The True & Living Hope: John 1:1-14

The True & Living Hope: John 1:1-14
– Xmas Day 1962 – St. Petersburg, Florida Times: only good news will appear on cover – blank!– “for rest of the news, turn to…
– Jesus didn’t enter a good news world but a lost & broken world
– Jesus experienced pain – suffering
– even if we haven’t suffered, we know of human suffering; though our culture may not lack basic needs, there is suffering as youth take their lives; as depression rises
– MAID – BC, Quebec (friends Dad)
– this is not a good news world…yet, there is good news to share…
– the Light shines in the darkness…
– v.1: Genesis & John begin with such weighty words…in the beginning, GOD
– for Jews & Christians, these words express key understanding of our faith: we’re not 1st; not in charge – we bend the knee to Another
– John begins like ‘Genesis’, but instead of saying ‘God’, he points to Another
– the Word was there with God in the very beginning – the Word was God
– God created all things through the Word
– in the Word was life  light of all humanity
– light shines in the darkness & the darkness has not overcome it
– Ill) we long for the light…we notice shortening days even now…
– but we need more than sunny days to bring us hope
– Ill) Coffee Shop: Sharing the Warmth: Gingersnap Latte [Peace]; Peppermint Mochaccino [Joy] – Candy Cane Hot Chocolate [Love]
– What is absent? HOPE
– we Hope in the Light of the world…not in something we can come up with ourselves
– the True Light which gives light to all was in the world, but though the Light made the world, the world did not recognize him
– but all who received Him, who believed in his name, were granted the right to be children of God
– the Word took on flesh & came in the person of Jesus, making his dwelling among us  our salvation
– Ill) George Harley – medical mission in Liberia 1926 – no one came to chapel for 5 years…his son died, he wept, suddenly people knew this white man was human; felt pain, loved  a man ran back shouting, white man cries like one of us!!
– a wonderful man, but an alien they thought
– now they could hear him preach hope in X
– embodiment – God made flesh…
– The truth of the gospel is most convincing when it is embodied in a person or a community of persons. Give Them Christ – Seamands p.47

– John the Baptist was not the light; he was only a witness
– we are witnesses to the Light, like John the Baptist – ambassadors of Hope
– though our neighbours may seem to be doing just fine, there are many silent tears
– by receiving Jesus Christ, by believing in his name, we are able to become children of God.
– people are asleep spiritually in darkness – they need Light of world to awaken them
– no one will receive peace, joy or love in a coffee cup, no matter how good it is!
– but if the Light of God is at work in us, we can offer someone peace, joy & love over a cup of coffee as we speak of the hope we have in Jesus Christ
– let us share our lives with those who do not know Christ, & may the Light of the world shine through us.
– friends, we must believe that story is still true – the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it
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