The Incomprehensible Light

Introduction: In Luke 1:78-79, concerning the coming of Christ, Zechariah proclaimed, “Because of our God’s merciful compassion, the Dawn from on high will visit us to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Jesus Christ is the incomprehensible Light given to remove the veil of darkness that shrouds us from the glorious light of God’s kingdom. Let us consider the need for Light, the source of the Light, the rejection of the Light, and the disbursement of the Light.

I. The need for the Light is seen in the fact that the world lies in total darkness

A. One of the non-canonical apocryphal writers penned that “the world lies in darkness, and its inhabitants are without light.” – 2 Esdras 14:20

B. What is darkness? If you look in a dictionary you find that darkness is the absence of light. Darkness is the opposite of light. Darkness is defined as gloomy, hopeless, dismal, sinister, evil, sullen, angry, secret, mysterious, night, ignorant; unenlightened.

C. The world lies in darkness and death because it has rebelled against God. From the fall of Adam onward the whole world has existed in total spiritual darkness.

D. Romans 1:20-22 “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not [c]honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools.”

E. This spiritual darkness is universal.

F. 1 John 5:19 “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.”

G. Spiritual darkness is spoken of in Scripture, not as a mere passive or negative thing, but as a positive power; the power of darkness is expressly mentioned, and the apostate angels are represented as kept in chains of darkness, as if it imposed fetters on the soul, and truly none can break those fetters, but He who caused the iron chain to fall from off the hands and feet of his imprisoned disciple. - James Buchanan, Enlightening the Mind

H. Visitors to caves in central Tennessee go on tours of the caves. On one of the tours visitors are shown small fish which have lived in the dark caves for generations. We are told that as the years have passed, the fish have literally lost their eyes. They’ve lived in the dark so long that they have suffered a permanent loss of the ability to see. So it is with man in his natural state. He has lost the ability to see.

I. Psalm 82:5 “…They do not know, nor do they understand; they walk about in darkness”

II. The Source of the Light is God, Who sent the Light into the darkness

A. Isaiah 60:1-3 “Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

B. Isaiah 9:2 (NLT) “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.”

C. Jesus Christ is the complete opposite of darkness. Light and darkness are antithetical contrasts; they are always separate from each other. It is impossible to combine light and darkness. The light is the thesis (the Truth) while the darkness is the antithesis (the Lie).

D. 1 John 1:5 “...God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”

E. As the Light of the world Jesus Christ expels the darkness. He reveals what we cannot see apart from the light and enables us to no longer grope blindly in the darkness.

F. Living in the dark can lead to some regrettable consequences. Back in the days before electricity, a tightfisted old farmer was taking his hired man to task for carrying a lighted lantern when he went to call on his best girl. "Why," he exclaimed, "when I went a-courtin’ I never carried one of them things. I always went in the dark." "Yes," the hired man said wryly," and look what you got!"

G. Light enables one to see reality. Christ enables the blind to see the truth of God. He enables the blind to see the beauty of holiness. He enables one to no longer walk in the shadows but in the brightness of truth.