The Light of This World

 Dec 25, 2024 -Morning Bible Reading and Meditation from the Book of John Chapter 11KJV

For Mithcah Bible Baptist Church -Bahrain

Morning Online Devotional Bible Study- Dec 26, 2024

“[9] Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.

[25] Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

[26] And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

[27] She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.”

The Light of This World

As most of the world now seems to stop its daily life’s routine, and give time to take heed, (even them who do not believe), the most celebrated event of the year: the birth of JESUS: The Savior of the world; may we be admonished to delve deeper by feasting unto His precious words as we with them have been busy feasting with Christmas goodies, the way the world celebrate the birth of our Loving LORD.

It may be too familiar to us the message of The LORD’s birth, that sometimes we lost the appetite to listen, thinking that we already knew about it; not even caring to know that in every messages we heard, echo His unique message that we get different message from every topic we get.

words, bearing unique message, from each vessel GOD uses to remind us: the very reason for the season, does not merely revolve around GOD’s Son’s birth, but the purpose of His birth: to tell us about the blessed gift of resurrection; which of course He has to go through the process of The Son of God’s birth, life on earth, death, burial and resurrection: the which is the central message from this chapter.

It may have been sounded as myth even to those who were there, of whom among them couldn’t comprehend the sovereign power which the Son of GOD have in Him; that JESUS will literally raise the 4 days buried dead body of Lazarus. But their unbelief was not able to stop them to witnessed, have seen by their very naked eyes, how JESUS, who told Martha these words:

“[23] Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

[24] Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

[25] Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

[26] And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? “

Martha thought that it is not in their time that her dead body would be resurrected; that it will be on that great day of which the prophet Ezekiel prophesied in Ezekiel 37:1-14

And lo and behold! As He is the Son of GOD who gave life, He also has the power to raise back to life, even Lazarus who was already have been buried four days from the dead.

The problem with people, which has been the cause why JESUS wept: though they have been with JESUS and professed that He is the Son of GOD, their faith in Him has been suppressed by the law and the letter by letter sayings of old; which has been the root cause of their disbelief in Him. They just thought JESUS wept because Lazarus died, it didn’t occurred to them that their failure to acknowledge that the prophesy of old has come to reality in their time.

They are living in their era where they have been conversing day by day, face to face to the Light of this world which was written by Apostle John in the first chapter of this book. John 1:6-9

Take note of the way His disciples, particularly Thomas: The LORD’s called apostle answered to Him when He said:

“[14] Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. [15] And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

[16] Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

 

Isn’t this comment of Thomas an indirect conveyance of unbelief with sarcasm?

“For the intent that ye may believe..” the purpose why The Son of GOD allowed Lazarus to die and not come when He was called; for the intent that they may see the Light of this world, and that they may believe that it is He: The Light of this world; who has spoken these words: I am the Light of the world..” John 8:12: directly and plainly revealed to His hearers another of His I Ams.

We already discussed in our recent topics the testimonies of those people whom GOD used as channel to bring forth His Son in this world and heralded for the intent that we should believe; that JESUS is indeed the Light of this world according to His uniquely significant coming, of which such are the following:

1. Joseph, the righteous and just man, by whom was called to father GOD’s Only Beloved Son, to be born of his virgin betrothed wife Mary. That He did not hesitate to take care of his wife while carrying the child nine months in her womb. Come to think of it; there might have been time that he could have thought that it might be the enemy which tried to deceive him, since the angel just talk to him in the dream? But no; Joseph wholeheartedly did these things:

• He without doubt accepted the responsibility to love and take care of both, that he even took Mary with him when he is about to go to Bethlehem to pay for his tax.

• He without complain endure the discomfort he suffered during the long journey with the pregnant woman, the disheartening time when she’s in pain of giving birth and no one wanted to take them in the inn.

• That after the birth of the baby Son of God, he, without murmuring departed to leave his home to live in a foreign land, to protect the young child’s life from the danger that King Herod decreed to kill all the young child from two years old and below. His name was not mentioned many times, but the significant of his faith in fathering God’s Son and taking the role of the husband to Mary is the testimony of faith in GOD that told of His wholehearted obedience to GOD’S commandment.

2. Mary the innocent young virgin, whose mind can’t process the message of the angel who told her that she was highly favored by GOD, and that in her womb will conceive the son of GOD, and that she has to call Him JESUS, For He will be great..Luke 1:28-36 and because she could not understand what shall come to happen,  she just replied from her heart in Luke 1:37 “ behold thy handmaid, be it unto me according to your words..”

3. And what about the faith of the shepherds who did not doubt when the angel told them about the birth of JESUS in the manger? That they did not hesitate to leave their flocks and see what the angel told them? And that though they were unlearned, look down and most of the time disregarded people of their society, thy don’t mind what people will say; they just obeyed and proclaimed; had not been so concern about the respond they may get from people about their proclamation of the birth of JESUS.

4. Consider also the wise men who traveled from far country just to bring gifts to this new born King of the Jews. Why do they need to do a lot of sacrifice? Why do they need to give high regard about this new born king of the Jews when they themselves are comfortably living in their own place?

 

There are countless testimonies I believe that might not cross to our mind, before JESUS let people know about who He is. For sure, some of those people who knew these things followed and observed the growing JESUS, and also witness within themselves the significant of His distinctive humanity. But as how the LORD made known His coming to the world complicatedly confusing to people; that He as GOD chose to be born in the manger, in the poor parents, and that he must do the work the normal, ordinary poor people’s work, they couldn’t comprehend by their limited mind these truth about the fifth “I AM” of JESUS. For sure these people will ask within themselves like Thomas these questions: How in the world He will be the Son of GOD when He Himself could not even provide for His comfortable means of living? That every time he teaches and preach, the people wanted to stone Him? Why did He allowed the unbelief settled in the heart of those people, and He couldn’t do anything?

 

The answer for these questions were already spoken by the Son of GOD: The LORD JESUS CHRIST;

➢ There is enmity between GOD and man: Heavenly thing has been strange in the world which was long time ago reign by the enemy of GOD since the fall of man. Gen 3:15

➢ The education of men mostly is contradictory to the knowledge of GOD. The law is given as judgement for human error, not for the justification of mankind. The very reason why those scribes, Pharisees and rulers are there to find fault in every act of JESUS. John 11:8, 45-48, Galatians 3:22-25

➢ That it is expedient that one must die to save the world from being under the power of the enemy. Even the high priest unknowingly prophesied about this thing.  V.49-52

➢ That GOD the Father exclusively unfold the content of the gift of salvation only to all who believe. Even to those whom the LORD JESUS CHRIST called. John 3:16, John 10:27-30, John 11: 45

As our heart is full of joy about the benefit we get from this celebration and the blessed hope we are holding onto, may our desire to live closer to JESUS who is The Light of this world magnified in our lives more and more.

Let us all be everyday renewed by always reminding ourselves of the priceless gift we have in our heart soul and spirit; and that we within ourselves magnified the Light of this world whom is CHRIST JESUS our LORD.

 

Be the reason why some will come to celebrate with us CHRISTMAS in its true essence, and let them fully see the Light of this world, from the eyes of their heart; the very true meaning of the birth of our Loving LORD and Savior CHRIST JESUS.

Merry Christmas to all!

John 11:1-57 KJV

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. [2] (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) [3] Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. [4] When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. [5] Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. [6] When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. [7] Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. [8] His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? [9] Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. [10] But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. [11] These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. [12] Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. [13] Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. [14] Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. [15] And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. [16] Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. [17] Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. [18] Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: [19] And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. [20] Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. [21] Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. [22] But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. [23] Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. [24] Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. [25] Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: [26] And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? [27] She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. [28] And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. [29] As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him. [30] Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. [31] The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there. [32] Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. [33] When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, [34] And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. [35] Jesus wept. [36] Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! [37] And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? [38] Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. [39] Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. [40] Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? [41] Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. [42] And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. [43] And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. [44] And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. [45] Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. [46] But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. [47] Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. [48] If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. [49] And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, [50] Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. [51] And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; [52] And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. [53] Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death. [54] Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples. [55] And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves. [56] Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast? [57] Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.