted, Jesus will make this identification very clear in John 8-12.
But we also want to note that the very essence of God’s being, that is one of His attributes, is light. True light. The Apostle John will later declare in one of his letters in 1 John 1, he says,
God is light and in him is no darkness at all.
And so light is one of the very attributes of God.
And then again later, he will testify the glorious heavenly kingdom yet to come, bringing this imagery all together. Again in Revelation 21 verse 23, he says
that the city had no need of the sun or the moon to shine in it. For the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.
Jesus, who John the Baptist would testify, is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Jesus is the true light of the world.
He’s the creator and the source of all other light that exists in the created world.
The True Light Gives Light to Every Man
Well, the second thing that we note about this true light in verse 9 is that He gives light to every man.
Now, there are two ways that we can consider this.
The first, as we’ve noted previously, is in connection with verse 4, is a general enlightenment that the true light, that is Jesus, brings to all men without distinction.
This is the light of reason that’s given uniquely to all mankind as part of his being created in the image of God. And remember that this light was the evidence of the Creator’s image that remains even after the fall. It’s that sense of eternity in man’s heart. And it’s the law of God, as Paul says, written on the heart of man that bears witness to the truth of God.
This light is given to all men, generally, Again, as a witness to the truth of His Creator. And so, Jesus as the Son of God, as the Word and the Creator, is the one who’s imprinted this image of God on mankind in a very general way. And so, it enlightens mankind, again, with this sense of His Creator.
But as we also noted in relation to verse four, the apostle is shifting the language from this general expression to a more spiritual expression.
So that the true light, or so the light which the true light gives to every man is ultimately the spiritual light of the gospel, which will lead to life everlasting if it’s received, embraced, and believed.
And so it’s in this sense that Jesus is truly the light of the world. As the true light which reveals the truth, righteousness, and goodness of God.
Indeed, it’s because Jesus is this light of the world given to all men that Jesus charges his apostles and his church to go forth with the gospel and to all the earth to disciple the nations. To baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. So that those appointed for salvation from every nation, tribe, and tongue might in time come to faith in Him.
The true light then enlightens sinful man to the glorious hope of eternal life through the gospel.
And so we see that Jesus then, again as the Son of God who is the true light, is really the source of any kind of enlightenment of men. And no matter how you think of the term light and enlightenment, whether in a general way or in a spiritual way, generally through the imprint of the image of God, or more specifically and spiritually through the gospel, which brings new and everlasting life to those who believe. Either way, Jesus is the true light.
The True Light Was Coming into the World
We actually want to then note that this true light was coming into the world in verse 9.
Now the challenge here with verse 9 is that the New King James along with some other translations join the verb coming into the world with every man. So the sense is that when you read that verse, the sense is that every man coming into the world is given light by the true light.
Now, as we just mentioned, this is certainly true, again, in that general sense. That is, every man coming into the world, or born into the world, is given the light of reason and the imprint of the image of God. Though, of course, we know it is marred and tainted by sin.
But as we read this passage, we see that John has been focusing on the Word, and now the true light and not really mankind. Right? His focus is identifying the Word and the true light.
And indeed, from the Apostle’s perspective, man has already been in the world since the time that he has been created by God. But what’s new and different, what John the Baptist has borne witness to, was that the true light was now coming into the world, not man. It’s the true light coming into the world.
And so, for example, the ESV actually has the better rendering here, joining the verb to the true light, rather than to man. The true light, which enlightens every man, or everyone, was coming into the world.
And so this true light was now coming into the world.
Verse 10: He Was in the World
But then in verse 10, It’s as though the apostle steps back to reveal another truth that he’s already addressed back in verse 3 in relation to the Word.
He was in the world, speaking in the light, and the world was made through him. But in verse 3, the Word was active in creating the world, and nothing was made in the created world that wasn’t made by him.
But in verse 10, The same is essentially being said of the true light, which of course then just strengthens, again, the tie between the word and the light. These two images that John the Apostle is using here, which further demonstrates that he’s talking about one and the same person, but just using these different word pictures.
But if you contrast verse 9 with verse 10, verse 9 tells us that the true light was coming into the world. But verse 10 notes, He was already in the world. And indeed, He was.
He was in the world as the Creator and the sustainer of all that He created. Again, in fact, as Paul argues in Romans 1, that the creation itself bears witness to the Creator demonstrating His eternal power and Godhead.
And so the true light, the eternal son of God, Jesus was already at work in the world. But his work was in creating and then sustaining his creation.
And so here again, the apostle is setting us up for the transition to the spiritual from the material. The true light was already in the world. shining as a witness to mankind that there truly is a God and Creator through His creation.
And yet now, this true light was going to come into the world in a new and more personal way.
He was coming as the light of the world to bring hope and salvation to sinful mankind.
And of course, this is precisely what John the Baptist testified of regarding the true light, that the true light was coming. He himself wasn’t the light, but he bore witness that this true light would come, that this light would shine in the darkness of the sinful world. Even the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world.
He hadn’t yet arrived, but John testified that he was soon coming. And when he comes, The baptizer would point him out that those who would believe on him might have life, even eternal life in his glorious presence.
And this light came when Jesus came into the world as the true light of the world. Jesus called all mankind to repent of their sins and to believe on him for the kingdom of heaven was now at hand and all mankind.
So then would not only have the light of nature, again, included in the light of nature is is the imprint of God’s image on mankind. It’s the law of God written on the heart as the conscience. And it’s the revelation of God of himself in and throughout all creation and the created world.
But now the time is coming when mankind would be brought face to face with the light of the gospel. the true light that would challenge them to turn aside from the darkness of sin and corruption and come to the light of life everlasting by faith in Jesus Christ.
And so the Apostle is making all these connections again as he uses these images of the Word and now of the true light. Not only revealing to us Jesus as the eternal Son of God, but his glorious plan of salvation for sinful mankind.
True light was coming into the world and indeed has now come. The light of God’s salvation was dawning upon mankind. The creation pointed to it. The scriptures pointed to it. John the Baptist declared it was soon to come and the true light did come.
And so again, the question remains, When it came, how was it received?
The Rejection of the True Light
Once again, the apostle steps back and speaks generally before stepping forward with the greater spiritual truth.
In verse 10, he was in the world and the world was made through him and the world did not know him.
The true light was rejected. by the world.
Now the true light was revealed to the world, but the world did not know him. And John had already introduced this rejection back in verse 5. In verse 5 he says,
And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
That is, the darkness of the world didn’t understand or comprehend the light.
Now again, this speaks to the most general sense of the light in the world, right?
God revealing himself through the creative world that he made, and yet the creation, and especially the creature, the special creature, mankind, doesn’t know or understand the message that the creation is revealing.
And this would be akin, for example, to someone seeing a glorious sunset and just not being moved. to think of anything at all. Because he has no knowledge or understanding of the glory and the majesty of God that’s being declared. Because he has no thought or understanding that there even is a God.
But then in verse 10, the rejection moves even closer, making it more personal. Because the word for no here implies more than just an intellectual knowledge, but it speaks of an intimate knowledge that you would have with a close friend or a loved one.
And so they see a glorious sunset. They marvel at the brilliance of its colors. They would even acknowledge that it’s speaking something to them, but they don’t know what it is that’s being spoken. And they don’t know who it is that is speaking to them. Yet they know a response is needed.
But instead of acknowledging God the Creator, they in turn worship and serve the creature, or in this case, the creation. They worship the sun. They worship the clouds. Or they worship the mere scientific mechanics that the Lord uses to bring such about a glorious sunset.
And so they reject. the knowledge of the true light.
And so God, the true light has been in the world. He has revealed himself through his creation. And he has even left his imprint on all mankind to bear witness to everyone so that all are without excuse and that there is a creator.
But all these witnesses are rejected and denied. They don’t know the God who created them. They give no thought to Him and the true light that He shines in the world.
Now you may wonder, how can this be? Well, it’s because their foolish hearts have been darkened by sin. And this is what the Apostle Paul elaborates on in Romans 1. For example, when he says in verse 20,
For since the creation of the world, His indivisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.
Because although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile when their thoughts and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
In sin, they actively suppressed the truth. and exchange it for a lie, further hardening their hearts to the truth so clearly revealed to them.
Thus the true light that has come into the world, mankind has rejected, even in the general sense.
And so if the world in general rejects the true light, as it has been revealed to all mankind in a very general way, will the true light, do you think the true light will have a better reception from those to whom it is revealed, especially and specifically when it’s revealed in the spiritual sense? We would hope.
And so the apostle now steps closer with an even more personal perspective in verse 11.
He, that is, the true light, Jesus, the eternal Son of God, He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
Verse 11: He Came to His Own
The true light came to His own.
And this is a very intimate expression and carries with it the sense of just coming home. Coming home to a place that’s familiar, comforting, and welcoming. You go on a long trip, and what a wonderful thing it is to come home.
In fact, this is the same expression that is used in John 19, 27, in the Apostle John, there at the foot of the cross, as the dying Jesus, as Jesus dying on the cross, requests John to take Mary, His mother, into his home to care and to provide for her. It’s the same expression. And he came to his own. That John took Mary as her own, brought her home.
But where was the home of the true light when he came into the world? Who were his own?
Well, they were the people of the Jews, the house of Jacob, God’s covenant people, Israel, the Old Testament church. They were His own special people, right? We even see that in the Old Testament. His own special people.
And to them belonged the oracles of God and the covenant promises, the law, and the testimonies. They were greatly privileged. And God had richly blessed His people Israel, calling them from out the world, bestowing His love upon them when they were the least of all people.
And yet God covenanted with them. to be their God. And He and they would be His people. And He promised them, right from the beginning, He promised them salvation and an eternal inheritance.
That would be secured by a son of David, the anointed one, the Messiah. And that when He came, that He would secure the victory once and for all, even over the greatest enemies of Satan, sin and death. all to save His people from their sins.
So this was the promise. And this was the expectation of the people of God, of Israel at the time.
And so when John the Baptist arrives on the scene, preaching and proclaiming repentance and the forgiveness of sins and telling the people that one was soon coming after Him, who would come with a greater baptism of the Spirit and of fire, the living God, cleansing them from sin once and for all, even the Lamb of God.
Well, the people anticipated with great eagerness this coming of the Messiah, the true light whom God would send to them.
And then He came, Jesus, the light of the world, the long-awaited Messiah and Christ, the one who would secure for them an eternal victory. He came to His own people.
But when He came, they despised Him, they rejected Him, and they did not welcome Him home. In fact, they put Him to death, even to the painful and shameful death of the cross.
This is shocking. And as John is describing it here, it becomes very dramatic.
Now again, we might expect that the unbelieving world, right, those outside, hardened in sin, that they would reject the true light when it came. That is a no-brainer. For they had been rejecting even the most general revelations of the true light from the very beginning. And so it should be no surprise that when the true light comes in the flesh, that they would then reject him. This we can understand even as as terrible and as tragic as it is.
But the greater tragedy is that the true light comes home to his own people, to the very people who were expecting him, to those who were longing for him. And yet when He came to them, they didn’t welcome Him. They rejected Him in the light and the life that He came to bring.
Friends, this is what the Apostle testifies to us in these verses, that the true light, even Jesus, has been rejected, not only by the world, but by His own people to whom He was promised.
It’s tragic, and it’s shameful.
But friends, this tragedy and the shame doesn’t stop there. Because we know that this true light, yes, He was rejected, even put to death by sinful men.
And yet we also know that this true light arose in power and glory on the third day, and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father as the true light of the world reigning and ruling over all things until He comes again in the fullness of His glorious light on the last great day to judge the living and the dead.
He who is rejected will return again.
But friends, the truth you must understand now is that this true light has indeed come into the world.
And He is the Word. And He is revealed to you in the light of the gospel.
How then will you receive Him? Will you reject Him as the world and as unbelieving Israel has done? or where you welcome this true light, even Jesus, and receive Him by faith for the good of your soul for all eternity and to the glory of God alone.
May it be so.
Closing Prayer
Let’s pray.
O gracious God in heaven, we do rejoice and give thanks for Your Word and this instruction, important reminder for us, this truth that we are now brought face to face with.
That the true light has come into the world. Generally, it has come through the created world. We see evidence all around us, even the fact of the sense of eternity in our own hearts, our conscience bearing witness, so that there is no man without excuse, that the light has come into the world.
And yet we also rejoice and give thanks that the light has come, the true light has come into the world in that special way, in that spiritual way, through the gospel, through the Lord Jesus Christ. and all that He accomplished for us.
We praise You and thank You, O Lord, that there are so many rich and abundant witnesses to this light. And we thank You that this light, having been revealed to us, that we come to it and we embrace it, we confess it as true, we receive it by faith.
We know that there are many, many in the world around us loved ones, our neighbors, our family members, coworkers, those that we see on the streets and pass by every day who have up to this point rejected this light.
Father, we pray that you would give us opportunity. as we be challenged to let that light of Christ and the gospel, let that true light shine in and through our lives and how we live. That that would be a reason for many to look and to stop and ask us for a reason and the hope that is in us. And that you would give us the words at the time to speak, to speak the true light. that they may come to know this glorious truth, that Christ Jesus, the light of the world, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, has come.
He has come to reconcile sinners to Himself, and He will soon come again to bring judgment to those who have rejected Him.
Father, we pray that you would impress these great truths upon each of our hearts, first and foremost, and that you would richly bless us in these things. In the praise of your glorious name we pray. Amen.