When Christmas is Dark
Christmas 2023 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction:
Introduction:
Have you ever gotten to this time of year and said: “I’m just not feeling Christmas this year?”
Maybe you feel like that old Merle Haggard song “If we make it through December, everything’s gonna be alright I know.”
Can I admit something to you, that is the exact place I have found myself if this year. If I could sum up 2023 into two words it would be “family turmoil.”
This year, within the last six months, we’ve seen parents end a 47 year long marriage due to infidelity. Fracturing not just their marriage but the relationship with children and grandchildren. We’ve then gone on to see this same person live a lifestyle that is completely antithetical to the christian testimony they have claimed for most of their life.
Then, last week on December 14, my stepfather after a nearly two year long battle from a massive stroke lost his fight and took his last breath around 4:45 in the afternoon. I reached his bedside in OH just fifteen minutes before he passed and then sat in the room with his lifeless body for the next four hours while we waited for the funeral home to come pick him up.
Needless to say, I’m not feeling very “christmasy” this year and I’ve found myself praying “Lord, if you can just get us through December, we’ll be fine.”
I got home late Sunday evening and sat about this week to write a sermon for our services this morning and tonight. But, to be honest, it’s hard to be encouraging and preach about the joy of the season when you’re not feeling much joy.
In many ways, it has been a little hard to see the light for all the darkness that seems to be looming. So, as I set out this week to write a Christmas Eve candlelight sermon. I was drawn to these three verses because when you are in a dark place, you just hope for a little light.
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
1.) Christ is life and light (v.4-5)
1.) Christ is life and light (v.4-5)
Do you see the little phrase in v.4 “In him was life…”
John 1:4 (ESV)
4 In him was life,...
What does this phrase mean?
Life is energy and power.
This phrase is telling us that without Christ, there would be no life whatsoever.
Life is in him, within his very being. All things exist and have their being in him.
3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
2. Life is purpose, meaning and significance.
Apart from Christ none of these things are possible.
He is the very purpose of life
In him is all of the meaning to life
Apart from him, life holds no real significance
All that life is, it is all in Christ. He is the source of life both now and eternal.
2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—
Notice the second part of vs.4
John 1:4 (ESV)
…and the life was the light of men.
Jesus is the source of light. From the very beginning man was meant to know that life, to know God personally and intimately. He is the light of mankind's purpose, meaning and significance on earth.
A.) He is the light that shines into the darkness
When mankind were plunged into sin by the sin of Adam, it brought darkness into the world that never existed before.
Darkness is a word the Bible uses as a metaphor to describe both the state of man and the works of man.
1. The darkness refers to the world of the natural man who does not know Jesus Christ
12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
The natural man walks in ignorance …
• of Jesus Christ
• of God as revealed by Jesus Christ
• of the real purpose and destiny of life as shown by Jesus Christ
The natural man stumbles and gropes about in this world. He knows nothing other than the things of this world as he sees them.
His only hope is the hope of living a long life before death overtakes him.
He walks in darkness, ignorant of real life now and hereafter.
2. It symbolizes the time when evil occurs.
3. The darkness is loved by men. Sinful men do their evil deeds under the cover of darkness. Men therefore hate the light because the light uncovers their evil behavior
19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
4. The darkness is hostile to light. It doesnt understand the light and can’t overcome the light
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
2.) Christ is the true light. (v.9)
2.) Christ is the true light. (v.9)
What do I mean when i say “Christ is the true light?”
Light is clear and pure. Clean and good. So is Christ.
Light penetrates. It cuts through and eliminates darkness. So does Christ.
Light reveals. It opens up the truth and reveals what is really there. It clears up the way to the truth and life. So does Jesus.
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Light guides. It keeps a person from groping and grasping in the darkness trying to find their way. It directs the way to go along the path. So does Jesus.
46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.
Light exposes and strips away darkness. So does Christ .
Light routs the chaos. So does Christ.
Light discriminates between the right way and the wrong way. So does Christ.
Light warns: it warns of dangers that lie ahead in one’s path. So does Christ.
Light protects: it keeps one from tripping, stumbling, falling, and injuring oneself and losing one’s life. So does Christ.
The mission of Christ, the reason he came into the world was to bring the light to all mankind.
So that all would know and see the truth that the way to God is through him and him alone.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Yes, the world is dark and full of evil, war, sickness and death. Yes, your life may be dark, people may have let you down. You might be finding it hard to see the light of the Christmas season. That light is hard to find becuase we’re looking for it in the wrong place.
It doesn't exist apart from Christ. He is the light of the world. Come into the world to die for the sins of mankind.