The Light of the world, John 1: 5-13

As we are still in the prologue of the book of John, I think it would help us to realize that John is not interested in merely presenting a biography of Jesus.  We are all, I’m sure, more or less familiar with the history of Jesus Christ.  So to simply retell the story of Christ’s life on earth would have limited benefit, especially in light of the fact that the synoptic gospels had already been written quite some time before.  But what John is presenting in his gospel is doctrine:  the facts about Jesus which according to John’s stated purpose in chapter 20:31, “these things have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” 

So as we pointed out last time, John doesn’t start his gospel as a biography might begin - with the birth of Jesus - but he starts with the theology of Jesus; that He was in the beginning with God, and He was God.  So in the first five verses, John establishes that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, and in Him was life and the life  was the Light of men.

Now last time we spent a lot of time talking about the significance of Jesus being called the Word.  Today I would like to focus on the statement that Jesus, or the Word, was Light.  I believe John as well as many other Bible writers give great emphasis to the fact that Christ is the personification of Light.  In fact, Jesus Himself frequently applied that designation to Himself.  For instance, in John 8:12, “Jesus again spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.’” 

Interestingly, Jesus there presents the Light as being integral to life, which is exactly how John presents it in vs4: “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.”  Now in order to understand the connection between life and light which both Jesus and John were speaking of, it’s necessary to once again go back to Genesis chapter one.  In the creation account, we have not only the historical, factual record of the beginning of creation, but I believe there is incorporated in the story of creation an allegory which illustrates certain themes of salvation.  

So look at Genesis 1:1. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.”  So God was in the beginning, before time, existing in three persons who were one God.  And we see all three in this passage; God the Father, the Spirit of God and the Word of God. 

God created the heavens and the earth, and they were formless and void, and the Spirit of God moved over them, and God said, or we could say the Word said, “let there be light.”  And there was light in the darkness, and the light was good.  God doesn’t say the darkness was good, but that the light was good. 

But if you look down at day four, in vs.14, you notice that God made the sun and the moon and the stars.  So the light that God made in the first day was not light which came from the sun, moon or stars, but light that emanated from somewhere else.    And to add even more mystery,  in day three, God made plants and seeds and trees, which sprouted even though there was no sun created at that time. 

So what we can discern from this passage is that God existed in three persons, and the Word was life, creating the heavens and the earth, and the Word became Light, which was the light of the world, and it was a real light emanating from life which caused plants to sprout and life to exist.  Science tells us that light is simply a visible form of energy. So you cannot have light without a source of energy, and what the Bible is teaching is that the energy of all life and producing light is none other than the Word of God who was with God and who was God.

So now we can better understand the relationship of life and light as John said in vs. 4, “in Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.”  Because He was the life, nothing came into being without Him, nothing had life without Him.  He is the source of life as Paul said in Acts 17:28, “for in Him we live and move and exist.” 

John then is saying that the Word was life, He was the source of all life, He is spiritual life and physical life and God manifested that life as Light.  First in creation, and secondly in the Word, and thirdly in salvation. 

You don’t need to turn to it, as I’m sure you are all familiar with it, but in the third chapter of Genesis there is recorded the fall of man.  God said if you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you will surely die.  But we don’t see Adam and Eve fall down dead after biting into the fruit.  But what we do see is God removing them from the Garden of Eden.  He removed them from His presence and when man was removed from the source of life, the light went out and man died spiritually.  That divine spark that man was made with - made in the image and likeness of God - was extinguished.  And man surely died.  I liken it to a potted plant that sits on your porch which flourishes when it is in the sun, but if you were to put it in your closet it would surely die.  It may still look somewhat alive a few days later perhaps, but eventually it would shrivel up and die.  And so with man, when he was cut off from the Light of life, his spirit died. 

That is why God describes the world without Christ as darkness.  The scriptures use that description over and over again in both the Old and New Testaments to describe the world that we live in. For example, in the book of Job the world is pictured repeatedly as being in darkness, without understanding, without hope.  And that lack of divine understanding is what darkness illustrates. We live in darkness, separated from God and from the life of God.  We are lifeless, formless and void, without the light of God.  But then God spoke, and said “let there be light, and the light shone in the darkness and separated the darkness, and it was good.” 

Now last week we said about vs. 5 that some manuscripts translate the phrase as the darkness could not overpower it, rather than the KJV translation which says the darkness could not comprehend it.  And there are merits to the first translation, as I pointed out last week.  Light triumphs over darkness.  Christ triumphs over darkness, ie, sin, the world, death and Satan.  But there is also merit in translating it as comprehend.  The darkness does not comprehend it, or apprehend it.  And today we want to lean more in that direction because that is the idea presented it the following verses.  The Light appears, shines in the darkness, but the world in darkness does not receive the Light, does not understand the Light, and ultimately rejects the Light.

This idea of comprehending the Light is evidenced further by John in vs. 10 and 11; “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.”  See, that is saying that the world did not comprehend Him.  They saw the Creator of the universe, the source of all life in human form, and did not understand Him, and ultimately rejected Him.  Man was in darkness, and though the Light appeared, he did not accept it, did not understand it, and so rejected the light and returned to the darkness.

Now man’s lack of comprehension results in God’s compassionate desire to help men to believe in the Light.  And to do that He raises up men to testify of the Light.  Vs. 6. “There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.”  Were it not for the fact that the apostle John had just said the world did not comprehend the Light, we might wonder at the abruptness of the introduction of John the Baptist.  But now we can understand that God sent John in order to bear witness of the Light.  To explain the Light. 

I think it was Matthew Henry who said, “That is indicative of the severity of the darkness and blindness of men that they needed a witness to the light.”  And I agree that man’s depravity has blinded him to be able to see the Light.  But I also think his depravity is so great that he rejects the Light because He doesn’t want to be ruled by the light.  Back in Genesis 1 God said about the lights of heaven that they were to govern the day and govern the night.  And I believe that indicates the contrary nature of man’s fall and of his rebellion.  He wants to govern himself.  He wants to decide what is right and what is wrong.  God said the light is good.  Man says I will decide what is good. 

In John 3:19-20 Jesus said, "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.”  See, man loves evil, so he loves the darkness.  He doesn’t want anyone to be a ruler over him.

That love of darkness reminds me of an old song by Simon and Garfunkel, “The Sound of Silence.” The apostle Paul quoted Greek poets so I guess it’s ok if I quote modern poets. Now  I doubt that Simon and Garfunkel intended their song to be meant in the way I understand it, but it’s interesting that the songwriter says, “Hello darkness my old friend…” Man loves darkness. He prefers it, welcomes it.  And it’s even more interesting that Paul Simon correlates the sound of silence, the lack of speech as resulting in a darkness of life in which people lived without life, without words.  It’s ironic that the great theologian John Calvin translated the Word in John 1 as Speech.  Paul Simon describes this darkness as silence where words do not penetrate, though prophets warn of the peril of rejecting it.  But the people bowed and prayed to the neon god they made.  His last two stanzas say; "Fools," said I, "You do not know. Silence like a cancer grows. Hear my words that I might teach you. Take my arms that I might reach you." But my words like silent raindrops fell And echoed in the wells of silence.  And the people bowed and prayed To the neon god they made. And the sign flashed out its warning In the words that it was forming. And the sign said, "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls And tenement halls And whispered in the sounds of silence."

Man rejects the light because he loves the deeds of darkness. I was talking with someone the other day about society and how the rejection of God’s law produces anarchy. The depravity of man is fully revealed when there is no fear of detection or punishment.  That’s why when law and order breaks down there is chaos and rioting and looting.  When people can act out their basest desires without fear of retribution society can quickly become a terrifying thing.  And that is why the scriptures refer to us Christians as being salt and light in the world.  The law of God stifles corruption, it acts as guard against anarchy.  The light of God’s word drives back the darkness and keeps it from overpowering the creation. 

So John was to be a witness of the Light; to testify of the Light.  He was the first prophet to appear on the scene in 400 years.  He was to prepare the people’s heart to receive the Light.  And how did John do that? By preaching, “repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.”   Man needed to repent of his evil deeds, his rebellion, his sin in order to receive the Light which leads to life.

Notice though the apostle John makes a point of saying John the Baptist was not the Light, but he was sent to bear witness of the Light.  In other words, John the Baptist was one of the lights of heaven, bearing witness of the Light of God, reflecting the Light of God to the world by word and deed.  John was like the light of the moon in relation to the sun.  He reflected the Light.  He was not the source of light, but he reflected the Light of Christ to the world.

And I want to point out another word in vs.6 that bears mentioning.  And that is the word sent.  John the Baptist was sent by God to bear witness.  John is a model preacher.  He was by all accounts a prophet of God.  He did not tailor his message to the world’s agenda. He did not survey the interests of society and then tailor his message to their perceived desires. He wasn’t seeker friendly.  But he preached the message from God to the world.  He did not try to be popular.  He did not rise to great prominence in order to build a huge church and exalt himself.  But he said about Jesus; “He must increase, but I must decrease.”  He simply preached the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I was talking with someone the other day about pastoring.  And the conversation eventually ran the gamut from sizes of churches, to denominations, to what seminary someone had graduated from, and I said as far as I’m concerned, and I think I can safely say that as far as God is concerned, there are only two characteristics that are important when it comes to pastors. One you have to be born again.  I think that eliminates about half of the pastors in churches across America right there.  And at least half of the other half would be eliminated by the second requirement, which is that you have to be called by God.  Or to use the apostle John’s words, you must be “sent by God.” 

 I’m afraid there are a lot of people in pulpits today that are not sent by God. And it’s apparent because they don’t preach the gospel. If God calls you, then He will equip you.  He is the one that gives us the Spirit to empower the message, He is the source of  wisdom and discernment.  You can have all the charisma and all the charm and all the degrees and a huge building and the acclaim of men but if you have not been called by God to preach the gospel then all those things are not going to be of any benefit to fulfilling the purpose of God.  And furthermore, I cannot understand why Christians would want to sit under those pastors, but I guess it goes back to the principle that we love darkness rather than light, because the light exposes our evil deeds.

But whether or not you are called to be a pastor, all Christians are sent to be witnesses of the gospel. Jesus said in Matt. 5:14-16, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

All of us are to bear witness and testify to the Light of the gospel.  Just before Jesus ascended into heaven, he commissioned his followers in Acts 1:8 saying, “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

Now though John introduces John the Baptist here, the emphasis is not really on him but on the Light.  And so he goes on to say about the Light in vs. 9, “There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.”  Now just as John the Baptist was a minor light, a reflection of Christ, so all the prophets of old were reflections of the light of heaven.  And I believe that there was light that came through the word given through the prophets, which became the Old Testament scriptures.  I also believe that even as Genesis 1 illustrated, there was the light of creation which Paul said in Romans 1 was enough to teach man that there was an eternal God. Paul said in Rom. 1:20, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” That was the Light of the world seen through creation that enlightens every man.

But in the next verse Paul says that though they recognized that it was divine light, they rejected it and were plunged into even greater darkness. Rom. 1:21 “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

In Matthew’s gospel he quotes from the prophet Isaiah referencing the advent of Christ as being like a great light coming to a people living in darkness.  Matt. 4:15-16  "THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI,BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES-- "THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT,AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH,UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED."  This great light spoken of by the prophet Isaiah was none other than the Light of the world.  The Light of Life.  Jesus Christ.

But as vs.10 and 11 tell us, the Light came into the world that existed through Him, and yet it did not receive Him. “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.”  Paul said virtually the same thing in 1Cor. 2:14, “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.”

Actually, that’s what I think Genesis 1 is indicating when it says after the heavens and the earth were created and still  in darkness, that the Spirit of God moved upon the waters and then the Light appeared.  Though the Light has come into the world, it is necessary for the Spirit of God to move on the hearts of men if they are going to receive Christ.  Jesus said in John 6:44, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.”  Now God draws people in many ways, but one way is through the witness and testimony of His people, particularly His preachers.  God has ordained that by the foolishness of preaching men would be saved. 1Cor. 1:21 “For since in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”

And that leads us to the conclusion of this paragraph concerning the Light of the world, in vs.12-13. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”  Man is rebellious and depraved, rejecting the rule of his Lord, rejecting the Light of the truth for the sake of loving his own sin and wickedness.  But the Light of God persists, piercing the darkness, the Spirit of God moves upon his heart in conjunction with the preaching of the gospel by the witnesses of the Light, and some believe and receive Him and are saved.

There is on the one hand the responsibility of man to respond and receive the Light, and on the other hand the necessity for God to extend unto man the grace to believe the gospel.  And the outcome is that when man believes and receives Christ he is born again, moved from darkness into light, from death to life, reborn spiritually whereas he was previously dead in his trespasses and sins.  When we receive the Light, the Light produces life, spiritual life, eternal life.  We are made alive with Christ.  We are made a new creation.  We walk no more in darkness but in life. Eph. 5:8 “for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light.”  And Col. 1:13 says, “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.”

To those who receive the Light, we are now made children of Light, even children of God.  Not by blood, that is we are not saved on the basis of human lineage.  Not by heredity.  Not by the will of the flesh.  We are not saved by self effort, or works, in order to become righteous.  Nor by the will of man, not by the decree of man, not by the decree of a priest or church or institution.  But by the will of God. 

God is the giver of life, and He gives it to whoever believes in the Son of God, whoever receives Him.  To receive Christ as our  Savior and our Lord, and as our God.  That’s what it means to receive Christ.  To know Him, to accept Him and trust Him and to bow to His rule over our life.  To know all that He is, and all that He is to be, to believe it, and then to trust Him.  To trust in His atonement for our sin. To trust Him to raise us from the dead. To know that Christ is good, even as God said the light was good. And we must submit our lives completely  to the very source of life and then walk in the Light, even as He is in the Light.  1John 1:7, “if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

I will just close by asking one question;  have you received the Light of the world? Have you been born again to spiritual life as a child of God?  As many as receive Christ, to them God gives the right to be the children of God.  That is a promise of life that lies waiting for you to receive, if you will just believe who He is and trust Him with your life.  Don’t reject him and stay in the darkness.  Come to the Light, and receive life.

In the beginning was the Word, John 1:1-5

There is no doubt that John is the author of the Gospel of John. John was younger than his brother James, who were both known as the Sons of Thunder. And of the 12 disciples, John was the youngest as well. His mother was Salome, who during Christ’s ministry enquired of the Lord if her sons could sit on either side of His throne when He came into His kingdom. His father was Zebedee, who was a fisherman, and who had passed on his trade to his sons. John would seem to have been a disciple first of all of John the Baptist, but left him and followed Jesus after Christ’s baptism.

Perhaps it was the fact that John was the youngest, or perhaps that he was a relative of the family of Jesus, but whatever the reason, John seemed to have a special relationship with Jesus. He described himself as the “disciple whom Jesus loved.” He seemed to share a special closeness with Christ, being described as leaning his head upon His shoulder at the Last Supper. That closeness was born out by Christ at his crucifixion, when Jesus committed to him the care of His mother Mary. Another indication was the fact that when Jesus separated certain disciples from the rest, He always included John with Peter and James. They constituted Christ’s inner circle, his closest companions.

So without a doubt John was very close to Jesus. He very likely knew Jesus while growing up. But certainly for three years he was with Christ 24/7, eating, sleeping and traveling with Him everywhere He went.

Now as you know there are four gospels in the New Testament. Matthew, Mark and Luke are called the synoptic gospels. That means that they shared common themes or incidents in their accounts. But John’s gospel, being written many years later when John was an old man, does not follow their pattern. John writes from a completely different perspective and focuses on many things that are not found in the other gospels. For instance, John doesn’t detail the birth of Christ. And ironically there is no mention of parables in John’s gospel, which account for much of the teaching of Christ in the synoptic gospels.

But the best statement of the purpose of John’s gospel is found in his own words, in John 20:30-31, “Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” Note that John says the reason for his writing was to show that Jesus was the Messiah, (that is what the word Christ means) and that Jesus was the Son of God, so that you might believe He is the Messiah and the Son of God, and be saved unto eternal life.

Now that purpose that Jesus is the Son of God is clearly substantiated starting with the first verse of his gospel. And I don’t wish to rush over this point too quickly. Because it would stand to reason that if someone were a close, intimate friend of the One he was writing about, had spent 3 years living with Him on a day to day basis, it would not be likely that this would be the way in which you would begin His biography - by ascribing to Him deity. But in spite of that closeness, even because of that closeness, John begins by declaring the deity of Jesus Christ in a bold declarative statement. John leaves out the familiar details of Jesus life which reveal His humanity, such as His birth, but focuses on His divinity, His attributes of being God.

So as John begins his prologue, he begins not with the birth of Jesus as would be expected in a biography, but he begins in the beginning - in the beginning of Genesis 1:1 - and he declares that Jesus existed before creation. And that is a tremendous thing in light of the fact of his intimate knowledge of the human nature of Christ. Living 24/7 with Christ did not diminish his view of Jesus as God, but it only served to prove it to him, and so his purpose is to establish that for us at the outset, and it will continue to be the theme of all the book.

The fact that John alludes to Genesis 1:1 in his opening statement is fundamental to the doctrine of the deity of Jesus Christ. We know that the NT is the best commentary on the OT. Consider then Genesis 1:1, “in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” and compare that to John 1:1, “in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”   And what we find is that Genesis 1 is explained by John 1; the eternal existence of God, who God is, what He is like and what was His purpose. In Genesis 1 we see the origin of creation, and all creatures. In John 1 we see the originator of all life and the origin of light. John makes it clear that from the beginning, from the beginning of eternity, the Word existed. Before time, before creation, the Word was. He was not created, but He existed before creation.

So after establishing His eternal nature, John establishes His identity. Not His name but His identity; which is the Word. You might think that the Word is an ambiguous title, hardly a name for God. In the original Greek the word is logos; which means word. That may sound like a strange title to us for God. But the fact is that at the time of his writing, it was a familiar way of referring to God by both the Jews and the Greeks. 

In the Old Testament, we often see a reference to the word of the Lord, or that the word of God came to a certain prophet. In the mind of the ancient Jews, the phrase “the word of God” could be used to refer to God Himself. The word of the Lord was synonymous with the will of God, the law of God and the mind of God. And even in the Genesis account of creation, we see the Word of God active in creation, with the phrase, “and God said…” over and over again being the operative agent in creation.  God is Spirit, invisible, but the expression of God is the Word.

Then among the Greek philosophers, the word logos was the way they described the reason, the thought behind the cosmic power of the universe. They saw the logos as the “Ultimate Reason” that controlled all things, that kept order in the world. Though the translation of the term logos is simply “word,” in the ancient Greek world it meant a lot more than that. Ancient Greek philosophers were concerned with answering the ultimate questions of the universe. They were seeking to find ultimate truth. They debated and argued and reasoned among themselves in order to try to discover the ultimate reality that lies behind the universe.

Over time, as philosophers such as Plato pondered these questions, they came up with a term to describe this ultimate reality, and the term they came up with was logos. The logos came to be understood as the thought and reason which gave life and meaning to the universe. Within the realm of Greek philosophy, however, this logos was largely understood to be an impersonal force, not a personal being.

But John taps into their understanding of God by saying Jesus is the logos, the eternal God of creation, the God of truth and reason. Rather than an impersonal force, the logos revealed in John’s gospel is a personal being who can be received or rejected by other people as we will see when we come to vs. 11–12. This logos became flesh as a human being and manifested the glory of God to man in v. 14. John explains that Jesus is the personification of the Word. God was manifested as a person, not an it, not an impersonal force.

Not only does the logos refer to the identity of God, but obviously it refers to the very words of God. Jesus said in John 6:63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.” The word of God has been written down for us in the Bible, and it is holy and eternal. As Peter said in 1 Peter 1:25, “The word of the Lord endures forever.” The word of God cannot be separated from the essence of God. That is why Jesus would say, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” God has not only manifested Himself in Jesus, but He has revealed Himself through His word.   He is inseparable from His word, and that is why we can trust His word. His word cannot be broken. His word according to Psalms 12:6, has been refined as silver 7 times. It is pure, it is truth, it is life.

So John alludes to all of the attributes of God in this title, but brings them to life in the person of Christ. So in the beginning was the Word. Then John tells us who exactly the Word is. He says “and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” Now that is so important because it lays the groundwork for the doctrine of the trinity. It tells us is that not only is the Logos the eternal God, but He is distinct from the eternal God. And this is where we come to understand that there is one God and yet there are three persons.

Now I cannot explain how that is possible. But the scriptures make it clear that it is so. It is the triune nature of God to exist in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We see that expressed again in Genesis 1:26, when God said, “let Us make man in Our image.” Plural. In the beginning God created, then the Spirit of God moved across the face of the waters, and then God said. God, Spirit and Logos. Three in One. Jesus is God in the flesh, the Holy Spirit is Jesus in the Spirit. God made visible in the Logos, Jesus made invisible in the Spirit. So then the Word became flesh in Jesus. Both Peter and Paul refer to the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9 and 1 Peter 1:11). Jesus said in John 16:13-14 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.” And then even we become sons of God by the Spirit of Christ indwelling in the flesh of men who have received the righteousness of Christ.

So clearly presented in this verse is the doctrine that the Word existed with God from the beginning, but also that the Word was God. Many false doctrines such as the Mormons or the Jehovah Witnesses reveal their apostasy on this doctrine. They insert the article “a” before God so that Jesus is presented as a god. But according to practically all Greek scholars, that is not a proper rendering of the translation. And even if they were to make that claim, then what do you do with Hebrews 1:1-3 “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

Or how about Col. 2:9 “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.” Or how about the Old Testament, in Isaiah 9:6 “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” Or how about Jesus’ own declaration to Philip, when He said, “if you have seen Me you have seen the Father.” Or “I and the Father are One.”

The whole basis of our salvation depends upon God Himself becoming flesh in the person of Christ to become our substitute by dying on the cross and paying the penalty for sin. Only the innocent could exchange His life for the guilty. And only the Holy God could atone for the sins of all the sins of the world. No good man could even atone for one person’s sins other than His own, much less the sins of the world. Christ had to be God in the flesh to purchase our redemption. Either Jesus was God or He was an imposter, and worse, a blasphemer and deserved to be crucified. But we believe the word of God, that Jesus was the exact representation of God, pre existent with God, who was God and yet distinct from God, identified as the Word of God.

Vs.2, “He was in the beginning with God.” Or as the KJV says perhaps more literally, “the same was in the beginning with God.” In the beginning has no beginning. The Word not only was coeternal with God and coexistent with God from the beginning, but was eternally in active communion with Him. One commentator said it this way, “Not simply the Word with God, but God with God.” John not only reiterates the fundamental truth for emphasis, but to add emphasis to the fact of their unity. The Word was One with God in the beginning.

And then in vs. 3, as we have already noted in Genesis 1, all things God created came into being through Him. “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” God spoke through His Word, and all things that were created came through the Logos. That’s what the author of Hebrews said as well as we just read while ago: “in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.” And consider what Paul said in Col. 1:16 “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created through Him and for Him.”

Here is the proof of His eternal nature. Everything that exists came into being through Him. That’s a positive declaration, simple, clear evidence, that the Lord Jesus Christ is eternal deity. Everything that exists, He made. It all came from Him. He didn’t come from anyone, or anything. Everything came from Him. 1 Corinthians 8:6 “yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.”

Notice that “all things” – that includes us - were made for Him, we exist for Him. We were made to share His glory, to have intimacy with Him, to walk with Him, to talk with Him, to be the bride of Christ. That is the purpose of creation. Creation was made for man, and man was made for God. That was the declaration of one of the church’s earliest theologians, Augustine, who said, “Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.” We were made with the spark of divinity, in the likeness of God, in the image of God. All things created were brought into being by simply the spoken word of God. But man was brought into being by the hands of God which formed us out of the clay, and given life by the very lips of God when He breathed into us His breath,  the breath of life. But unfortunately sin killed that divine spark, and it lay dormant until the Son of God our Creator breathes again into us the Spirit of Life.

And that principle of spiritual life is what John lays the foundation for in vs.4, “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.” That is such a profound statement. “In Him was life.” The word used is not bios, because He’s not just talking about biological life, which is the rudimentary form of life. But the word is zoe, which has to do with spiritual life, the vitality of life, the fullness of life. The Word is the source of life. We already quoted Jesus saying that in John 6:63, “the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.” And “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Jesus is the source, the originator of all life.

Paul said in Acts 17:28 “for in Him we live and move and exist.” Hebrews 1:3 says, He “upholds all things by the word of His power.” Jesus Himself said, “I have come that you might have life, and have it more abundantly.” He was talking about zoe, the real, spiritual life, even eternal life of which He is the source.

Near Geneva, Switzerland, buried under the ground in a 17 mile wide circular tunnel is what is called the Hadron Collider. And this scientific machine’s purpose is to break apart the smallest particles of subatomic matter, in order to find the origin of life. To get these protons to break apart they have to smash these particles together at the speed of light. They have been conducting these experiments for years, and the result is that they continue to discover even more subatomic particles and mysteries upon mysteries in their hope to reveal the source of life. But here in John 1 God declares the source of life, which is Jesus Christ, the Logos. He holds all things together by the word of His power.

This life is the light of men, speaking of spiritual light as well as natural light. It isn’t that the Word “contains” life and light; He is life and light. John is connecting life and light. The one who was the life of men became the light of men. The light to lead them out of darkness. In the beginning of creation God said, “Let there be light.” So in the new creation the pre existent source of life is the light that illuminates creation. That’s why He came into the world, to shine light into the darkness, to reveal God that we might see the truth of God. Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the Light of the world,” whoever “follows Me will not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Therefore, without Jesus, the world is dead and in darkness. When man became separated from God because of sin he became spiritually dead, he lost his spiritual life, so he became dead and in darkness. He became lost.

But thank God for the last phrase of vs.5, “ And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” The KJV says does not comprehend it. That is an unfortunate translation which is understood to mean that man could not understand the light. But what it should read is the darkness could not overcome it. The light prevailed over the darkness, not the other way around. The light can not lose against the darkness; the darkness will never overcome it.

The darkness refers to the realm of darkness, the realm of Satan, the powers of darkness. Jesus said in the hours before the cross that this hour belongs to the power of darkness. Eph. 6:12 says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” But the darkness cannot overpower the Light. The Light shines in the darkness. Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. Though all the forces of hell conspired together to keep man in darkness, the Light has come into the world so that man might be saved from death and darkness and dwell in the light for eternity.

John has made it abundantly clear concerning the doctrine of the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is eternal God, the Word of God made flesh, that we might know God, that we might know the truth and that the truth would be the light by which we come to have life in Him. I hope that you have received Him as your Lord and Savior and believed the truth of the gospel. That is why He came, to give light and life to a world lost in darkness. Today the light of God has shone upon you. Come to the Light and believe and you will have real life, and have it more abundantly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repentance, the path to Reconciliation, Genesis 43-45:15

We have been looking at the life of Joseph and his brothers in our study of Genesis.  And I would like to try to conclude this story in this message today.  But to do that I would have to cover so much scripture that it would not be possible to adequately deal with it all in one sitting.  So today we will look at the next two and a half chapters and see if we can’t come to a reasonable conclusion.  There will be some other details of the lives of Jacob and Joseph and the eleven brothers that we will not cover, but our intention in studying Genesis was not to do an in depth verse by verse study, but to cover the highlights in Genesis.

And so you will remember that the brothers have visted Egypt to buy grain during the famine, and they met Joseph, who hid his real identify from them, they were accused of being spies, their brother Simeon was kept in prison pending their return with Benjamin, and they went back to Canaan with food and provisions, and confronted their father with the verdict of Joseph that they must return with Benjamin to prove their innocence.  And you will remember that we said that Joseph did not do all of that in order to take revenge upon his brothers, but to bring them under conviction of their sin, to bring them to repentance, and ultimately to bring about reconciliation and deliverance.

Now in chapter 43, vs 1 we read, “Now the famine was severe in the land.  So it came about when they had finished eating the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, "Go back, buy us a little food."  Judah spoke to him, however, saying, "The man solemnly warned us, 'You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.'  "If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. But if you do not send [him,] we will not go down; for the man said to us, 'You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.'" Then Israel said, "Why did you treat me so badly by telling the man whether you still had [another] brother?"  But they said, "The man questioned particularly about us and our relatives, saying, 'Is your father still alive? Have you [another] brother?' So we answered his questions. Could we possibly know that he would say, 'Bring your brother down'?"  Judah said to his father Israel, "Send the lad with me and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, we as well as you and our little ones.  "I myself will be surety for him; you may hold me responsible for him. If I do not bring him [back] to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame before you forever. 1 "For if we had not delayed, surely by now we could have returned twice.”

It’s likely that the brothers went to Egypt for grain in the first year of the famine. Joseph knew it would last seven years, but his brothers did not. They probably thought it was one bad year, but the second year of famine came quickly.  Perhaps Jacob originally thought they had enough to survive the famine and they would never need to go back with Benjamin, and never need to go back and get Simeon. But the famine wore on, and eventually they ran out of food.

So necessity drove Jacob to do something he would normally never do. We could  speculate that Jacob prayed earnestly for the famine to break, and asked God to send relief. We could speculate that Jacob might have became angry with God for not answering those prayers. But God had a plan which was so much better for Jacob than he could ever imagine.

Notice also that Judah shows signs of having a truly repentant heart. Judah was willing to put his own life on the line as a guarantee for Benjamin. Previously, Judah was the one who had proposed the sale of Joseph. But now he shows works in keeping with repentance.

Look at vs 11.  “Then their father Israel said to them, "If [it must be] so, then do this: take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and carry down to the man as a present, a little balm and a little honey, aromatic gum and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. Take double [the] money in your hand, and take back in your hand the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was a mistake. Take your brother also, and arise, return to the man;  and may God Almighty grant you compassion in the sight of the man, so that he will release to you your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved."  So the men took this present, and they took double [the] money in their hand, and Benjamin; then they arose and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.  When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to his house steward, "Bring the men into the house, and slay an animal and make ready; for the men are to dine with me at noon."  So the man did as Joseph said, and brought the men to Joseph's house.  Now the men were afraid, because they were brought to Joseph's house; and they said, "[It is] because of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time that we are being brought in, that he may seek occasion against us and fall upon us, and take us for slaves with our donkeys.”

It’s particularly poignant that Jacob, or Israel says, “may God Almighty grant you compassion in the sight of the man.”  Were it not for the mercy of God, then none of us would have a hope of salvation. Without divine mercy there can be no reconciliation.  Mercy is not getting what you deserve.  None of us deserve salvation. It is a gift of God. And these brothers deserved death for what they had done. At the very least, they deserved a life in prison. And yet though Joseph is working to bring them to repentance, already his mercy has spared their lives, and planned for their deliverance and reconciliation.

Then notice that when Joseph sees them, he wants to invite them to eat with him.  Eating a meal together is symbolic of fellowship, of communion. Joseph is presented here as a type of Jesus: He wants to dine with us, meaning that Jesus wants fellowship with us. In Revelation 3:20  Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”  And one of the first things we are told will happen after the second coming of Christ is that we will dine with Him at the marriage supper of the Lamb. 

Vs19 So they came near to Joseph's house steward, and spoke to him at the entrance of the house,  and said, "Oh, my lord, we indeed came down the first time to buy food,  and it came about when we came to the lodging place, that we opened our sacks, and behold, each man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full. So we have brought it back in our hand. We have also brought down other money in our hand to buy food; we do not know who put our money in our sacks."  He said, "Be at ease, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money." Then he brought Simeon out to them.  Then the man brought the men into Joseph's house and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys fodder.  So they prepared the present for Joseph's coming at noon; for they had heard that they were to eat a meal there.”

The brothers thought it was wise to explain all the things  that had happened last time to the steward of Joseph’s house before they had to explain it to Joseph himself.  The brothers expected to be seized as slaves and have everything taken from them. Yet Joseph treated them with kindness. This love and mercy from Joseph would win them over and bring them to full repentance. And in the same way, though our sins caused Jesus to be crucified, yet He does not seek revenge upon us, but in HIs mercy He forgives us, and desires us to be reconciled to Him.

Vs 26 When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present which was in their hand and bowed to the ground before him.  Then he asked them about their welfare, and said, "Is your old father well, of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?"  They said, "Your servant our father is well; he is still alive." They bowed down in homage.  As he lifted his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, he said, "Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me?" And he said, "May God be gracious to you, my son."  Joseph hurried [out] for he was deeply stirred over his brother, and he sought [a place] to weep; and he entered his chamber and wept there.  Then he washed his face and came out; and he controlled himself and said, "Serve the meal."  So they served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is loathsome to the Egyptians.  Now they were seated before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth, and the men looked at one another in astonishment.  He took portions to them from his own table, but Benjamin's portion was five times as much as any of theirs. So they feasted and drank freely with him.”

Joseph was visibly moved at seeing his only full brother, Benjamin, whom he last saw as only a small child. He was so overcome with emotion that he went into his chamber and wept. 

It’s also important to notice the segregation that is shown with his family.  As far as anyone could tell, Joseph was an Egyptian, and the Egyptians did not eat with other nationalities or really have any social intercourse with them.  And so here we see the wisdom of the plan of God. Through this event, God would bring the entire family of Israel into Egypt, where they were isolated from the surrounding people for some 400 years. In that time, they multiplied greatly, increasing to the millions. If God had allowed them to remain in Canaan, they would have probably assimilated into the idolatrous societies of Canaan. God not only had to take the family of Israel out of the corrupt environment of Canaan, but He had to put them among a racially separated people who would not often intermarry or mingle with them. And so to provide for the posterity of the nation of Israel, God had sent Joseph on ahead to prepare the way.

Notice that Benjamin’s serving was five times as much as any of theirs: This was another test, to see how they would react when the younger brother was favored, because they had resented it so much when Joseph was favored by his father.  Maybe Joseph wanted to see if there was a change in the heart of his brothers, or if they were the same men who threw him into a pit and were deaf to his cries for help. That’s what repentance is, a change of heart. And it would seem that his brothers did in fact exhibit a change of heart.

Chapter 44, vs 1Then Joseph commanded his house steward, saying, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack. Put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, and his money for the grain.” And he did as Joseph had told him. As soon as it was light, the men were sent away, they with their donkeys. They had just gone out of the city, and were not far off, when Joseph said to his house steward, “Up, follow the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good? Is not this the one from which my lord drinks and which he indeed uses for divination? You have done wrong in doing this.’ ”

So he overtook them and spoke these words to them. They said to him, “Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing. Behold, the money which we found in the mouth of our sacks we have brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves.” So he said, “Now let it also be according to your words; he with whom it is found shall be my slave, and the rest of you shall be innocent.” Then they hurried, each man lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack. He searched, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest, and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. Then they tore their clothes, and when each man loaded his donkey, they returned to the city.

This is probably the best test of whether or not the hearts of his brothers had changed or not. When they had sold Joseph into slavery, they had showed no regret upon seeing him taken into captivity and sold to a foreign country.  So it would seem that Joseph wanted to see how they would respond when Benjamin was to be taken captive.  Would they have the same regard for Benjamin as they had for Joseph?  But the fact that they tore their clothes, that they showed such grief, and returned to the city without considering the cost to themselves was a good indication that they had a true change of heart.

Vs14 When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there, and they fell to the ground before him. Joseph said to them, “What is this deed that you have done? Do you not know that such a man as I can indeed practice divination?” So Judah said, “What can we say to my lord? What can we speak? And how can we justify ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants; behold, we are my lord’s slaves, both we and the one in whose possession the cup has been found.” But he said, “Far be it from me to do this. The man in whose possession the cup has been found, he shall be my slave; but as for you, go up in peace to your father.”

Judah says to Joseph, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants.”  With these words, Judah revealed God’s work of repentance among the brothers. Even though they might have claimed innocence, or that the cup was planted in the bag, they have begun to recognize the hand of God in all of this. God is bringing back their sin to haunt them. They know that God has seen their iniquity, and their sin is the cause of all this trouble.  

Vs18 Then Judah approached him, and said, “Oh my lord, may your servant please speak a word in my lord’s ears, and do not be angry with your servant; for you are equal to Pharaoh. My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father or a brother?’ We said to my lord, ‘We have an old father and a little child of his old age. Now his brother is dead, so he alone is left of his mother, and his father loves him.’ Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me that I may set my eyes on him.’ But we said to my lord, ‘The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’ You said to your servants, however, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.’ Thus it came about when we went up to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. Our father said, ‘Go back, buy us a little food.’ But we said, ‘We cannot go down. If our youngest brother is with us, then we will go down; for we cannot see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’ Your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons; and the one went out from me, and I said, “Surely he is torn in pieces,” and I have not seen him since. If you take this one also from me, and harm befalls him, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.’ Now, therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the lad is not with us, since his life is bound up in the lad’s life, when he sees that the lad is not with us, he will die. Thus your servants will bring the gray hair of your servant our father down to Sheol in sorrow. For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then let me bear the blame before my father forever.’ Now, therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers. 34For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me—for fear that I see the evil that would overtake my father?”

Judah’s impassioned speech to Joseph is a model of a heartfelt, desperate appeal. Of Judah’s speech, F.B. Meyer wrote: “In all literature, there is nothing more pathetic than this appeal.” H.C. Leupold wrote, “This is one of the manliest, most straightforward speeches ever delivered by any man. For depth of feeling and sincerity of purpose it stands unexcelled.” Barnhouse called it “the most moving address in all the Word of God.” Perhaps we should see it as a great example of a humble, heartfelt prayer for mercy. 

Twenty years before, Joseph’s brothers didn’t care about their father when they reported Joseph’s supposed death. Judah’s appeal showed they were now greatly concerned for the feelings and welfare of their father. This was further evidence of a change of heart. Paul, in Acts 26:20 speaks of his preaching to the Jews and Gentiles, that they should repent, and do deeds appropriate to repentance.  Repentance then is more than just feeling sorry, but making restitution when possible, doing the opposite of the evil which you have done before. And we see this evidence of repentance in Judah’s speech.

Chapter 45, vs 1. Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried, "Have everyone go out from me." So there was no man with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. He wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard [it,] and the household of Pharaoh heard [of it.]  Then Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?" But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.

Joseph ordered all the Egyptians out of the room and then was alone with his brothers. His great emotion showed the depth of his love for his brothers and  that he did not cruelly manipulate them out of spite. He was directed by God to make these arrangements, and it hurt him to do it.  But 20 years of pent up hurt came bursting out of him in an outcry that reached the ears of Pharaoh, and shocked his unsuspecting brothers.  They were dumbfounded and unable to even speak at his revelation.

Vs4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come closer to me." And they came closer. And he said, "I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine [has been] in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.”

Joseph remembered their sin of many years before. Yet in mercy, Joseph did not want to punish them, nor for them to be grieved or angry with themselves. Yet he did not diminish what his brothers did. But he saw that God’s purpose in it all was greater than the evil of the brothers.

All Joseph’s sorrows were for a greater purpose. God used them to preserve his family and provide the conditions for it to become a nation. Joseph was a victim of men, but God turned it around for His glory. None of it was for a loss.  After his father Jacob died, Joseph assured his brothers that he would not cause them grief for their sin against him.  He would say on that occasion, in Genesis 50:20 "As for you, you meant evil against me, [but] God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” 

What is noticeably missing on the part of Joseph is a victim mentality.  I think the whole world is sick with victim mentality today.  Everyone is always focused on me, me, me, poor pitiful me. Everyone focuses on the wrong or the perceived wrong they are suffering under. But Joseph was willing to endure the sufferings that he went through for the sake of the benefit of others.  And that is the attitude that we should have as Christians.  

Heb 12:2-3 tells us that Jesus was willing to suffer for our sakes and that we should follow His example.  “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

So we see that God used man’s evil for HIs good purposes. Charles Spurgeon said, “How wonderfully those two things meet in practical harmony – the free will of man and the predestination of God! Man acts just as freely and just as guiltily as if there were no predestination whatever; and God ordains, arranges, supervises, and over-rules, just as accurately as if there were no free will in the universe.”

Joseph realized God ruled his life, not good men, not evil men, not circumstances, or fate. God was in control, and because God was in control, all things would work together for good.

Vs 9 "Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, 'Thus says your son Joseph, "God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. You shall live in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children's children and your flocks and your herds and all that you have. There I will also provide for you, for there are still five years of famine [to come,] and you and your household and all that you have would be impoverished."' Behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin [see,] that it is my mouth which is speaking to you. Now you must tell my father of all my splendor in Egypt, and all that you have seen; and you must hurry and bring my father down here." Then he fell on his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck.  He kissed all his brothers and wept on them, and afterward his brothers talked with him.”

Well that passage concludes with the kisses of full reconciliation and the frank communion, tears answering to tears as they fall onto each others neck.  Full reconciliation has taken place. You can certainly see in this incident the benefits of divine discipline. Peace finally comes to the family after 20 years of having Joseph’s crime upon their hearts. Conviction has come and now finally repentance and works made for repentance are done and the result is they find themselves in the hand of a loving God, who gives them peace, who gives them protection through the prime minister, who will supply all of their needs, deliver them from death, and provide for their future.

And that of course, is a picture of the Lord Jesus who works to bring us to the conviction of our sin, which is followed by true repentance, having a change of heart which we call conversion.  And when we are given forgiveness of our sins by the mercy of God, then we can have full reconciliation with God, so that we might have fellowship and communion with the Lord who will supply and provide for all our needs, and provide for our eternal inheritance.