Zechariah 5:1-4

TEXT:

“[1] Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a flying scroll! [2] And he said to me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a flying scroll. Its length is twenty cubits, and its width ten cubits.” [3] Then he said to me, “This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole land. For everyone who steals shall be cleaned out according to what is on one side, and everyone who swears falsely shall be cleaned out according to what is on the other side. [4] I will send it out, declares the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter the house of the thief, and the house of him who swears falsely by my name. And it shall remain in his house and consume it, both timber and stones.”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. Spend a few quick moments discussing something God showed you in your personal reading of the Bible this week (either in your Bible reading plan or something else).

  2. When it comes to daily walking with Jesus, we must we be prepared for the Holy Spirit to convict and drive out sin in our own lives. Why is this difficult? Why is this necessary?

  3. How do these verses teach us that (1) no sin will ever go undetected by God and (2) no unrepentant sinner will ever be able to escape the wrath of God? Why is that both comforting and terrifying? Why is our natural tendency to hide from God when we sin?

  4. Read Revelation 21:1-8. How does the vision in Zechariah 5:1-4 point ahead to the New Jerusalem described in Revelation 21? How does this give us hope today as Christians?

SERMON MANUSCRIPT

A magnet was an unexpected highlight of my childhood. As a young kid, a unique thrill came from watching two magnets slap together. Over and over, I would pull them apart, let them go, and watch them clamp together.

I loved it.

But, just as much as I loved watching them clamp together, I resented the fact that I could not force the other side of the two magnets together. Over and over, I would squeeze and grunt, trying to connect two similar poles. Yet, no matter how hard I tried, they would always push away from one another. The closer they got to one another, the harder they would resist each other.

Two similar magnetic poles will always push against each other, and we will find in our passage today that the same is true of God and sin. Like trying to force two similar magnetic poles together, God's presence and sin cannot be joined together.

This is why the cross is so essential. On the cross, the punishment for our sin was dealt with in totality. The profound beauty of the cross is that every last drop of God's curse was poured out on God's Son so that every last drop of His blessing could be showered on us. So, because of the cross, we can be forgiven and cleansed.

If your faith resides in Jesus this morning, then you are what the Bible calls "in Christ." And if you are in Christ, then you are what the Bible calls "justified" before God. This means you are (before God right now) holy, blameless, and above reproach.

You are saved by grace through faith. But grace is never an excuse to continue living in sin. Repentance is a necessary element for the life of a believer. In these verses, we will see that if God's people want God to be with them, they must be prepared for God to address the sin within them. Similarly, if we want God to be with us, we must be prepared for God to address the sin within us. Close intimacy with God will always lead to a distancing from sin.

The four main points of application for today will be as follows:

  1. No sin will ever go undetected by God.

  2. God cares about how his people live their life.

  3. If we want God to be with us, we must be prepared for God to address the sin within us.

  4. No unrepentant sinner will ever be able to escape the wrath of God.

So, let's go ahead and dive in.

"[1] Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a flying scroll! [2] And he said to me, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a flying scroll. Its length is twenty cubits, and its width ten cubits. [3] Then he said to me, "This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole land. For everyone who steals shall be cleaned out according to what is on one side, and everyone who swears falsely shall be cleaned out according to what is on the other side. [4] I will send it out, declares the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter the house of the thief, and the house of him who swears falsely by my name. And it shall remain in his house and consume it, both timber and stones."

A LIVING MESSAGE INTENDED TO BE SEEN

The first thing we see in our passage today is a massive flying scroll.

Zechariah lifts his eyes and "Behold, a flying scroll!"

"What do you see?" the angel next to Zechariah asked.

Zechariah responds, "I see a flying scroll that's twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide."

So, there are two things we can safely conclude about this scroll up until this point: it's flying, and it's massive. Neither of these two things is normal.

I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but scrolls don't usually fly. Scrolls are inanimate objects that cannot move on their own. They sit. Yet, this scroll is soaring through the sky like an eagle searching for its prey. So, this was an active and living message of God that Zechariah was witnessing.

Also, scrolls could reach 30 feet in length during this time. But, they would never be any wider than a foot. Yet, this flying scroll is twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide (30ft x 15ft). Simply put, this was a massive scroll. This scroll possessed a vital message intended for a large audience. Like a billboard on Airport Blvd., this living message of God was intended to be seen by all.

THE CURSE OF THE LAW

And as we continue to read, we will discover the message on this scroll. Look at verse 3, "Then he said to me, "This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole land. For everyone who steals shall be cleaned out according to what is on one side, and everyone who swears falsely shall be cleaned out according to what is on the other side."

Curses would be the not-so-positive side of God's covenantal promise. It's the antithesis of a blessing. When God entered a covenant with his people, he promised them blessings and curses. If they faithfully obeyed the voice of the LORD, he would bless them. But, if they disobeyed the voice of the LORD their God, curses would come upon them and overtake them.

As we see in this verse, this was a two-sided scroll. On one side of the scroll, we find the message that those who steal will be cut off/cleaned out. On the other side of the scroll, we see the message that those who swear falsely (by God's name v.4) will be cut off/cleaned out. Simply put, God assures his people that he will drive out the wicked from their midst.

So, the message intended to be seen by the masses here was one of judgment. The massive flying scroll was the curse that went out over the face of the land. This scroll relayed the sanctifying message that the wicked would be driven out. God was going to deal with their sin. God would not allow his people to embrace a relationship with himself while continuing to hold onto sin.

In Luke 10, we see a lawyer seeking to put Jesus to the test, asking him what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. In response, Jesus asked, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?" The lawyer responds, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." Jesus assured him that his answer was correct.

This conversation between Jesus and the lawyer teaches us the law is both vertical and horizontal. Love God (vertical); love your neighbor (horizontal). We could summarize all of the law with those two things: love God with every fiber of our being and love our neighbor as ourselves. Well, many commentators highlight how the message of the scroll here reflects the heart of the law. On one side, we see an offense against our neighbor highlighted (stealing). On the other side, we see a direct offense against God highlighted (swearing falsely by God's name). So, the purpose of this scroll is to bring covenantal curses upon those who break God's covenant (both horizontally and vertically).

GOD SEES ALL

Now, with that being said, I want to draw our attention to the natural progression of these two offenses. During this time, whenever one was accused or suspected of stealing, they would be brought before the LORD to swear an oath. We see an example of this in Exodus 22. In a chapter regarding theft, the LORD says, "If a man gives to his neighbor a donkey or an ox or a sheep or any beast to keep safe, and it dies or is injured or is driven away, without anyone seeing it, an oath by the Lord shall be between them both to see whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor's property. The owner shall accept the oath, and he shall not make restitution. But if it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner. If it is torn by beasts, let him bring it as evidence. He shall not make restitution for what has been torn."

So, when we look at these two offenses highlighted in the scroll, we find someone living in and profiting off of sin. Not only has he stolen from his neighbor, but he has made an oath by the name of the Lord that he hasn't stolen, allowing him to get away with his thievery.

So, may we not miss the message being communicated here. God wants everyone to know that no sinner will get away with sinning. No sin will ever go undetected. You may be able to steal, and you may be able to lie. But you cannot hide your sin from the all-seeing, all-knowing God of the universe. What is foggy to man is clear to God. God knows the truth, and he will deal justly.

This verse is a stern warning of judgment to the robber and a strong message of comfort to the robbed. So, this truth should make our heart rate go up, and it should make our heart rate go down. Whether you're the victim or the culprit, these verses should speak to your heart this morning.

On the one hand, we must realize that we're all guilty sinners. The Bible is true when it says, "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." We all have a little more thievery in our hearts than we want to admit. So, before we ever look outward, we must first look inward. This vision ought to cause our hearts to race as it shines the light onto our sinful hearts. You cannot fool God. As guilty sinners, before we do anything else, we must first run to the cross, clinging to the hope of Christ crucified. And as men and women who've run to the cross, we confess our sins when we sin. And by the power of the Holy Spirit, we actively strive to put that sin to death. We don't go on sinning so that grace may abound. We know God cares about how we live, so we strive to walk in holiness.

But, on the other hand, many of us have also been victims of sin. To this day, many of us are still deeply wounded by someone else's sin. Some of you have suffered abuse. Others of you have been lied to and stolen from. And right now, your abuser may be walking around happy and free. Right now it may feel like God doesn't care a lick about the injustice you've encountered. But may these verses be water to your hurting soul this morning. God is not unaware of the pain you've endured. He sees what no man can see and knows what no man knows. And there is a scroll in the sky, letting everyone know that he is coming to drive out the wicked. No sin will ever go undetected by God.

INESCAPABLE JUDGEMENT

Verse 4 says, "I will send it out, declares the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter the house of the thief, and the house of him who swears falsely by my name. And it shall remain in his house and consume it, both timber and stones."

So, God's curse upon the wicked is inescapable. No unrepentant sinner will ever be able to escape the wrath of God. The wicked will try to run, and they will try to hide. But there is nowhere to go. It doesn't matter what their house is made of— it could be the strongest timber or the sturdiest stone— their home will be destroyed in totality. There is an inescapable wrath coming upon the wicked. Like a famine consuming a land, God will consume the house of the wicked.

GOD CARES

So, church, look at me. God cares about how you live your life. If we belong to a God who does not tolerate sin, we must not tolerate sin. We are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a people for God's own possession, that we may proclaim the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once we were not a people, but now we are God's people; once we had not received mercy, but now we have received mercy. Therefore, we abstain from the passions of our flesh, keeping our conduct honorable so that others may see our good deeds and glorify God. We wage war against our sin, striving to walk in holiness. If we belong to a God who does not tolerate sin, we must seek to put sin to death in our own lives.

Our entire life has been flipped upside down. Instead of stealing, we work hard doing honest work so that we may have something to share with anyone in need. Instead of lying, we speak the truth. If we want God to be with us, we must be prepared for God to address the sin within us. And when he addresses the sin within us, we seek to put it to death.

FUTURE HOPE

But, we also hold close to the hope of one day dwelling with God in perfect harmony where no more sin or death will be present. The beauty of the gospel is that we look ahead to a new Jerusalem, a holy city, where we will dwell with God in perfect harmony. I read a post on Instagram this morning that said, "Not needed in heaven: clock, doc, lock, Glock, H&R Block." The new Jerusalem will be a place where sin will be gone entirely and where we dwell with God in perfect harmony forever. So, we look ahead to a place where death, tears, mourning, and crying will be no more. We look ahead to a place where God's dwelling place will be with man. We look ahead to our salvation being complete, where we will be without sin completely. We look ahead to a time when we no longer have to fear because the wicked will be cast out into the lake that burns with fire and sulfur.

Psalms 119:9-16

TEXT:

[9] How can a young man keep his way pure?

By guarding it according to your word.

[10] With my whole heart I seek you;

let me not wander from your commandments!

[11] I have stored up your word in my heart,

that I might not sin against you.

[12] Blessed are you, O LORD;

teach me your statutes!

[13] With my lips I declare

all the rules of your mouth.

[14] In the way of your testimonies I delight

as much as in all riches.

[15] I will meditate on your precepts

and fix my eyes on your ways.

[16] I will delight in your statutes;

I will not forget your word.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. What are some things you learned this week as you read through the Bible reading plan?

  2. Why is it important to see scripture reading as an opportunity instead of a performance?

  3. How can we guard our lives with the Bible? How should guarding our lives with the Bible lead to purity?

  4. How should prayer and scripture reading work hand in hand?

The Word Became Flesh (John 1:14-17)

TEXT

"[14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. [15] (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'") [16] For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. [17] For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. Why is it important that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us?”

  2. On Sunday Ryan said, “If we want to display the glory of Christ in our day-to-day lives, we must seek to be full of grace and truth.” As Christians, how can effectively live out both grace and truth? Which do you find it more difficult to display: grace or truth?

  3. How does verse 16 teach us that God’s grace will never run out? Why do we need to always remember that his grace never runs out?

MANUSCRIPT

At the start of this gospel, we found John introducing us to the Word, the one who was present at the beginning. In doing so, he was teaching us that the Word was not simply an impersonal force. The Word was a personal being who was present before time. He was the one who all things were made by, through, and for.

In our passage today, we see John identify who the Word is. In these verses, John points his finger at Jesus and says, "I have seen the creator of all things, and it was glorious! The word has become flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen him." And in these verses, John begins to describe the glory of Jesus that he witnessed firsthand. The glory of Jesus is full of grace and truth.

So, the overarching truth that I want you to see today is this: No matter where you are or who you are, there is grace for you today.

And under the umbrella of this truth, there are three themes we will take note of today is as follows:

  • During the Christmas season, we celebrate the coming of the almighty and personal God.

  • During the Christmas season, we worship the One who perfectly balances grace and truth.

  • During the Christmas season, we remember the grace we've experienced in Jesus.

So, let's dive in.

"[14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. [15] (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'") [16] For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. [17] For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."

GOD HAS COME

At the start of verse 14, we see that the creator of all things "has become flesh and dwelt among us." The Greek word for "dwelt" is skēnoō, and it means "tabernacle." So, "The word has become flesh and tabernacled among us."

If you have any knowledge of the Old Testament, the word "tabernacle" should ring a bell. The tabernacle was a portable palace created for God to dwell among his people (25:8) as they traveled toward Canaan, the promised land. It was essentially a large tent that they would set up in their camp where the LORD would dwell. So, after calling and saving his people from slavery in Egypt, we see God dwelling with his people in the tabernacle (a temporary dwelling place of God) while they wander through the wilderness. And as he dwelled with his people, they would see a cloud covering the tent, and the LORD's glory would fill the tabernacle. When the cloud would be taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out.

So, in the Old Testament, we see that God was not distant from his people. He tabernacled/dwelt with his people, even in the wilderness. Although God's people wandered through the wilderness for 40 years, they didn't do so alone. God was with them in the middle of their journey. Where the LORD stayed, they stayed. When the LORD left, they left. Israel journeyed with God.

John here connects the dots between the tabernacle in the wilderness and Jesus. The one who tabernacled amongst his people in a tent has now tabernacled amongst his people in the flesh. The one who dwelt with his people in a tent has now dwelt with his people in the flesh.

God has never been a distant God. He has always been with his people, even in the difficult seasons of wandering through the wilderness. So, during the Christmas season, we celebrate the coming of the almighty yet personal God. In the manger we see the almighty creator of all pursuing his people. In the manger, we see the preexistent one taking on flesh. In the manger, we see the one who existed outside of time enter into time.

GRACE AND TRUTH

The one who tabernacled amongst his people in a tent has now tabernacled amongst his people in the flesh. And John says, "We have seen him with our own eyes! We have looked upon him and touched him with our hands!" He says they have "seen his glory, glory as the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Glory is a term we use often but have difficulty defining. Glory means splendor or brightness or kingly majesty or a most glorious condition. And John says that Jesus' glory is full of grace and truth.

This idea of grace is God extending divine favor upon someone. Concerning you and me, it is an undeserved favor of God placed on your life. It is God extending to us something we do not deserve. Truth, on the other hand, is something that is factual and accurate. It is something that is absent falsehood.

And John is saying that the radiant and majestic glory of Jesus was full of grace and truth. Jesus was seen as one who was not just a little gracious; he was full of grace, not lacking an ounce of grace. And he was not partially true; he was full of truth, not lacking a drop of honesty.

What a remarkable balance. The Christmas season is a time when we worship the one who is full of grace and truth. He's not gracious at one moment and truthful the next. He doesn't set aside grace when it's time to be truthful, nor does he set aside truth when it's time to be gracious. When he's gracious, he's truthful. When he's truthful, he is gracious. He's full to the brim of both grace and truth. Not an ounce of either is ever lacking.

Can we pause here for a moment and drink from the well of application? You and I are not Jesus. Therefore, you and I are not naturally "full of grace and truth." Some of us are naturally bent toward one of these two things. Some of us hate confrontation and gravitate toward grace while neglecting truth. Others have no problem being mean people in our pursuit of truth. We naturally gravitate toward one of these two camps.

But, to be a Christian means you now have Christ dwelling in you. Therefore, with the help and power of the Holy Spirit, you're called to become people full of grace and truth. If we want to display the glory of Christ in our day-to-day lives, we must seek to be full of grace and truth. As Christians, truth should always be accompanied by grace, and grace should always be accompanied by truth.

As we continue to read in verse 15, the author John goes back to John the Baptist to validate this fact about Jesus' glory." "John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'" We're not going to spend much time here since we've already looked at John the Baptist and his proclaimed message. But, the Word who became flesh is the one John the Baptist spoke about, which we know to be Jesus.

GRACE UPON GRACE

As we continue to read in verse 16, we see John take an abstract idea and make it personal— "For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace."

The word "for" links what is about to be said with what was previously said. And, in looking at the context, we see that John is linking what he's about to say in verse 16 with what he previously said in verse 14. From "the fullness [of his grace and truth], we have all received grace upon grace."

So, one of the beauties of the Christian faith is that it is not abstract; it's personal. It's not just something we study; it's something we experience. We don't just read God's Word and witness his grace as if it's a foreign concept. Instead, we are active recipients of his grace through faith in Jesus.

It's one thing to stand and watch someone being pulled out of a fire; it's another thing to be the one rescued from the fire. Well, the reality of the Christian faith is that we're not just eyewitnesses of God's grace; we're active recipients of his grace. We are firsthand recipients of the grace of Jesus.

GRACE UPON GRACE

When you hear the phrase "grace upon grace," I want you to think about waves crashing on a shore. The beauty of the ocean is that no matter what day you go to the beach, there will always be waves crashing on the shore of the ocean. You have wave upon wave settling on the shore. In the same way that waves never stop crashing on the shore of an ocean, the grace we receive in Christ will never run out. His help is never-ending. It's inexhaustible. There are layers upon layers to his grace: wave upon wave, grace upon grace.

William Barclay says, "We need one grace in the days of prosperity and another in the days of adversity. We need one grace in the sunlit days of youth and another when the shadows of age begin to lengthen. The church needs one grace in the days of persecution and another when the days of acceptance have come. We need one grace when we feel we are on top of things and another when we are depressed and discouraged and near to despair."

So, no matter what situation you find yourself in today, there is grace for you in Christ. No matter where you are or who you are, there is grace for you today. Are you a single mom trying to raise your kids the best you can? There is grace for you. Did you just receive a promotion and are doing really well financially? There is grace for you. Did you just lose your job? There is grace for you. Are you hobbling through sicknesses? There is grace for you. Are you struggling with sin, wondering if you've out-sinned the Lord? There is grace for you.

The Bible promises us that "God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble." So, if you're ever left wondering if God's grace for you will run out, please know that his ocean of grace will never dry up! There has never been a time when he has not been gracious.

THE LAW AND GRACE

We see that being played out right before our eyes in verse 17, "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." Verse 17 begins the same way that verse 16 begins. John is linking what he is about to say in verse 17 with what he has just previously told us in verse 16. Therefore, we know this is a continuation of a previous point.

So, first, John is seeking to tell us that giving the law was an act of grace. God gave the law to his people. Therefore, the law (in a sense) is not anti-grace; it is a form of grace. God did not have to give the law, but he did. The law was a gift.

God graciously gave the law to teach his people the truth. He gave his law to inform his people what actions please and don't please him. The law says, "If you do X, things will go well for you. But, if you do Y, things will not go well for you."

But, the law was incapable of extending to us grace. It was simply a teacher, an instructor, a revealer of God's will for his people. The law can extend truth. But, it cannot extend grace. So, the law's ultimate purpose is to lead us to the one full of grace and truth, Jesus. What Moses does in part, Jesus does in full. Where Moses presented the law, Jesus came to fulfill it. Jesus kept the law and loved God perfectly.

So, we can experience a grace that is not absent truth in Christ. We can experience a grace that is rooted in truth. Meaning: God hasn't simply turned a blind eye to our sin and said, "Ah, well, that's not that big of a deal." No, our sin has been dealt with viciously (in its totality) on the cross. On the cross, Jesus took upon himself the condemnation the law says we deserve. So, the truth of the law points us to the gracious work of the cross.

By the grace and mercy of God, we can become sons and daughters of the most high God through faith in Jesus. And, by God's grace, we can receive the Holy Spirit, who will begin to sanctify our hearts, making us more and more like him, graciously giving us the desire to walk in obedience. And the beauty of walking with Jesus is that when we fall short, we're not met with condemnation; we're met with grace upon grace. The Christian life is a life rooted in grace. The Christian life is a grace-filled life.

The grace of Jesus is exactly what you need every second of every day.

In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul tells the church of his struggle with a thorn in his flesh. He continually pleaded to the Lord for the Lord to remove it. Yet, how does God respond? Not by removing the thorn. Instead, he says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness."

So, there may be things that we long for the LORD to change about our lives— "Lord, please give me more money. Lord, please give me better health. Lord, please take this desire away from me completely." And he may not do it. But he will always give us the grace we need to make it through.

Even in our lowest moments, God's power can be made perfect in our weakness. Therefore, we (like Paul) can boast in our weaknesses so that the power of Christ might rest on us. For the sake of Christ, we can be content with weaknesses, insults, hardship, persecutions, and calamities. Because of the grace of Jesus, we can be strong even when we are weak.

So, walk confidently with Jesus today. Rest securely is the grace of Jesus today. May we boast joyfully in the grace of Jesus today. During the Christmas season, we remember the grace we've experienced in Jesus.

The Word Became Flesh (John 1:9-13)

TEXT

"9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God."

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. Why do you think John refers to Jesus as the true light? Why is it important to see Jesus as the true light?

  2. In the first half of these verses, we see that not all who encounter the truth about Jesus will accept Jesus. How should this impact our evangelism?

  3. How does the truth that we (the church) are children of God impact how we interact with the church?

MANUSCRIPT

Several weeks ago, we purged our youngest son's dresser, removing the clothes he could no longer wear. We call this game "old and new." During this game, we make two piles: an old pile and a new pile. The old pile consists of clothes that no longer fit; therefore, we get rid of them. The new pile consists of clothes that still fit; therefore, we will keep them.

In today's passage, we see Jesus, the true light, has come into the world. He has come as the ultimate source of spiritual truth, as the ultimate source of eternal life. And through his coming, we see that humanity has two options: receiving him as Lord or rejecting him as a fool.

There's no middle ground. You can either receive Jesus or reject Jesus. One will lead to life, while the other will leads to death. One will lead to intimacy with God, while the other leads to distance from God. One will lead to security, while the other leads to damnation.

Today we will see that those who receive Jesus will become children of God. Their status in this world and their status in heaven will change. Therefore, the overarching theme that I want us to build toward today is this: the Christmas season is a time when we get to celebrate our Lord together with our spiritual family. The church isn't like family; the church is family. It is a family that has been crafted and molded by the grace and mercy of God, not the works of man. Therefore, it should be something cherished and valued by those who've received this adoption.

Let's go ahead and dive in…

"9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God."

THE TRUE LIGHT

I'm not sure if you've caught on or not, but there has been a consistent theme of light in these verses.

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (v.5)."

John the Baptist came to "bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light (v.8)."

And now, in verse 9, we see a reference (again) to the true light. "The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world."

The word used here for "true" is alēthinŏs, which means to be real, authentic, or genuine. It's a word used 56 different times in the gospel of John. So, John is making a conscious effort to distinguish Jesus from other "lights." To be the true light means that Jesus isn't one among many lights; he is the only light. He is the defining light.

John here is saying that Jesus is the accurate, genuine, and complete revelation of God's truth. You may be able to look to creation to learn about God in a general sense. But Jesus is the ultimate self-disclosure of God to man. If you want to see God for who he is, look no further than Jesus. If you want to know God, turn to Jesus.

The light of the world is the one by which all things are seen clearly, and all things make sense. He is the one who shows us who God is. He shows us what true perfection and holiness are. He shows us where true life resides. In doing so, he also shows us where we fall short. When we encounter the true light, he shines deep into the darkness of our hearts, which illuminates where we do not measure up to his perfection and holiness. When we encounter Jesus, we see ourselves for how evil we are. And because of this, we will see that the world loved darkness rather than light because their works were evil.

Nonetheless, "The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world."

The word used here for "world" is "kosmos." The word "kosmos" is used 78 different times in this gospel. It's a complex word in the sense that it has several different definitions. On the one hand, it can mean all the created universe, the giant ball we live on. On the other hand, it can mean all of the world's inhabitants. The typical use of this word, however, describes the part of creation that has deliberately rebelled against its creator.

So, in one sense, Jesus, the true light, the source of life, entered into the kosmos, his creation. He came into the world, walking on his creation, eating his creation, depending on his creation. But, in a deeper sense, the true source of life and light entered a world of darkness to dwell amongst those actively rebelling against him.

DID NOT KNOW HIM

The very thing he breathed life into is the same thing that has sinned and rebelled against him, and it is this rebellious world that Jesus has entered into. We see this in verse 10– it is the world that he entered into that "did not know him."

In commenting on the concept of "knowing," Herman Ridderbos says, "Knowing is not just intellectual… to not know the Word is to reject a relationship with him." So, this isn't a word of ignorance; it is a phrase of intentional rejection. Sin so blinded mankind that they refused to recognize their creator. They saw the true light and all of his majesty and chose to run in the opposite direction. Like putting my child's clothes in the "old pile," they have displaced him, rejected him.

As we see in verse 11, "Jesus came to his own, and his own people did not receive him." So, Jesus came to those who belonged to him, yet they did not receive him. The true light wasn't just misunderstood; he was maliciously betrayed and rejected by his own people. Jesus was not merely unseen, unknown, or misinterpreted. He was fully known and understood, yet he was despised, rejected, beaten, crushed, pierced, and murdered.

Feel the weight of that—what a tragic reality. When God was most seen, he was most rejected. Sometimes we hear the lie whispered amongst hardhearted people that goes to the tune of, "I don't believe because I have too many questions." We begin to convince ourselves that if all of our questions were answered and we could see God in his full majesty, then we would believe. But these verses teach us that, even if we had all of the evidence on the table, many would still choose to reject Jesus. Sometimes it is the clearest message that encounters the most hostility.

CHILDREN OF GOD

But verse 12 offers us some hope. John tells us that there will be some who receive him. There will be some who believe. And those who believe in his name will be given "the right to become children of God."

God's goal in sending Jesus was adoption. Ephesians 1:5 says, "In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will…"  So, Jesus actively came into a world that rejected, betrayed, beat, crushed, pierced, and murdered him so that those who received him might become children of God. Before the foundation of the world, his predetermined loving plan was to create a redeemed family united by the blood of Jesus. The Father sent his Son into the world so that those who receive him might become his adopted sons.

But what does it mean to receive Jesus?

The word receive in these verses means to welcome with open arms and accept with friendliness. So, receiving Jesus means accepting and welcoming him into your life for who he is, not who you want him to be. To receive Jesus is not to mold Jesus into who you want him to be; it is to allow Jesus to mold you into who he wants you to be. In receiving Jesus, you don't get the luxury of shaping Jesus into your servant; you become his servant. In receiving Jesus, you don't get to pick and choose what parts of Jesus you like; you accept him for who he is. To receive Jesus is a complete, joyful surrender. You welcome him as a Savior, trusting he's able to save. You greet him as a Leader, trusting he knows what's best for your life. You accept him as Provider, trusting his provision. You welcome him as a Counselor, trusting his Word. You receive him as Protector, depending on his protection. You accept him as King, trusting and submitting to his rule. To receive Jesus is to submit every fiber of your being to Jesus.

And, those who receive Jesus have been given "the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." So, one of the key beauties of the gospel is that, through receiving Jesus, our status changes. Both on this earth and in heaven, our status changes. In receiving Jesus, you will go from being a child of wrath to a child of God, an enemy of God to a son of God. You were once blind, but now you see. You were once lame, but now you run. You were once an enemy, but now a son. You were once a pitiful sinner, but now a righteous heir. You were once a nobody, but now a somebody.

Brothers and sisters, by the grace and mercy of God, you are born again into a new family. We are not like a family; we are a family. We are a family that has been crafted and molded by God's grace and mercy, not man's works. Therefore we ought to cherish and value one other. We ought to selflessly love and serve one another.

So, the question remains today: have you received or rejected the true Light? Do you believe that Jesus is the light of the world?

If you have received Jesus in faith, inviting him to be the Lord of your life, then you are a miraculously born-again child of God.

The Word Became Flesh (John 1:6-8)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. How would you summarize the message of John the Baptist?

  2. How should John the Baptist’s message increase our faith in Jesus?

  3. John the Baptist was never committed to exalting himself. Instead, he was committed to exalting Jesus. As Christians, how can we practically adopt a similar way of living?

  4. We see in Acts 1:8 that we, too, are called to be witnesses of Jesus. What are some of the biggest obstacles you face when it comes to sharing your faith with others? How can you become more bold in talking about Jesus with those around you?

The Word Became Flesh (John 1:1-4)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. How does John 1:1-4 teach us that the manger wasn’t the beginning of Jesus’ story?

  2. How should these verses deepen our faith in Jesus?

  3. On Sunday, we were reminded that if God did not despise humble living, we shouldn’t either. What are some practical ways we can live humbly during this Christmas season?

  4. What are some of the biggest threats to living humbly during Christmas season?

Zechariah 4:11-14

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. How often do you think about the truth that God is all-seeing? When you do think about it, how does it make you feel?

  2. Why do you think we try to hide from God, even though he’s all-seeing and all-knowing?

  3. How does the message of the cross draw us out of hiding and into the light?

  4. What are the theological implications of the reality that Jesus is the anointed one? How does this shape the way we live?

Zechariah 4:1-10

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. Read verses 6-7. Then, discuss the importance of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer.

  2. Why is it important for us to remember that God’s will is often carried out through small and mundane moments in our life?

  3. How have you seen the LORD use small moments in your life for your good and His glory?

  4. On Sunday we learned that “God’s power is often shown to be most glorious when we are at our weakest.” How have you seen God’s power made perfect through your weakness?

Bonus: Spend some time thinking about someone you know that has stewarded the small moments in life well. Give them a call this week to encourage them.

Zechariah 3:6-10

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. How should the reality of our “past, present, and future sins being dealt with viciously on the cross” impact the way we live?

  2. Discuss for a few minutes the implications of Jesus being “the servant, the branch” prophesied about here in verse 8.

  3. What do you think about the stone having seven eyes?

  4. In verse 10, we see God’s people inviting their neighbors to dwell with them under the security and protection of “the branch.” How should this impact the way we evangelize? Who is someone you can be more intentional in sharing the gospel with?

Zechariah 3:1-5

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. Sometimes we unintentionally believe that Satan and the LORD are on equal footing, battling against one another. Yet, in verse 2, after the LORD rebukes Satan, we never see Satan say another word. Why is it important for us to remember that Satan is a created being that must bow in submission to the LORD of hosts?

  2. Spend a few moments discussing how this passage points ahead to the cross.

  3. Do you ever feel the enemy accusing you of not being fit to be a Christian because of your sin? How do these verses speak to you in these moments?

  4. How does these verses practically impact our day-to-day life?

Zechariah 2:6-13

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. In verses 6-7, we see a call to return to Jerusalem from “dwelling with the daughter of Babylon.” Spend a few minutes discussing how these verses teach us that following Jesus is costly.

  2. How do verses 8-9 teach us that following Jesus is worth it?

  3. In verse 10 we see a call to sing and rejoice because the LORD will “dwell in their midst.” Why should the closeness of God provide joy in the life of a Christian?

  4. Have there been moments in your life where you’ve experienced true joy because of God’s presence? Please take a moment to share.

Zechariah 2:1-5

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. Many interpret these verses to be pointing ahead to the New Testament church. Do you agree? Why or why not?

  2. If you agree with these verses pointing ahead to the New Testament church, how does the reality of the church being a “city without walls” impact our day to day lives as Christians?

  3. What does it mean that the LORD’s glory will “be in her midst?” Why is this good news?

Zechariah 1:16-21

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. Why is it important for us to see and remember that the LORD “returned to his people with mercy?” Do you ever have a hard time believing that God will do the same for you? If so, why? When do struggle most to believe this truth about God?

  2. Spend a few moments discussing the already-not-yet aspects of verse 17. How should both aspects impact the life of a believer?

  3. Read and discuss Zechariah 1:18-21. How do these verses teach us that “repentance leads to security?”

Zechariah 1:7-17

Discussion Questions:

  1. Spend a few minutes discussing how the vision given in these verses teach us the truth that God is all-seeing and all-knowing.

  2. In verse 13, the angel describes the “jealousy” God has for his people and “the anger he has for the nations” as “gracious and comforting.” What about these two things are comforting?

  3. How does this passage give us hope?

Suffering in Hope pt. 3

Discussion Questions:

  1. Read Lamentation 3:22-24. What does it mean that there are new mercies every morning?

  2. Why is it important to lament in the midst of suffering? How do we move from lamenting to healing, from grief to peace, from sorrow to hope?

  3. On Sunday, Brady encouraged the sufferer to “seek out real community.” How can we as a community group live out “real community” in the midst of suffering?

Extra credit: What are some of the deepest fears you experience whenever you encounter suffering?

Suffering in Hope pt. 2

Discussion Questions:

  1. Read and discuss Romans 5:1-5. Why is it important to understand that finding hope in suffering takes time?

  2. On Sunday, Brady said, “Our call to make disciples of all nations doesn’t end when suffering begins.” How can we bear witness to Christ through our suffering?

  3. How have you seen God use your suffering to encourage others?

Suffering in Hope pt. 1

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does the “fall” help shape the Christian’s view of suffering?

  2. Spend a few minutes discussing the quote, “Suffering can help us experience the full depth and breadth of God’s love for us in ways we could never fully experience when things are going well.”

  3. Read 1 Peter 1:3-7. What does it mean that we have been “born again to a living hope?” How should this impact the way walk through suffering?