- araratchurch
- Jan 4
- 2 min read
12 Days of Christmas at Ararat 2025
Day 9: Only Jesus is the Light leading to life for all people.
“That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.“
John 1:9 NKJV
Deceivers have always been around. They certainly were around during Bible times. Indeed, the Apostle Paul labored in his spirit over the churches he had established, when false teachers were trying to worm their way into the flock of Jesus Christ. Indeed, the church at Corinth was apparently being confused by false apostles; this was Paul’s instruction to them:
”For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.“
II Corinthians 11:13-15 NKJV
Oh, there it is! Satan often presents himself as being the “light.” Satan, as well as those who follow his ways of being and doing, present “new revelations,” “higher knowledge,” however they are currently packaging their doctrine of demons, offering a better life through other than Jesus Christ.
As well, the church of Galatia was being moved away from the simplicity of Christ, leading Paul to sternly warn them against this different “gospel.”
”I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.“
Galatians 1:6-9 NKJV
Any person/entity—above the Earth, on the Earth, or under the Earth—offering a “new revelation” purporting a better way, or an alternate way, to everlasting life, other than Christ and Him crucified, or a better light than the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world, is not only cursed, but brings that curse on those who follow after them.
Jesus warned that there would even be those who would stand before Him, and pretend to be of the Light. But the reality is, they are of darkness, and as such, are cast out.
”Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’“
Matthew 7:22-23 NKJV
As we see in today’s opening scripture, only Jesus is the true Light, the only Light that leads to everlasting life. And praise be to God, that Light is offered to all who will follow after Him!
Child of God, don’t be seduced away from Him; boldly walk toward the Light!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Jan 2
- 2 min read
“He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.“
John 1:8 NKJV
Jesus had been baptized by John and had begun His public ministry. As such, he began to attract many followers who His disciples were baptizing. Having observed this, John’s remaining disciples (we know that two of John’s former disciples were Jesus’ first two disciples) were complaining to John about the crowd Jesus was drawing. This was John’s response:
“John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.“
John 3:27-31 NKJV
You see, John was sent to witness of Christ; he was not sent to draw attention to himself. Indeed, John’s job was to point people—even his former disciples—to the true Light, “the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.”
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.””
John 1:29-31 NKJV
Indeed, we see that Jesus spoke highly of John, acknowledging that John had faithfully born witness of Who He was.
“You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.”
John 5:33-36 NKJV
Friend, our job, our call, is to do what John did: Call people to repentance and point them to the King of kings. Anyone who does not point their followers to Christ and His rule, is not a true witness of Christ, but is seeking self-aggrandizement.
Sadly, some would say they are working for the Lord. Yet, all the while, all their “arrows” point to themselves, with an emphasis on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, sorely lacking.
Friend, as we strive to bring other people to Christ, let’s make sure that all we do in our lives, including our interactions with others, ultimately points back to He Who is above all.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Jan 2
- 2 min read
“This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.”
John 1:7 NKJV
On “Day 4” we saw that Jesus referenced Himself as “the Light.” In that same discourse, Jesus was confronted by the religious leaders who were asking by what authority He made the claims concerning Himself. Basically, they were accusing Him of being His own witness. This was Jesus’ answer:
“Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me. It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true. I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.””
John 8:14-18 NKJV
The law Jesus employed in his rebuttal, is found in Deuteronomy 17:6 and Deuteronomy 19:15, the former referencing when someone commits something worthy of death, the latter referencing any crime a person is accused of committing.
Jesus specifically references the same law, in terms of dealing with someone who has done you wrong.
“But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’“
Matthew 18:16 NKJV
Paul references this law when addressing the church at Corinth.
“This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.””
II Corinthians 13:1 NKJV
Paul is apparently not referencing that he is addressing the issue three times per se, but that his response to them is based on the accounts of the behavior (immorality, and division) continuing. Therefore the offense has been established.
In our opening scripture, we see that John was sent from God to be a witness to the Light, a witness that Jesus was the Christ.
So, we see that the Lord honors His own law. That is, in addition to the myriad witnesses of prophecies pointing to the appearance of the Messiah, the Lord also provided “a voice crying in the wilderness,” witnessing to Jesus’ Identity.
The prophecy we considered yesterday in Malachi 3, should have served as another sure sign of who John was: the witness, the messenger, as well as that Jesus was the Christ. But, as we know, not only was the witness rejected, indeed killed, so also the One he introduced was crucified.
God’s messengers often pay a great price. But whatever the price may be, it is much outweighed by the greater glory awaiting God’s faithful children.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!