December 28 2025

Frankie

End of the year 2025 / Light of the World / John 1:1–14

John 1:1-14

1.1 I still vividly remember watching a Christmas movie on television when I was young. It featured a family celebrating with a huge Christmas tree and a cake. This was quite new to me because celebrating Christmas was not very common back then. I thought of it as a tradition for wealthy families, especially since my home did not have enough space for a tree. However, that moment sparked a desire in me to search for the true meaning of Christmas. Through reading books in the library, I discovered that Christmas is not about decorating a tree, but about Christ. He was born in a manger, a symbol of humility. His humble birth showed that He came not just for a special few, but for everyone. Once I realized this, I no longer focused on the tree. A tree might be for the rich, but Christ’s birth is for all—including me.

1.2 During this Christmas season, while we were celebrating His birth, we reflected why He came to earth. It was not for the privileged, but for all people, especially for the lowly and humble. Furthermore, He came to earth to give us something far more important. Through today's sermon, we will explore God's great gift to us. Let us read John 1:1-14.

John 1:1–6 ESV

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 was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 

John 1:7–10 ESV

He came as a witness, 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. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 

John 1:11–14 ESV

He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave 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. 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. 

2.1 We just read that famous opening line: 'In the beginning was the Word.' To us, this sounds like beautiful poetry. However, when John first wrote it, it was shocking to his audience. Back then, the term 'Word'—or Logos in Greek—was a well-known idea. To the Greeks, the 'Word' was the force holding the universe together. It was the 'Reason' or the 'Mind' behind nature and the stars. Yet, to them, it was only an impersonal force, similar to gravity.

2.2 To the Jewish people, the 'Word' was the voice of God. They recalled Genesis, where God spoke, 'Let there be light,' and the world was formed. The Word was God’s power in action. John takes this grand concept—the cosmic power that created the universe—and tells us something seemingly impossible. He says this 'Word' became flesh. The Greeks believed divine power was too pure to touch humanity. But John reveals that the Creator did not stay a distant force. He became a person. He became the baby in the manger we mentioned earlier. He is not a 'what'—He is a 'Who'.

3.1 John continues by saying, 'In him was life, and the life was the light of men.' This Person—Jesus—brings Light into our world. And then John describes a conflict: 'The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.'

3.2 Imagine you are standing deep inside a cave. When I visited Iran in 2005, I went to a massive cave in Hamadan called Ali Sadr Cave, located near the Tomb of Esther and Mordecai. It was pitch black inside, and we explored it by boat. The water was incredibly deep—over 10 meters in some places. When the lights were off, we couldn't see a thing. But then, the boat in front of us turned on a light, and suddenly we could see the water and everything around us.

3.3 Likewise, spiritual darkness is heavy and terrifying. But if you strike just a single match, the darkness cannot fight back. It does not struggle against the light; it simply ceases to exist. We live in a world that often feels dark. We face personal anxieties, conflicts, and uncertainties about the future. But the Bible promises us that the darkness cannot extinguish this Light. The darkness could not understand Him, and it certainly could not defeat Him. The baby in the manger is the Light that no darkness can ever conquer.

Isaiah 9:2 NLT

 The people who walk in darkness  will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. 

John 8:12 NIV

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 

4.1 However, Sadly, John tells us a hard truth. He writes, 'He was in the world... yet the world did not know him.' Imagine the Creator visiting His own creation. It is like an artist walking into his own painting, but none of the characters recognize him. Verse 11 adds, 'He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.' It is like coming home after a long journey, only to find the door locked by your own family. This is the tragedy of the first Christmas. The world was too busy, too distracted, or too dark to welcome its King.

John 1:11 NASB 2020

He came to His own, and His own people did not accept Him. 

4.2 But here is the 'great gift' I mentioned earlier. The story does not end with rejection. Verse 12 begins with a wonderful word: 'But.' 'But to all who did receive him... he gave the right to become children of God.'

John 1:12 NKJV

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 

This is the heart of Christmas. Jesus did not come just to show us light; He came to make us family. He gives us a new identity. We are no longer just creatures made by God; through Jesus, we become children loved by God. This is a gift that money cannot buy and the world cannot take away."

4.3 I have been so blessed to serve churches here in Saskatchewan since 2015, especially in my ministry to the First Nations people. As many of you know, I have connected with three different reserves. Even though they are located close to one another, each has its own unique culture and background.

4.4 I want to share a thought from my friend, Pastor Jamie. He serves at New Life Christian Chapel in Kamsack and ministers to The Key First Nation. He often says that while The Key First Nation may feel like it is in the dark, his ministry—formerly known as 'Almond Tree Ministries,' and now 'New Life Christian Ministries'—stands as a Light. Why? It is not because of the people, but because of Jesus Christ. Because of Jesus, the darkness cannot overcome them, and through this ministry, the people can see the true Light.

5.1 God Moved Into Our Neighborhood

John 1:14 ESV

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. 

This brings us to the final, most powerful verse of our reading. Verse 14 says, 'And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.' The word 'dwelt' here is very special. In the original language, it literally means 'He pitched His tent among us.' Think about that. God did not build a fortress or a castle with high walls to keep us out. Instead, He came down and set up a tent right in the middle of our messy, human lives. Just like the ministries on the reserves that I mentioned, Jesus came to be with us. He moved into our neighborhood. He experienced our cold, our hunger, our sadness, and our joy. He is not a distant God watching from heaven; He is 'Emmanuel,' God with us.

5.2 Full of Grace and Truth: And what do we see when we look at Him? John tells us: 'We have seen his glory... full of grace and truth.' Usually, 'Truth' is hard, and 'Grace' is soft. But Jesus holds them together perfectly. He knows the truth about our darkness and sin, yet He offers us the grace to be forgiven and become God's children. As we finish 2025 and look toward the new year, we do not need to fear the darkness. Why? Because the Word became flesh. He pitched His tent beside us. The Light has come, and the darkness cannot overcome it.

6.1 Our Identity as Light: So, what does this mean for us today? Since Jesus, the true Light, has come to dwell within us, our identity has completely changed. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:14, 'You are the light of the world.' Please notice that He did not say, 'You see the light.' He said, 'You are the light.' Because He lives in us, we become lamps that carry His fire.

6.2 A Lesson from the Streets"Back when I was in high school, I wanted to understand the life of the homeless. One day, I went to an area in Seoul famous for its homeless community. There, I met a man who had been living on the streets for several months. He had once been a general manager, but after a mistake led to his layoff, he lost his sense of direction and felt he could not return home. For three days, I stayed with him and slept next to him on the street. Even though it was summer, the nights were surprisingly cold. During those three days, he took me to shelters to find food. On the last day, I took him to a church that provided free meals. He hadn't been to a church in a long time, but after we ate, I introduced him to a pastor. They talked for a long time, and he decided to start attending that church. At the end of our time together, he told me something I will never forget: 'You were a light for me—not because you gave me money, but because you listened to my voice and you were with me.' I still remember that moment vividly. Sometimes, we overthink and assume we need to be a blinding searchlight to make a difference. However, living as a light does not require great power; sometimes, simply being there is enough.

7 Conclusion: Looking to 2026As we prepare to say goodbye to 2025, I want to invite you to a moment of reflection. Ask yourself: How was my 2025? Did I live as a light? Did I pitch my tent beside those who were hurting, or did I stay safe behind my own walls? Perhaps there were moments when we failed to shine. Perhaps we were too afraid of the dark. But remember, the Light of the World—Jesus—is full of grace. As we look forward to 2026, let us make a new commitment. Let 2026 be the year we stop fearing the darkness. Let it be the year we walk with Jesus into the messy, broken places of our world. Let us go into the darkness, not to judge it, but to fill it with His presence. May you be the light that the world is waiting for. Let us shine together.

Quiz: Short-Answer Questions

Instructions: Answer the following ten questions based on the provided sermon text. Each answer should be two to three sentences long.

1. According to the speaker, what was the initial childhood understanding of Christmas, and how did that perception change?

2. Explain the difference between the Greek and Jewish understanding of the Logos (the Word) and why John's declaration that the "Word became flesh" was so shocking.

3. How does the speaker use the personal anecdote about the Ali Sadr Cave in Iran to illustrate the relationship between light and darkness?

4. What is described as the "tragedy of the first Christmas" in the sermon's explanation of John 1:11?

5. What is the "great gift" that Jesus came to give, as explained in the commentary on John 1:12?

6. According to the sermon, what is the literal meaning and significance of the word "dwelt" in John 1:14?

7. How does the sermon describe Jesus as being simultaneously "full of grace and truth"?

8. Describe Pastor Jamie's ministry and how it serves as a practical example of the sermon's main theme.

9. What key lesson about being a "light" did the speaker learn from the experience of staying with a homeless man in Seoul?

10. Based on Matthew 5:14, what is the fundamental shift in identity that occurs for those who have Jesus dwelling within them?

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Answer Key

1. The speaker’s initial childhood understanding, formed from watching a Christmas movie, was that Christmas was a tradition for wealthy families, symbolized by a large tree. This perception changed upon discovering through reading that Christmas is not about decorations but about Christ, whose humble birth in a manger was for everyone, not just a select few.

2. To the Greeks, the Logos was an impersonal cosmic force, the "Reason" behind the universe, while to the Jewish people, it was the active power of God's creative voice. John's declaration was shocking because he took this grand, distant concept and revealed that it became a person—Jesus—which was unthinkable to Greeks who believed divine power was too pure to touch humanity.

3. The speaker describes the Ali Sadr Cave as being pitch black, where nothing was visible until a single light was turned on. This illustrates that spiritual darkness, while heavy and terrifying, cannot fight back against or struggle with light; the moment light appears, the darkness simply ceases to exist.

4. The "tragedy of the first Christmas" refers to the fact that when the Creator (Jesus) came into His own creation, the world did not recognize Him. This rejection is compared to an artist walking into his own painting unrecognized or a person returning home to find the door locked by their own family.

5. The "great gift" is the right to become children of God, given to all who receive and believe in Jesus. Through this gift, a person's identity is transformed from being merely a creature made by God to becoming a beloved child of God, making them part of His family.

6. The word "dwelt" literally means "He pitched His tent among us" in the original language. Its significance is that God did not remain distant in a fortress but came down to live in the midst of messy human life, experiencing human joy and sorrow as "Emmanuel," which means "God with us."

7. Jesus holds grace and truth together perfectly. "Truth" is described as hard, as He knows the reality of human darkness and sin, while "Grace" is described as soft, as He offers forgiveness and the chance to become God's children despite that truth.

8. Pastor Jamie leads New Life Christian Ministries, serving The Key First Nation in Kamsack. His ministry stands as a Light in a community that may feel it is in the dark, not because of the people involved, but because of Jesus Christ, demonstrating that His presence ensures the darkness cannot overcome them.

9. The speaker learned that being a "light" for someone does not always require great power or resources like money. The homeless man stated the speaker was a light simply because he listened and was with him, showing that sometimes the act of being present for someone is enough to combat their darkness.

10. The fundamental shift in identity is that believers do not just see the light; they are the light of the world. Because Jesus, the true Light, has come to dwell within them, they become like lamps that carry His fire into the world.