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Rejecting the Christmas Light
Shaun Rossi // The Gospel of John
No matter how bright Jesus Christ the true Christmas light burns, there will be hearts that reject Him and remain in eternal darkness.
“35 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, 38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.” 41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him.42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. 44 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”
— John 12:35-50
Sermon OutlineI. People Will Reject the Christmas Light Because Their Sinful Hearts vv 36-37
“19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.”
— John 3:19-20
“18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
— Romans 1:18-21
II. People Will Reject the Christmas Light Because of Their Hardened Hearts vv 38-40
“They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.”
— Ephesians 4:18
“2 And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them: “You have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, 3 the great trials that your eyes saw, the signs, and those great wonders. 4 But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear.”
— Deuteronomy 29:2-4
“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”
— Isaiah 53:2-3
III. People Will Reject the Christmas Light Because of Their Hearts Do Not See the Glory of God vv 41-43
“1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”
— Isaiah 6:1-3
“4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.””
6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.””
— II Corinthians 4:4;6
““Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
— Luke 2:34-35
IV. Christmas Light vv 44-50
“Burning with ardent desire to promote your salvation, I do indeed abstain from exercising my right to condemn you, and am entirely employed in saving what is lost; but do not think that you have escaped out of the hands of God; for though I should altogether hold my peace, the word alone, which you have despised, is sufficient to judge you.”
— John Calvin (paraphrase of v 48)
Christmas Carol History: Joy to the World
“Joy to the World, the Lord has come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,”
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,”
— Joy to the World (v 1), Isaac Watts,
In today’s text we are reminded that at the coming of the Christ child into the world, not every heart will prepare Him room and receive Him as King. We are also reminded that many hearts will prepare Him room and receive Him as king –“far as the curse is found.” So we should rightly sing ‘Joy to the World’ this Christmas! Here is a bit of history behind the beloved Christmas carol:
In the 1700’s, most songs sung in European churches were singing the Old Testament Psalms in their services (this is what John Calvin encouraged), and the young Isaac Watts’ church was no different. Though Watts loved the singing the Psalms he felt that these songs felt “unnatural” to sing in their modern-day English translations.
“They ought to be translated in such a manner as we have reason to believe David would have composed them if he had lived in our day,”
— Isaac Watts
After one Sunday service, 15-year-old Isaac complained about “the atrocious worship.” One of the deacons challenged him with, “Give us something better, young man.” He went home and penned his first hymn, and the love of hymn-writing stuck with him the rest of his life.
In 1719, his book “Psalms of David Imitated” was published, not as a new paraphrase of David, but as an imitation of him in New Testament language. Watts’ perspective was the Psalms bursting forth in their complete fulfillment. Joy to the World is the “imitation” of the last half of Psalm 98.
Watts transformed the old Jewish psalm of praise for historic deliverance into a song of rejoicing for the salvation of God that began when the Jesus came “to make his blessing flow far as the curse is found.”
Later George Frederick Handel composed music for the song and some scholars say it resembles his greatest work, Messiah.
SMALL GROUP STUDYIntroduction (5 min)Start by reading the “Christmas Carol History” post above and then listen to Listen to “Joy to the World” as performed by Ketih & Kristyn Getty: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgLLF9Zq_NQ
Understand the Text (20 min)1. As Jesus preaches his final public sermon before he is crucified, what does he offer to those who will believe in him?
How many times has Jesus made the offer to believe in him during his ministry? Read John 3:3; 4:13-14; 6:35; 7:37-38; 8:12; 10:9-10; & 11:25.
What does Jesus tell people to do in regards to the light he provides in this world?
2. In addition to preaching, what signs has Jesus performed during his life that validate his message and point to the reality that he is the Son of God?
There are seven miracles recorded in John. Can you name them? John 2:1-11; 4:50; 5:8; 6:9-14; 6:19; 9:6-7; 11:41-44.
What should people understand about Jesus as a result of seeing him perform these miracles?
What does John tell us about how some people responded to the miracles of Jesus? Read John 12:37.
3. Read verses 37-40. John quotes two passages from Isaiah about people’s unbelief, 53:1 & 6:10. briefly describe the context of these two chapters and how it relates to what Jesus is saying in John 12. What do these passages they say about/portray Jesus Christ?
Is the unbelief of the people concerning Jesus a confirmation that Jesus is the Messiah?
The text says that it is God who hardens the hearts of unbelievers. It is tempting to cry out the this is unfair. However, Don Carson reminds us that God’s hardening the hearts of unbelievers: “is not the capricious manipulation of an arbitrary Sovereign toward morally neutral or good people but rather His holy condemnation of guilty people who are condemned to the judgment that they themselves have chosen.” Why is important to make our focus God when dealing with difficult truths in Scripture?
Read John 12:37-40. What does this passage say to those who choose unbelief?
4. John mentions that many of the authorities believed in Jesus. Who do you suppose some of these authorities were?
What fear prevented the authorities from confessing their belief in Jesus? Do similar fears prevent people today from confessing their belief in Jesus? How have you overcome this fear in your life?
What does John say these authorities loved more than God? Read John 12:42-43. Do people today struggle with this same problem? How have you dealt with the challenge to seek man’s glory instead of God’s glory?
5. In response to the rejection of men, what does Jesus do? Read John 12:44-46. What does this tell you about the love of Jesus for all people? Read John 3:16-18.
What is Jesus’ role in coming into the world? Read John 12:32; 12:47; and Luke 19:10.
What does Jesus’ persistence in offering salvation, even after being rejected, tell you about the love of God? Read 2 Peter 3:9.
6. How many times did you hear the message of Jesus before you believed and responded? Aren’t you glad that Jesus continues to offer his grace and mercy time and time again?
Application (10min)Take a minute and think about one person who needs to hear the message of Jesus one more time. Begin to pray specifically for that person and make a plan to share the love and message of Christ with them again.
Closing (Optional)Listen to Joy to the World Ketih & Kristyn Getty: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgLLF9Zq_NQ
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By United Community ChurchShaun Rossi // The Gospel of John
No matter how bright Jesus Christ the true Christmas light burns, there will be hearts that reject Him and remain in eternal darkness.
“35 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, 38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.” 41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him.42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. 44 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”
— John 12:35-50
Sermon OutlineI. People Will Reject the Christmas Light Because Their Sinful Hearts vv 36-37
“19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.”
— John 3:19-20
“18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
— Romans 1:18-21
II. People Will Reject the Christmas Light Because of Their Hardened Hearts vv 38-40
“They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.”
— Ephesians 4:18
“2 And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them: “You have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, 3 the great trials that your eyes saw, the signs, and those great wonders. 4 But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear.”
— Deuteronomy 29:2-4
“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”
— Isaiah 53:2-3
III. People Will Reject the Christmas Light Because of Their Hearts Do Not See the Glory of God vv 41-43
“1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”
— Isaiah 6:1-3
“4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.””
6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.””
— II Corinthians 4:4;6
““Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
— Luke 2:34-35
IV. Christmas Light vv 44-50
“Burning with ardent desire to promote your salvation, I do indeed abstain from exercising my right to condemn you, and am entirely employed in saving what is lost; but do not think that you have escaped out of the hands of God; for though I should altogether hold my peace, the word alone, which you have despised, is sufficient to judge you.”
— John Calvin (paraphrase of v 48)
Christmas Carol History: Joy to the World
“Joy to the World, the Lord has come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,”
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,”
— Joy to the World (v 1), Isaac Watts,
In today’s text we are reminded that at the coming of the Christ child into the world, not every heart will prepare Him room and receive Him as King. We are also reminded that many hearts will prepare Him room and receive Him as king –“far as the curse is found.” So we should rightly sing ‘Joy to the World’ this Christmas! Here is a bit of history behind the beloved Christmas carol:
In the 1700’s, most songs sung in European churches were singing the Old Testament Psalms in their services (this is what John Calvin encouraged), and the young Isaac Watts’ church was no different. Though Watts loved the singing the Psalms he felt that these songs felt “unnatural” to sing in their modern-day English translations.
“They ought to be translated in such a manner as we have reason to believe David would have composed them if he had lived in our day,”
— Isaac Watts
After one Sunday service, 15-year-old Isaac complained about “the atrocious worship.” One of the deacons challenged him with, “Give us something better, young man.” He went home and penned his first hymn, and the love of hymn-writing stuck with him the rest of his life.
In 1719, his book “Psalms of David Imitated” was published, not as a new paraphrase of David, but as an imitation of him in New Testament language. Watts’ perspective was the Psalms bursting forth in their complete fulfillment. Joy to the World is the “imitation” of the last half of Psalm 98.
Watts transformed the old Jewish psalm of praise for historic deliverance into a song of rejoicing for the salvation of God that began when the Jesus came “to make his blessing flow far as the curse is found.”
Later George Frederick Handel composed music for the song and some scholars say it resembles his greatest work, Messiah.
SMALL GROUP STUDYIntroduction (5 min)Start by reading the “Christmas Carol History” post above and then listen to Listen to “Joy to the World” as performed by Ketih & Kristyn Getty: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgLLF9Zq_NQ
Understand the Text (20 min)1. As Jesus preaches his final public sermon before he is crucified, what does he offer to those who will believe in him?
How many times has Jesus made the offer to believe in him during his ministry? Read John 3:3; 4:13-14; 6:35; 7:37-38; 8:12; 10:9-10; & 11:25.
What does Jesus tell people to do in regards to the light he provides in this world?
2. In addition to preaching, what signs has Jesus performed during his life that validate his message and point to the reality that he is the Son of God?
There are seven miracles recorded in John. Can you name them? John 2:1-11; 4:50; 5:8; 6:9-14; 6:19; 9:6-7; 11:41-44.
What should people understand about Jesus as a result of seeing him perform these miracles?
What does John tell us about how some people responded to the miracles of Jesus? Read John 12:37.
3. Read verses 37-40. John quotes two passages from Isaiah about people’s unbelief, 53:1 & 6:10. briefly describe the context of these two chapters and how it relates to what Jesus is saying in John 12. What do these passages they say about/portray Jesus Christ?
Is the unbelief of the people concerning Jesus a confirmation that Jesus is the Messiah?
The text says that it is God who hardens the hearts of unbelievers. It is tempting to cry out the this is unfair. However, Don Carson reminds us that God’s hardening the hearts of unbelievers: “is not the capricious manipulation of an arbitrary Sovereign toward morally neutral or good people but rather His holy condemnation of guilty people who are condemned to the judgment that they themselves have chosen.” Why is important to make our focus God when dealing with difficult truths in Scripture?
Read John 12:37-40. What does this passage say to those who choose unbelief?
4. John mentions that many of the authorities believed in Jesus. Who do you suppose some of these authorities were?
What fear prevented the authorities from confessing their belief in Jesus? Do similar fears prevent people today from confessing their belief in Jesus? How have you overcome this fear in your life?
What does John say these authorities loved more than God? Read John 12:42-43. Do people today struggle with this same problem? How have you dealt with the challenge to seek man’s glory instead of God’s glory?
5. In response to the rejection of men, what does Jesus do? Read John 12:44-46. What does this tell you about the love of Jesus for all people? Read John 3:16-18.
What is Jesus’ role in coming into the world? Read John 12:32; 12:47; and Luke 19:10.
What does Jesus’ persistence in offering salvation, even after being rejected, tell you about the love of God? Read 2 Peter 3:9.
6. How many times did you hear the message of Jesus before you believed and responded? Aren’t you glad that Jesus continues to offer his grace and mercy time and time again?
Application (10min)Take a minute and think about one person who needs to hear the message of Jesus one more time. Begin to pray specifically for that person and make a plan to share the love and message of Christ with them again.
Closing (Optional)Listen to Joy to the World Ketih & Kristyn Getty: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgLLF9Zq_NQ
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