The Light in the Darkness

Advent 2020  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  43:38
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John 1:5 NIV
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Light plays an important role in our world....
Have you ever been to a Broadway play? Or, A play of any kind… you know… highschool… college… whatever....?
One pastor relates the time she had the privilege of attending a broadway production of Charles Dickens “A Christmas Carol.” — “There are a number of moments that will take you by surprise, even if you know the story well. For instance, when Jacob Marley’s ghost first appears! I remember seeing it with my family, and we were seated in the third row close to the speakers… Marley’s character came in with a loud bang and a blinding flash of light followed by a strobe light effect...”
Can you imagine the effect that had on the audience?!
In the same way that light startled and caught the attention of the people at that performance,…
Light plays an undeniably important role in life… amen?
Sometimes, we need to slow down, take our eyes off of the world around us, and SEE the Light!
John 1:1–5 NRSV
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
John’s words here do not seem to be a part of the Christmas story… I mean they don’t talk about Angels… Shepherds… “No Vacancy” Inns… John doesn’t even talk about a baby being born… No! instead, John talks about light…
But light is an important part of Christmas!
We light a candle each week of Advent… We go to Christmas Eve candle light services… Even the streets of our cities are filled with lights, brightening up our neighborhoods and proclaiming the Joy of the season…
Last week, we saw that even before the discovery of Electricity and all the modern lights it brought… The shepherd’s night was filled with Heaven’s glorious light …
Three Magi… three “wise men” from the East… followed a light to Jerusalem where they too found the Messiah…
But… The importance of light does not come from angels, shepherds, magi, and stars…
Christmas isn’t about those things!
Christmas is about the LIGHT that came INTO the world through Jesus!
Isaiah 9:2 NRSV
2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.
You do understand that you can live in a “lit up” world, and still walk in darkness… right?
Walking in the Light, means understanding.
It’s not about a baby being born… it’s not about giving gifts… it’s not fellowship and togetherness… Family time…
It is about understanding WHO this CHILD is, that was born so long ago…
That’s why the writer wrote: “What child is this who laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping, Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping...”
Look at John 1:1-5 again...
John 1:1–5 NRSV
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
John tells us that God’s Light — that same light that was present at Creation — that same light that caused LIFE in the beginning — that same light that ALLOWED creation to occur — has entered into this world… Into the very thing He created!
John 1:14 NRSV
14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
Immanuel… God with us… The Word, stepped out of Heaven… become flesh… born of Mary… to live among us… ALL to bring LIGHT into our lives!
And this LIGHT is different then any other light we know…
John 1:9 NRSV
9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
It is not just a bright light… This is the TRUE LIGHT!
The TRUE LIGHT stands in contrast of not — not just false lights — but also, those lights that are less bright!
This is why John the Baptist proclaimed:
John 1:27 NRSV
27 the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.”
Jesus is the TRUE LIGHT, which supersedes any partial or flickering lights, like John the Baptist, or Moses…
You see… They carried God’s message… they did God’s work… but they are not THE Light of Life!
You see… that is John’s message to the Israelites… to the Jewish people of Christ’s day… Jesus is the TRUE LIGHT!
Moses only pointed to Him, by REFLECTING His light.
In our world, we tend to follow a lot of “dim lights”… You know who they are… those pastors, teachers, philosophers, and theologians who seem to present a good message… who speak eloquently and elaborately… entertaining us… making us “feel good”… giving us a “Cause” to live for… they do an amazing job at pointing us to Jesus...
BUT… THEY ARE NOT THE LIGHT!
Only Jesus is!
You see… The TRUE LIGHT gives light to everyone, AND has the power of being light to the ENTIRE universe!
Revelation 21:23 NRSV
23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.
That is the message of Christmas! Christ is the conduit through which God’s Light… God’s Glory… God’s Grace… shines into the darkness of our lives!
Yet, they did not understand…
John 1:5 NRSV
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
That word translated “overcome” in the NRSV, the KJV, and the NIV… is “katalambano”…
It means — “to lay hold of… to make one’s own… to obtain… to take into one’s self.”
That kind of changes the whole idea of that verse, doesn’t it?
You see… it’s not about the darkness overcoming Christ… it’s about people…
It’s about people being lost in the darkness of this world, and not understanding the Truth — not understanding the Gospel!
John is telling us what many of us need to hear — God has come into this world… He has given His Light to ALL of us… yet, many of us just don’t “get it”!
We need to SEE the Light… to TAKE HOLD of it… and to NEVER let it go… because… It is the LIGHT OF LIFE!
Yet… we so often struggle with that…
You see… this is kind of like fog setting in…
Imagine fog covering the earth… not just a light fog, but the thick heavy kind that makes it extremely difficult to see… We are all walking around in it, when all of the sudden… someone shows up talking about a man who can, not just guide us through it, but dispel the fog completely…
That’s who John the Baptist was… He was like a fog light, shining through the fog, showing the way… But, Christ is the sun! Christ is the One who burns the fog away!
John 1:4–10 NRSV
4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him.
In these verses, the people see the light… but they don’t really get it…
They don’t comprehend it fully… they can’t get hold of it… they just can’t quite wrap their heads around it… even though they want to…
The question is: “Why?”
Have you ever had someone come into your bedroom in the morning… when you are sound asleep… and suddenly flip the light on?!
What was your reaction?
Confusion… surprise… frustration… You see… when that happens there is a moment of pure confusion… when our minds cannot quite grasp what is happening… It takes a minute to adjust… to get our bearings, and comprehend what is happening…
That is the point.
God understands that we cannot understand everything, all at once… So, He introduces the Light slowly… like a dimmer switch being slowly turned up.
That is what Moses was…that is what the Law was… that is what the prophets were… and that is what John the Baptist is… All of them were meant to prepare us… to prepare the world for Christ — for His Light!
John the Baptists role… His purpose in life… was to introduce others to the light of Christ! And… He was completely set apart for that purpose.
John lived a life that was holy, pure, separated from the world, set apart for God’s work for him… and he didn’t want ANYTHING to hinder his ability to fulfill his purpose!
We are called to be the same!
To be “set apart” for the purposes of God… to live HOLY lives… to SHARE His LIGHT with the world!
1 Peter 1:16 NRSV
16 for it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Romans 12:1–2 NRSV
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.
John was not the TRUE light, but he was sent to bear witness to it… to help others understand it… so that they could find the TRUE life that the LIGHT provides…
This is what our lives should be about…
Luke 11:33 NRSV
33 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar, but on the lampstand so that those who enter may see the light.
Matthew 5:15 NRSV
15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.
This is not the traditional Christmas story… but it is the story of Jesus, and it is our story…
I don’t know about you, but I love the way John writes… Have you ever noticed how often that it seems like John has surprised himself?! Like he has made a discovery… gained a revelation… that has him just totally excited?!
John 1:15–16 NRSV
15 (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ ”) 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
I think John, in attempting to write his gospel — to relate his story of Christ, made a discovery that “blew his mind”!
It’s not the only time we see this in John....
1 John 3:1 NRSV
1 See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Can you hear the excitement in John’s voice here?! He “gets it”… He understands the promise that is Christ! And he can’t help but share his excitement!
It’s the same thing here in his gospel…
“We have all received, grace upon grace.”
John finally understands John the Baptists words… He has lived with Christ… He has walked with Him… He has witnessed the miracles… the teachings… His death and resurrection… and he finally understands the LIGHT!!!
John 1:17 NRSV
17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Sin is what brings darkness to our lives… But, unlike what many believed… the Law is not the LIGHT…
The LAW only reveals the sin… the darkness…
Romans 3:20 NRSV
20 For “no human being will be justified in his sight” by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
But John gets it!
John 1:16 NRSV
16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
Grace and Truth come through the LIGHT of Jesus! He is the LIGHT! We are no longer under the Law, but under GRACE!!!
look at verse 12
John 1:12 NRSV
12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God,
Because of God’s Grace, we have been given the RIGHT to become Children of God!
We no longer live in darkness and sin, but in the light of God’s grace!!!!
Can you get excited?!!
The work is Christ’s… The LIGHT is Christ’s… We are simply called to reflect it… in the same way that the moon reflects the light of the sun.
We have a responsibility as God’s Children…
John 1:12 NRSV
12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God,
God allows us to become His Children, so that we will reflect His Light into this dark world…
There are people all around us living under the fog of sin, shame, guilt, .... your testimony can help to shine the LIGHT into someone’s life.
There are people in our community — we might even know them already — who are blinded by despair and hopelessness… We can offer them the LIGHT of Hope and Strength.
For all of us who have taken hold of the LIGHT, and are looking to that LIGHT once again this Christmas… We are already equipped to share that LIGHT with those, in our world, who are living in darkness…
We have a message… and that message is Jesus!
We do not have to invent one… we do not have to “reinvent the wheel”… we do not have to create a “gimmick” that “helps people receive the gospel”…
We just have to share the WORD… and our witness of it in our lives…
This world is in a mess… darkness is all around… people need the Good and Hope-filled message of Christmas!
Let’s make Jesus the message! Let’s share His light with the world around us!
It begins with being “rooted” in Him… in His LIGHT… by ACCEPTING and LIVING as “Children of God.”
John 1:12 NRSV
12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God,
Let us pray.
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