It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way. . . .” So begins Charles Dicken’s classic work, A Tale of Two Cities. The French revolution had brought the worst of times and the best of times to both France and England. Dicken’s words were truly descriptive of the mood of the world. But these words could also have been spoken about our time. In many ways we, in America, are experiencing the best times the world has ever known. At the same time, and in other ways, these are the worst of times.
The same was true of the time just prior to the birth of Christ. There was both despair and hope residing in the hearts of the people of Israel, sometimes both emotional extremes made their home in the hearts of the people at the same time. It was the worst of times. The Romans were occupying Israel. Cruel soldiers walked the streets and the taxes of Rome kept the people in poverty. A mood of despair had settled among many of the people, for not many years before they had experienced victory over their enemy, the Syrians, which they celebrate to this day in the holiday called Hanukkah. But now they were again subservient to a foreign power. When the Romans came to power, the Jewish rulers first tried compromise. When that didn’t work, they tried to assassinate Herod the Great, ruler of Palestine, only to find their revolt crushed by Rome. The Maccabees, or Hasmonaeans, who had liberated Judah from the Syrians had been looked to as modern messiahs, but when Herod killed their last leader, Hyrcanus II, deep despair settled on the people.
But it was also the best of times in some ways. The Pax Romana, or peace of Rome, pervaded that part of the world and there was a measure of political stability. Roman law brought order. Progress and commerce came to Israel with the building of Roman roads. Best of all, even though it was a political maneuver, Herod had rebuilt the temple for the Jews. But greater still was the promise of the prophets that God would send Messiah into the world. Holy longings filled their hearts. They clung to the words of the Old Testament prophet Isaiah: “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. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this” (Isaiah 9:6-7). The people of God were living with this hope and holding on to the dream of a homeland which was free, independent and centered on God’s law. They saw a united Israel which would freely and fully worship God.
Into this good-times-bad-times-world, Jesus came. The world had grown hard and cynical, but there was a breath of hope blowing across the hearts of the people as well. There was a sense that God was about to do something wonderful. God’s good news was coming into a bad-news world. The first thing that I would like to bring out is: God’s good news is greater than the world’s bad news. John described Christ’s coming as light coming into the darkness, and he said that the darkness could not extinguish it. The Greek literally means: “The darkness could not take it down.” It could not conquer it, or overpower it. Darkness is negative. It is simply the absence of light. It has no power of its own. All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish a single candle. But light is a positive force. It does overcome darkness. There have been times when I have come into the sanctuary at night when it is totally dark. The lights are off and it is dark outside. I cannot see a single pew. There are no colors visible. As far as I can tell, the sanctuary has nothing in it since I cannot see anything. Or, as far as I know, there may be people hiding everywhere. Darkness creates illusions. But if I turn on just one light, or even light a small candle, I can see everything. And the more light I turn on the clearer I can see. I can see the red carpeting and drapes, the white pews and the walnut trim. I know where to go and where not to go. I can see clearly. When the lights are on there is no way to let enough darkness in to overcome the light. It is light that overcomes darkness, not the other way around.
The same is true with God’s kingdom of light. The darkness can never put it out. God’s light has come into the world to overcome the darkness, and the darkness is helpless against it. It can only create illusions. Light helps us to see what is real. The light of the sun overcomes the darkness of the universe. It goes from planet to planet giving light and warmth. Light is greater than darkness and God’s good news is always greater than the world’s bad news. There is not even any comparison.
I suppose that if you only listened to Tom, Peter and Dan you would think there was only darkness in the world — only bad news. But if you would start your day reading the good news, your mind would be filled with the good news, and the 6:30 evening bad news could not overcome it. We say with Paul, “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57). Here is the promise we have from God: “Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).
But second thing I would like to point out is: God’s good news transforms the world’s bad news. Because God’s good news is greater than the world’s bad news, it is able not only to overcome it, it can even transform it. The Bible says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). God works in the good things and even the bad things, because he can transform all things.
The only power that darkness has is to convince some that there is no light. Darkness takes hope away. Light brings hope. The Word of God says, “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. . . . For to us a child is born, to us a son is given. . . .” (Isaiah 9:2,6).
When I read that verse I am reminded of September 11 of this year. All over the television were the images of hate and destruction. As I walked into the hospital room of Robin McKinley the images were being played once again on the TV, but in her arms was a new baby. It was two different worlds, but I can tell you that the good news was greater than the bad news.
But there are those times in every person’s life when despair sets in like a cloud. There are only shadows and very little light. It looks like nothing is going to work out and the future promises no change. Hopes are dashed and dreams die. It is in those times that the hard questions come. No less a person than John the Baptist had a time like that in his life. He thought he was doing God’s will, and in spite of his faithfulness, God allowed Herod to throw him into a dungeon prison to await execution. Dark thoughts began to roll around in his head. A heavy pall laid on his heart. He sent a couple of his students to Jesus so that he might answer some of his questions. He said, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” Doubts were overshadowing his faith. He was confused and uncertain. Remember now that this is the man, who as an unborn infant, leaped in his mother’s womb at the very presence of Jesus in Mary’s womb. He had seen the Holy Spirit descend on Jesus and heard the voice from heaven saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Before he was imprisoned he witnessed the miracles that Jesus was doing, and after he was imprisoned he had heard even more about Jesus’ work. But in prison, John could only feel darkness. Jesus told the ones John had sent: “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor” (Matthew 11:3-6). The kingdom of God did not depend on the circumstances of John the Baptist’s life. It did not matter what Herod, in his darkness, was doing. Light had come, and the darkness could not stop it. The blind were seeing, the lame were walking , the sick were cured, the deaf were hearing, the sick were healed, the dead were being raised and the poor were given hope. It did not matter what Herod was doing. He could never overcome what God was doing.
Even the Roman’s execution of Jesus could not extinguish the light, because the good that God would do through the cross would transform the worst that the world would try to do. God’s good news would turn evil into good, and curses into blessing. It was the worst of times, but the best of times had come in the person of Jesus. Messiah had come to earth, he would love the world and bring his light to it. He would teach us his ways, and then become the sacrifice for our sins. He would then rise from a grave that was helpless to hold him, and take his seat at the Father’s right hand to intercede for us.
The third thing that I would like to bring out is: God’s good news will do away with the world’s bad news. The day is coming when bad news will no longer exist. It will not even exist in our memories. The Bible also has a tale of two cities. The book of Revelation tells about the eternal struggle between the city of evil called Babylon, and the city of God — the new Jerusalem. These are kingdoms growing side by side, like wheat and weeds, until the end of time. Side by side, evil and good exist together in the world. The best of times and the worst of times going on at the same time — parallel kingdoms operating in the same world. Babylon represents the worst of times. It has spread its bad news throughout the world. It is an empire of evil, but God will destroy it. The Bible says, “When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city?’ They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out: ‘Woe! Woe, O great city, where all who had ships on the sea became rich through her wealth! In one hour she has been brought to ruin!’” (Revelation 18:17-19). It will be hard to believe how quickly God destroys this evil city.
But it will be just as incredible to see how quickly God brings the new city. John, who wrote the book of Revelation, describes it in his vision: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away’” (Revelation 21:1-4). The old order of bad news has passed away. The good news has overcome the bad news. The heavenly city has overcome the city of evil, and it no longer exists.
But you have to be looking for good news if you are going to find good news. You have to believe that God brings the best of times in the middle of the worst of times. You have to receive the good news into your heart and make it a part of your life. Medical science tells us that If you would be shut up in a completely dark room for just a few months you would completely lose your sight. It is as if the eyes forget how to see. Muscles and nerves atrophy, and eventually sight is no longer possible even if you are brought back to the light. Live in spiritual darkness long enough and you lose your spiritual eyes. But the good news is that Jesus is still in the business of healing the blind. You can come to him for a healing and find it.
It is so easy to live in the darkness. We can live as though there is no good news — only bad. Like Darth Vader, we go over to the dark side. We can live with anger and negativism. We can give in to pessimism and despair. We can look for the worst, and fail to believe the best. It is so easy to believe in the power of darkness. It seems so strong at times. It appears to be all around us. Everyone seems to be giving into it, and we feel overwhelmed and alone. Here is the tale of two cities, as the Bible describes it: “For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise — the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (Hebrews 13:12-16).
Lyle Arakaki, who lives in Honolulu, gives an apt illustration of what I am trying to say. He writes, “In Hawaii, because of the time differential with the continental U.S., the NFL Monday Night Football game is played in mid-afternoon, so the local TV station delays its telecast till 6:30 in the evening. When my favorite team plays, I’m too excited to wait for television, so I’ll listen to the game on the radio, which broadcasts it live. Then, because they’re my favorite team, I’ll watch the game on television, too. If I know my team has won the game, it influences how I watch it on television. If my team fumbles the ball or throws an interception, it’s not a problem. I think, ‘That’s bad, but it’s okay. In the end, we’ll win!’”
Two teams are playing are playing in this world. One is all about darkness, and the other is all about light. One is all about bad news, and the other is all about good news. We know which one will win — and that is good news.
Rodney J. Buchanan
December 16, 2001
Mulberry St. UMC
Mt. Vernon, OH
www.MulberryUMC.org
Rod.Buchanan@MulberryUMC.org
