The Light Still Shines
John 1:4-5, Philippians 2:14-15
December 16, 2012
Morning Service
We live in a dark world
The events of this Friday have shown one of the worst school shootings in United States history. The whole thing is an absolute senseless tragedy. It is one of the worst mass shootings in the world. 28 people lost their lives Friday in a town that only had one homicide in the last five years.
Those killed include 7 adults, the gunman and 20 children 5 to 10 years old with a large number of kindergarten students. There can be little doubt that we live in dark days.
We seem to be overshadowed by darkness in our society
* Overshadowed by the darkness of death
* Overshadowed by the darkness of instability
* Overshadowed by the darkness of personal chaos
* Overshadowed by the darkness of weakness and disease
We live in a world surrounded by darkness. Darkness seems to sweep across our lives with little warning and often brings painful changes. Darkness reveals its power in the reality of tear stained faces and crushed spirits. Darkness seems to flaunt its power through chaos. The evil we witnessed Friday reached into the darkness of human depravity to shout a grim reminder, we live in a dark world. Darkness of evil gives respect to no one, its reach knows no bounds and the goal is to generate fear. Senseless tragedy that touches so many lives is nothing new.
1. Senseless tragedy is an often overlooked aspect of the Christmas story
One of the often forgotten parts of the story of Christ¡¦s birth is the act of a madman. Herod the Great was the Roman ruler over Israel during the time of Christ¡¦s birth. His jealousy over losing his power or authority was legendary. When Herod realizes that he had been outsmarted by the Magi, he responds with incredible violence.
When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Matthew 2:16
There is no number given to Herod¡¦s rampage but lives were forever altered.
2. Senseless tragedy is a sad fact of life
3. We are called to offer comfort and support
4. We are reminded that tragedy is not the end
How do we respond to such dark times? How do we answer a tide of rising darkness in our society?
We remind the world that the darkness is only temporary and that we have a great light.
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 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:2, 6
Darkness Light
Temporary Eternal
Chaos Peace
Despair Hope
Sin Salvation
Death Life
Hate Love
Wickedness Righteousness
Jesus came in the cover of darkness during dark times
Jesus was born at night ¡V shepherds were watching their flocks at night when the agnel appeared to them
Magi visited Jesus at night ¡V they followed the star
Jesus came into a world of horrible darkness
Economic darkness: Poverty was extreme, taxes were high and people were starving in the streets
Political darkness: Roman occupation created an environment of upheaval, infighting among the Jewish rulers created internal strife and factions created an atmosphere of great danger
Spiritual darkness: Jesus was born at the end of the silent time. There had not been a major miracle in Israel since Daniel was saved in the lion¡¦s den. Religious leaders spent their time oppressing the people with legalism and regulations.
John tells us the purpose of Jesus coming to our world
4 In him there was life, and that life was the light of all people. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overpowered it. John 1:4-5 (New Century Version)
Light Jesus brings shall never be overcome by darkness
Jesus describes Himself as the light on several occasions and then describes the disciples as being light. There would seem to be a contradiction here but the implications are clear. Jesus is the source of the light and we are meant to be the reflection of light. The moon does not generate its own light but no one would say that the moon does not give light.
There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. Edith Wharton
The imagery is powerful because of the power that light brings. Think about how light has influence
Light has the ability to dispel darkness
Light has the ability to develop or grow
Light offers the power of direction
Light discovers the truth and gives knowledge
The reality is that the world needs light more than ever before. The church should be the source of Christ¡¦s light in a dark and lost world. We are meant to share the message of truth and bring light. We are to reach out to others and bring light. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. The church should not be hidden either. Individual Christian should not be hidden. We are called to let our light shine. The world is desperate for the light of Christ. The world is desperate for us to be an influence for Jesus.
The world is often in spiritual darkness
The world is lost and confused
The world is in chaos
The answer is not another social program. The answer is not another community action group. The answer is not the government. The answer is the church rising up to be the church. The answer is Christians standing up and letting their light shine.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
Life Jesus offers will never be overpowered by death
The life that Jesus gives is both mortal and eternal. Jesus is the source of life itself. He is the one who gives life to all people. Jesus also comes to give the opportunity to experience eternal life.
Jesus said: I am the way, the truth and the life
The difference between being alive and living
Life is a gift to all people. However, there are so many people who settle for just to exist and never to truly experience life. Living is more than just existing! Living means that we seize life to the fullest and become all that God has created us to become.
Jesus shows us how to live
Jesus is the very source of life. He is the embodiment of the power of life.
John 10:10: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Jesus lived His entire life perfectly and with the sense of becoming all that He was meant to be. Jesus showed us how to really live and how to be alive.
We live during dark times and deal with dark days. We cannot forget that the one who defeated death is our source of light and hope. Never give in to despair because the light still shines in the darkness and the darkness will not overcome it.
No one needs to walk in darkness „³ The light still shines
No one needs to fear the rising tide „³ The light still shines
No one needs to live in despair „³ The light still shines
No one needs to worry about evil „³ The light still shines
Wherever we go, whatever we face „³ the light still shines
