A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS
TEXT: Isaiah 9:2, John 8:12
There’s a fascinating recurring theme woven throughout the Bible. It’s the theme of light and darkness. We begin with darkness in only the second verse of the entire Bible. Genesis 1:2 says, “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.” And the first recorded words that God spoke in the Bible are found in Genesis 1:3, “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” And Genesis 1:4-5 continues the same theme when it measures the reaction of God and declares, “And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night.”
And in describing the coming of Jesus, the gospel writer John echoes that same theme from Genesis – but this time in the New Testament. John, chapter 1, says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God , and the Word was God. . .In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” (vs. 1-5 )
And in Matthew, chapter 6, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “If therefore the light that is in you be darkness, how great is that darkness!”
And even the Apostle Paul wrote, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what communion hath light with darkness.” (2 Corinthians 6:14, KJV) “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8)
You know, I think that the Biblical writers were probably more conscious of the contrast between light and darkness than most of us are today. Because their lives were governed by it much more than ours are today. And it’s not that we’re not smart enough to know the difference. I just don’t think that we’re as affected by the difference, on a daily basis, as they were. Probably, the longest 8 days I’ve ever spent in my life were the 8 days we lived without electricity in September of 1989, following Hurricane Hugo. . .(personal illustration of the power and phone outages following Hugo)
I’m convinced that we don’t appreciate the contrast as much today – simply because we’re not controlled by it as much today. But, that’s how the Biblical writers described the coming of Christ into the world. That’s how they described the difference that the coming of Christ could make in a person’s life. It was the difference between darkness and light. It was the difference between the fear of walking into a dark room – verses the confidence of hitting the switch before you do it. And, if there’s one thing that Christmas is, it’s the triumph of light over darkness. Isaiah foretold (TEXT), “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” (Isaiah 9:2) And Jesus personalized that prophecy when he declared (SECONDARY TEXT), “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
And, this morning, I’ve entitled my message, “A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS.” And I’d simply like to share with you three things that the coming of the Light into the world marked.
1. THE COMING OF THE LIGHT MARKED THE REALITY OF JUDGMENT
Jesus once made an interesting statement about the appeal of darkness to people who have something to hide. He said, “Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” (John 3:19-20)
I have a theory about sin. I don’t think it’s original. And, to be honest, I don’t think the great theologians will be putting it in their theology textbooks anytime soon. But I call it the “Cockroach Theory.” Now, since all of us live in such opulence – you’ve probably never personally seen this in your home before. But, if you’ve ever walked into a dark room and turned on the light, and there were cockroaches in that room – you know what they do? They don’t put on their little cockroach sunglasses, and break-out the sun screen, and lay there worshipping that great glowing orb above them – like we humans do. No! You’ve seen what they do. They try to escape that light as quickly as they can. They dart all over the place as quickly as their little legs will carry them – trying to get back in a dark place as fast as they can.
And my theory is that sin responds to light – just like a cockroach does. People who are living in sin will often make as furious an attempt to get back under the cover of darkness when somebody hits the lights – as that cockroach does. Let me ask you – when’s the last time you ever saw a brightly lit bar or nightclub? Why is it so dark in those places? Are they that environmentally conscious – that you’re trying to conserve electricity? Or, is there something about sin and darkness that just seem to go hand-in-hand? Jesus said, “Men loved the darkness” Why? “Because their deeds were evil!” (John 3:19) So, I don’t know how profound I am philosophically or theologically. But, I think sin’s a lot like a cockroach. It hates to have an intense beam of light shinned on it. And people who are living in sin. . .profiting off of sin. . .promoting an agenda of sin – will fight like mad to preserve the darkness if things get too bright. They hate the light – and they’ll do everything they can to reclaim the darkness.
The first thing that the coming of the Light marked in our world was the reality of judgment. No longer could men keep their sin safely hidden under the cloak of darkness. And Jesus went on to say in that same passage, “But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” (John 3:21) We often use the word “judgment” in a very negative context. But God’s judgment is also going to expose the good. . .righteous. . .pure. . .holy – as well as the evil. You see, light illuminates the good and the bad.
2. The second thing to note is that THE COMING OF THE LIGHT MARKED THE DAWN OF SLAVATION.
The prophet Isaiah joyfully proclaimed, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1). And Paul said, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 4:6)
You know, a wonderful thing happened when Jesus came into the world. Something that totally revolutionized man’s relationship with God occurred. You see, I’ve been asked the question before, “Pastor, how did people get saved before Jesus came? What happened to all those people who lived and died before Christ? Was there any way for them to go to heaven?”
Well, the answer is, “Yes.” Yes, there was a way for them to get to heaven. But it wasn’t salvation like we know it. It wasn’t a very good way. . .enjoyable way. . .pleasant way. But, there was a way for people to know God. It was called – Salvation through the Law. And it involved Forgiveness by Sacrifice. The only way I could really serve God and please God following the fall in the garden – but prior to the birth of Christ – was by a strict observance to the Old Testament law. And, the only way I could gain forgiveness for my sins – was to offer the prescribed animal sacrifices ever year in accordance with that law. You see, it wasn’t a very fulfilling way of knowing God. And, it wasn’t one of those things that often gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling. But it was the best method there was before Christ came. The O.T. religion and ritual left a lot to be desired, to be real honest with you. Because there wasn’t that intimacy of having a personal relationship with God that you and I can have today. But, it worked for those people who lived then. And, it produced some people with an incredible faith in God, who did have a beautiful saving relationship, I believe, with him.
But there’s only so much joy that can be found in “Salvation through the Law.” God sent his Light into the world to give us something far superior to that which even Abraham. . .Moses. . .David. . .Isaiah enjoyed. He gave us – Salvation through Grace. And it involved Forgiveness by Faith. No longer do I believe I have to save myself – by following all the rules. No longer do I believe that God can only forgive me – if I offer the right animal, at the right place, on the right day of the year. You see, I haven’t thrown-out all the rules. But, I now know it’s not the “Rule Book” that saves me – it’s the “Ruler of the Universe” who’s the only one that can do that. And, I don’t have to offer my bloody little lamb on the altar of sacrifice anymore – because the perfect Lamb of God has offered his blood on the cross of Calvary for all of us and for all time.
And there was a marvelous change affected in the way we get saved. . .know God. . .please Him that accompanied the arrival of Christ. They had to re-write the whole plan of salvation from that moment – to reflect a new way of getting there. And, that new method said, “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8) The coming of the Light into the world marked the dawn of salvation – as you and I know it and receive it today.
3. And then, the third and final truth that I glean from this theme of light and darkness is that THE COMING OF THE LIGHT MARKED THE ARRIVAL OF A PERSON.
Let us never forget that the Light that shines in the darkness is Jesus. He wasn’t an angel you couldn’t see. . .a voice you could only hear. . .a recycled or reincarnated prophet who mysteriously appeared. He was the Word make flesh – who dwelt among us. The angel told Mary and Joseph, “You shall call his name Jesus – because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)
Many names had been given to Christ by the prophets of old. Wonderful. . .Counselor. . .the Mighty God. . .the Everlasting Father. . .the Prince of Peace. . .the Light of the Gentiles. . .The Lion of Judah. . .the Messiah. . .the Most Holy. . .the Tried Stone. . .the Precious Stone. . .the Cornerstone. . .the Branch. . .the Chosen. . .the Firstborn. . .the Foundation. . .the Fountain. . .Governor. . .the Holy One. . .the Horn of Salvation. . .King. . .the Lamb. . .Man of sorrows. . .Mighty to Save. . .the Root of Jesse. . .Redeemer. . .Savior. . .the Seed of Woman. . .Servant. . .Shepherd. . .a Tender Shoot. . .the Son of Righteousness. . .Son of Man. . .Son of David. . .Son of God. . .God with us. . .Immanuel.
You know, that’s just a sample of the names given to Christ in the O.T. prophecies. But, I think the one that I still like the best is the name Jesus. I don’t know. There’s just something more personal about that name than all the rest. All the others describe something about him. . .reveal something wonderful concerning him. . .bring glory to him. But, there’s just something about the name Jesus – that makes me feel I can really know him. (Optional: sing chorus to “There’s Something About That Name”)
I don’t know. But, it seems to me that all the O.T. prophecies are sort of telling us all the formal titles of Christ. But, the N.T. is kind of like God saying, “But you can call me Jesus.” I don’t want to ever forget that God ceased to be a concept at that moment – and he became very concrete in his presence. I don’t want to ever forget that he’s no longer a God up there – he’s now God with us. The coming of the Light marked the arrival of a Person. That Person’s name was Jesus. That Person’s purpose was to seek and to save that which was lost. That Person’s desire was that I might know him – personally, intimately, eternally.
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” (Isaiah 9:2) That was the promise. “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) That was the fulfillment. The coming of the Light marked the reality of judgment. You can’t hide anything when you bring it into the light. The coming of the Light marked the dawn of salvation. We no longer had to attain it through the law and sacrifice. We could now know it through faith and grace. And the coming of the Light marked the arrival of a Person. He was no longer just the immortal and invisible. He was now the present and the personal. He is our Light in the darkness.
(Suggested closing hymn: “The Light of the World is Jesus”)
Power Point Sermon Notes:
“A Light in the Darkness”
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.” (Genesis 1:2)
“And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. (Genesis 1:3)
“And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night.” (Genesis 1:4-5)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” (John 1:1-5)
“If therefore the light that is in you be darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:23)
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” (Isaiah 9:2)
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
1. The coming of the Light marked the reality of judgment
“Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” (John 3:19-20)
“But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” (John 3:21)
2. The coming of the Light marked the dawn of salvation
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1)
“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.’” (1 Corinthians 4:6)
• Old Testament Method of Salvation:
Salvation through the Law
• New Testament Means of Salvation:
Salvation through Grace
“For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)
3. The coming of the Light marked the arrival of a Person
“You shall call his name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)
