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John 1 introduces several themes that are expanded upon throughout the rest of John’s Gospel.
Things like… Jesus (the Light) came into a world enveloped in darkness. He brought “life” into that world and the “life” was the “light” of all men. To those who accepted it and believed they acquired the right to become sons of God. To those who rejected that light (including Jesus’ own people… the Jews) they lost that right. Keep in mind those in darkness included followers of the Law of Moses.
John 1 is personified in John 9.
Consider the man born blind. He was literally in darkness because he was blind. Jesus gave him vision and for the first time he saw light and believed in Jesus the light and the giver of light. According to John 1 he became a son of God.
But there is another character (or characters) in John 9… the Pharisees because they too were exposed to the “Light”. But the Pharisees were different than the blind man. They couldn’t swallow that miracle. They chewed and chewed on the idea that Jesus actually performed a “sign” and ended up rejecting Jesus the Light because it didn’t square with their view of the Law of Moses. You see… Jesus worked that “sign” on a Sabbath Day.
So they rejected the Light and instead of becoming Sons of God became Sons of Hell.
The Gospels are full of the Light of Jesus Christ… read them, study them and accept the Light so you too may be Sons (and daughters) of God.
When considering the death of early disciples who were murdered viciously we think about people like John the baptist (Imprisoned and beheaded), Stephen (stoned to death) James the Apostle (beheaded), etc.
Here’s the thing… everyone is going to die… everyone. But very few of us get to choose how we die… it’s always some level of surprise.
Jesus’ disciples knew they that they would all die violent deaths (because of their faith in Jesus Christ). They chose to die that way.
They weren’t going to die in bed of organ failure or some infectious disease. They wouldn’t die accidentally in a chariot crash. They wouldn’t die of cancer or of Alzheimer’s disease…. they would die through the hands of violent men.
What honor is there in dying due to natural causes after all? Almost none. But living a life for Jesus Christ and giving up that life in a way that mimics Jesus’ death would be a very honorable death.
If you ask most people how they would like to die many would say they would like to live to a ripe old age and die in their sleep with no pain.
I would like to live to a ripe old age as well but if I could choose how I would die I wish I could go back in a time machine and be nailed to a cross right next to Jesus and at his death and mine enter into Paradise with my Lord and Savior holding my hand.
Dying with Jesus would be a death of the highest honor. There is none higher.
The disciples manner of death was chosen for them and they accepted it with gladness. We can’t choose how we will die but we can choose how we will live and how we choose to live also brings great honor no matter how we die.
Choose honor.
In John 3 we read of a Pharisee named Nicodemus coming to Jesus and making the statement… “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God because no one can do the signs that you do”
Before we go any further with this lets go back and see what Nicodemus knew that might have prompted this visit and statement. Undoubtedly Nicodemus knew of the teachings of John the Baptist who was preparing the way for the coming of the Messiah and the establishment of the Kingdom.
In addition, in the preceding verses we have record of Jesus being in Jerusalem at the Passover. Nicodemus may have himself witnessed Jesus “cleansing” the Temple. Nicodemus must have heard of Jesus prophesying the destruction of the Temple and Nicodemus knew of the “signs” or miracles that Jesus performed at the Passover.
So when Nicodemus states to Jesus…
“Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God because no one can do the signs that you do”
He is really asking… Jesus are you the Messiah and are you about to establish your Kingdom?
(Keep in mind Nicodemus has a faulty premise of what the Kingdom would look like)
Nicodemus’ inferred question dovetails exactly with Jesus’ answer. Because in Jesus’ answer he gives details about the coming of the Kingdom and it’s nature and Jesus’ Messiah-ship.
Namely…
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son (Jesus the Messiah) that whosoever believeth on him (condition of entry) should not perish but have eternal life (nature of Kingdom). John 3:16
Sometimes like Nicodemus we may not be smart enough to ask exactly the right question (and Jesus understands that) but Jesus is patient and his answers are always simple and understandable.
Pray for understanding and let not your hearts be troubled.
