‘Jesus – Life and Light’: Sermon by Pastor Mensa Otabil

Introduction

In his third installment of a powerful teaching series on Jesus, Pastor Mensa Otabil, Senior Pastor of ICGC Christ Temple East, delivered an insightful message titled “Life and Light,” drawn from John 1:3-4. 

The scripture declares: “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” 

Pastor Otabil masterfully unpacked the profound truths embedded in these verses, focusing on Jesus as the embodiment of life and light.

Jesus is Life: Beyond the Physical

Pastor Otabil began by emphasizing the Greek word zoe, which refers to life in its essence. “This is not just the biological life we all have,” he explained, “but the God kind of life.” 

He highlighted that Jesus is self-living: “Nobody gave Him life; He has life in Himself.” Unlike human beings whose life begins through conception, Jesus possesses intrinsic life as God.

Moreover, because Jesus is life, He is also life-giving. Pastor Otabil referenced Acts 17:25 to affirm this: “He gives to all life, breath, and all things.” All living creatures owe their existence to Him. But Jesus doesn’t stop there—He also offers enhanced life, which Pastor Otabil described as eternal life or abundant life. 

He elaborated, saying, “Christ’s enhanced life is not just about quantity but also quality. In Him, we find God’s blessings, protection, wisdom, and victory.”

Jesus is Light: Illuminating Our Understanding

Shifting focus, Pastor Otabil explored the word light, derived from the Greek phos, meaning “that which shines and reveals.” 

He explained that light metaphorically represents knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in the Bible. “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men,” the pastor noted, adding, “Light helps us to see, not just physically but spiritually.”

He illustrated the futility of having eyes without light through an analogy: “If you’ve ever been in complete darkness, you’ll understand that eyes are useless without light. Likewise, without Christ, spiritual blindness persists.” 

Pastor Otabil urged believers to rely on Jesus to bring the revelation of God to their lives, adding, “Outside of Christ, even the most educated individuals remain spiritually blind.”

Receiving the Life and Light of Christ

Concluding the message, Pastor Otabil called on the congregation to embrace Jesus fully. He underscored the importance of going beyond mere biological existence to experience the abundant life Jesus offers. 

“If you’re alive but haven’t received Christ’s enhanced life, your existence falls short of God’s purpose,” he declared. He also highlighted the need for Christ’s light to navigate the challenges of life, saying, “Without His light, we stumble in darkness, unable to find our way.”

Conclusion

Pastor Otabil’s teaching reminded listeners of the transformative power of Jesus as both life and light. 

Through Him, we find not only existence but also abundant, eternal life. He illuminates our paths, revealing the wisdom and truth of God. 

The pastor’s message calls everyone to experience life as God intended—full, purposeful, and eternal—through a relationship with Jesus Christ.