The Light has Come

Good morning! Welcome to the Vineyard. If this is your first time, my name is Kevin and I’m the pastor here. Our vision at the Vineyard is simple - we want to embody Jesus to our neighbors. This happens by growing in three ways, through what we call our pillars.

First, is Presence. We want everyone to experience the presence of God. This is what transforms us to love him and others. God’s presence is where we become fully alive. We want you to know the Father.

Then, Formation. God doesn’t just love us; he is forming us to be his people who can carry his life and love to those around us. Formation is where we learn to embody the Jesus way of life. We want you to imitate the Son.

Finally, Mission. Being on mission is how we join God in the work he is doing to bring his reconciliation, justice, and mercy to earth. This is how he is bringing healing and renewal to the world. We want you to partner with the Spirit.

Presence. Formation. Mission. Be thinking about your next step. Where is God calling you to go deeper with him?

Pray...

Intro

Merry Christmas! If you have a Bible please turn to Isaiah 9.

Read Isaiah 9:1-7

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light…

I think it is interesting that the church celebrates Christmas at the darkest point in the year. There’s several theories as to why this is, but I won’t go into that. During the coldest, darkest time of year, Christmas reminds us that death and darkness won’t win. Spring and new growth are coming. Some of us with seasonal affective disorder need this reminder!

The people in Isaiah’s time lived in gloom and darkness. The impending threat of invasion by the Assyrian Empire is hanging over their heads, particularly those in the northern part of the nation - the land of Zebulun and Naphtali. Assyria was a cruel nation, and it was honestly better to die that to be their prisoner. They were masters at torture. The dread the people felt must be something like the Ukrainian people felt when Russia invaded their borders.

Thankfully, we don’t live under this kind of darkness and gloom. But we face our own kinds of darkness just the same:

We face the darkness of living in a time and place that is becoming increasingly fractured. Those that we elect to govern us can seem to no longer get along. Both sides call the other “monster” and sit in deadlock. This reflects our society as a whole where people on different sides of an issue can no longer discuss their differences respectfully. Instead we cancel the other. Our nation seems to be in a dark place.

We face personal darkness - the darkness of broken family relationships. We face the darkness of uncertain health. We face the darkness of financial struggle - especially at Christmas! Many in our community face the darkness of food insecurity. The number of people our food pantry serves grew by about 25% this year. So while we don’t have external enemies that threaten us, we have these external situations that can make life feel dark.

And we have our own internal darkness. Our demons. The mental health crisis facing our nation is staggering. We are confronted violently with this reality with every new mas shooting, but the issue is there all the time, bubbling under the surface. The COVID pandemic saw an incredible spike in those taking antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication - and the usage doesn’t seem to be slowing down. This is not a condemnation of those taking these drugs - I’m thankful we have them. It’s just to say that we live in a time when people are really struggling emotionally and mentally.

That’s a lot of darkness! I’m so glad I came to church today so I can be depressed! I simply bring this up to make the point that, while we may not be able to identify with Isaiah’s particular darkness, we need to identify with the darkness that is around us in order to see how the inbreaking light is such good news.

This is precisely why we need to hear Isaiah’s words on Christmas morning. Isaiah 9:2 “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.”

Into a time of deep gloom and darkness, Isaiah announces the dawning of a great light. Hope is on the horizon. Something is happening that will once and for all dispel the darkness. What will happen to bring this light? The birth of a child. But not just any child - a king. This is what he means when he says authority rests upon his shoulders.

The rest of the passage describes what will happen when this king begins to reign - the burden of oppression will cease. The threat of war - the boots of trampling warriors - will be burned. This righteous king will represent God to the people, being their counselor, mighty deliverer, and father. In short, this king will restore peace, justice, and joy to the people.

However, if you were to keep reading past this passage you would see that this promise of light is quickly swallowed again by darkness. The light the nation looked for didn’t happen in Isaiah’s day. Yet his vision of the future isn’t conditional. It isn’t a promise based upon the people’s response. It is a promise set in stone. It’s going to happen. The light will come. But how?

Read Luke 2:1-7

How would our Advent expectations of hope, peace, joy, and love be realized? How would the Light of God come? By God becoming a baby.

Here is where we need to depart from a common understanding of the birth of Jesus. It is popular to say that Jesus was born to die. Certainly, death was part of the road that he had to travel. But Jesus wasn’t born to die; he was born to reign. It is through the reign of Jesus that God would save the world.

God entered the world through a tiny child. He is the One promised by Isaiah on whose shoulder a new government would rest. He is the One whose birth dispels our darkness. The cross was a necessary stop on the road to the ascension, where Jesus is now raised as Lord and King of all. Through him the kingdom of God is being restored on earth.

By his ascension as King, Jesus is in the process of making all things new. The announcement of a world-transforming reign of righteousness and justice now begun is not a sentimental set of feelings. It is a radical prophetic promise the is now fulfilled. Through Jesus, everything that is broken is and will be made right. Oppression and war will be no more. Darkness has done its worst - and lost. Here is where our expectations of hope, peace, joy, and love are finally met. The Light has come.

The good news of Christmas is that the world has a new king. And we are called to walk in his light. Even though there is still - and will remain - darkness in the world, we can walk in His light and life and hope. We can begin to enjoy now the rule and reign of this king in our life as he dispels our darkness. As he lifts our burden. As he heals our pain and defeats our enemies. This King would take those things from you now and see you unburdened and healed.

The apostle John wrote of Jesus: John 1:5 “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” Are you walking in this light? Have you allowed this king to take over the rule and reign of your life? Only King Jesus can bring you the hope and joy and peace you long for in your outer and inner life. (Next steps slide)

If you are believers, I just offer a simple reminder this Christmas: The Light has come. And if the light has come, then he is already turning your darkness to light. Jesus is the fulfillment of your Advent expectations. Amen.