Bible Text: John 1:1-5; 10-14 | “The Word Was God” Isaiah 60:1-6, John 1:1-5, 10-14

Introduction:  Epic battles like Lord of the Rings, or Axis vs. Allies, or jihad, or crusades, or Rom vs. Vandals.

I.        (Isaiah 60) The Light rising

A.     (v1) “Arise, shine, for your light has come”

1.      We reflect; we don’t generate.  What is reflected in our words and behavior?

2.      What is the light we should reflect?  “The glory of the Lord has risen upon you?”

B.     (v2) “Darkness shall cover the earth.”

1.      What is the darkness?  Injustice, greed, envy, hatred, lies.  [See Colossians 3:5, 8; Galatians 5:19-21]

2.      Despite the darkness, the Lord’s glory will be seen…upon us.  He comes to/for us.

C.     (v5) “Then you shall see and be radiant…The wealth of the nations shall come to you.”

1.      (v6) “They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news.”

2.      God’s summons will go out to all nations.  John 1:11-12, “To those received him he…”

II.       (John 1) In the Beginning

A.     “In the beginning God [was the Word]…”

1.      A very Genesis way to start.  The words evoke God’s original design.

2.      How did God create, as described in Genesis?  He spoke, “Let there be light.”

B.     (v2) “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.”

1.      In a society where our word is easily given and easily broken, the concept may sound weak.

2.      (v3) “In Him all things were made and without him nothing was made…”

C.     (v4) “In Him was life”

1.      “And that life was the light of humankind.”

2.      (v5) “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome (understood) it.”

Conclusion:   (v14) “The Word became flesh and lived among us.  We have seen his glory.”

The darkness that is December 22nd and the epic battle.

1 John 1:7, “If we walk in the light as he is in the light we have…”