The Light of the World Who Lights Up Our World

Light changes things! Have you ever been walking down a dark hallway or in a dark room only to stub your toe or trip over something that you didn’t realize was there? It could just be the season of life that my wife and I are in, but with 2 little boys this happens from time to time as the darkness hides the reality from us. Think about how much easier it would be to get around things with just a little bit of light! The problem is that we all walk around, largely in darkness. We don’t know what the rest of the day has in store. We can make plans, but we really don’t know for sure. We don’t know what tomorrow holds. We don’t know what our future looks like - so we walk around today in darkness and uncertainty and danger lurking with every step we take. We might stub our toe, or we might make it down the hallway just fine. Kids, how many of you have ever been asked this question, “What do you want to be whenever you grow up?” What if there was a button that would give you that answer? That would be pretty awesome! Right, adults?

The future isn’t the only way that our world is walking in darkness, though. Our world is so crazy that people celebrate all sorts of bad things - have you noticed that? We could look at a number of evil things that our society celebrates, but one that stood out to me just a few months ago as I was watching a football game on TV with my son was that a player got injured on a play and while the other players on the field took a knee, the fans in the stadium were cheering about the injury. They were celebrating that the opposing player got hurt! There are people in our world who celebrate things that are not worth celebrating, things that are evil. These people need to see the light and have the light correct them.

Sadly, this isn’t anything new. The more that you read history, the more that you learn about people and civilizations who celebrated bad things… and the reason why is because they loved the darkness. We see this 2000 years ago in Jesus’ day as John 3:19 tells us

John 3:19 CSB

19 This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.

That’s not a particularly warm statement to hear. People loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. We look around our world and we see much of the same. So, where is the light and how can light help us to navigate through this world of darkness?

For this we have to go back in time 2,700 years to a city called Jerusalem. The people of Jerusalem were surrounded by powerful enemies and the king (Ahaz) was afraid that the city was going to be conquered under his leadership. A prophet named Isaiah came to king Ahaz and told him that God has everything under control and that God’s message for the king is to simply ask God for a sign and God would provide one. That’s a pretty incredible message for a king in a stressful situation! But Ahaz disobeys because Ahaz doesn’t believe in God. This upsets and angers God, so God goes ahead and provides a sign and we read of this in Isaiah 7:14

Isaiah 7:14 CSB

14 Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.

This is an interesting promise. The name Immanuel means God with us and God is promising to be with these people. This happens 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ. Really, though, for us to understand who exactly Jesus is, we have to go back to Genesis and as we go to the very beginning of our Bible we see that God created everything and He said each day that creation was ______? GOOD! Not mostly good, not kind of good, but just plain ole good. Then Adam and Eve sin against God - they break His commands. They rejected God’s rule. God exiled them from Eden, but before He did He made a promise. From the seed of the woman would come a snake crushing Savior. A victorious warrior. So, we see a promise shortly after creation of a victor and we see a promise 700 years before Bethlehem of a Savior being born. As you read the Old Testament, people get bogged down a little bit at times, but as you read it you can’t help but see God’s plan weaved in every book as God is working out this promise from Genesis 3 onward to send this child to save His people. But there are times where God seems silent - like the 400 years between Old and New Testaments. Do you know how old the United States is? Nearly 250 years. We can’t imagine 400 years. Yet, this is how long God was silent. No prophets. No message. Silence. How did God break through the silence? Matthew’s Gospel tells us the answer

Matthew 1:18–23 CSB

18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. 20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”

This Jesus is God with us. Every year in our country, there are over 4 million babies born. God used Lindsey and I to contribute to that number this past year when Isaiah arrived back in August, but 4 million is a huge number. In fact, if you look at the global birth rate it is estimated that there are 140 million babies born each year around the whole world. That’s a ton of babies! What makes the birth of Jesus, this baby in Bethlehem so special? That’s a fair question and it’s one that many people want answered today, and maybe this is your question right now. Why does a baby from 2000 years ago matter to you today in 2023, nearly 2024? 2 reasons:

Look at His past - Jesus isn’t an ordinary baby

If you’re an avid reader or movie watcher, you know that heroes usually have an origin story. Whether it be a Spiderman who was bit by a scientifically experimented upon spider, or Michael Jordan who was cut from his basketball team as a freshman in high school, we like knowing more about the people that we read about, and their origin story helps make them who they are. Look at the background story of Jesus’ birth. He was promised thousands of years before He was born in order to save people. That’s not normal. He is fully-God and fully-man, that’s not normal. In fact, there are varying numbers but 300 at the very lowest and nearly 600 at the highest prophesies that Jesus fulfilled through His birth and earthly ministry

Look at His life - Jesus isn’t an ordinary person

This baby in Bethlehem grew up and He didn’t live a normal life. Sure, His father was a carpenter and He was relatively unknown by the masses for much of His life, but Jesus never once sinned as 2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us that He knew no sin. Not only did Jesus not sin, which we all do, Jesus also claimed to be God in John 10:30

John 10:30 CSB

30 I and the Father are one.”

Jesus is sinless. Jesus is God. Jesus performs countless miracles… But then Jesus does something remarkable. Jesus dies.

Why would Jesus die?

Go back to Matthew 1:21 - Jesus came to save His people from their sins. Our world was walking in darkness. Our world had no hope. Our world was broken. Our world was weary. And then at the right time, God sent Jesus as the promised seed of the woman to save sinners from their sin. Look at what Jesus said in John 8:12

John 8:12 CSB

12 Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”

This is what we celebrate at Christmas - the light of the world has come to light up our world. The question we have to ask individually is this: Has the light of the world lit up my world?

There were lots of different responses that people had to Jesus during His life. Many people rejected Him as Lord. They wanted a political or military leader, not a spiritual Savior. Others thought that He was a liar whenever He claimed to be God. Others thought that He was a lunatic or a madman because of the things that He was saying about God’s love and God’s judgment against the leaders of the day. What has been your response to Jesus?

92% of Americans believe that Jesus is a historical person who existed - maybe you think that Jesus was real and that’s about it

Nearly 30% of Americans believe that Jesus was a religious leader - maybe you think that Jesus was a spiritual leader but nothing really special

Nearly half of Americans believe that Jesus was a good person, but sinned - maybe you’re here and you think that Jesus was a good person but not the sinless Savior the Bible shares Him to be

Just over half of Americans believe that Jesus was a man but He was not God - maybe this is you tonight, you’re here and you think that Jesus was a real person but you deny the supernatural and say that He was not God as He claimed to be

If this is you, look at the clear teaching of Scripture - it’s the only thing that can convince you. I can’t. Your spouse can’t. Only God can. Jesus didn’t leave us an option that says that He was just a nice guy or a wise teacher or a good man… He said He was God. He came to forgive sins as only God can do. I want you to see the light of Jesus. I want Him to light your world on fire and to change you from the inside out - but sadly, many in our world are in darkness and they don’t even realize it.

Maybe tonight you find yourself in darkness because of suffering and loss and confusion. Maybe this year has been a difficult year and this Christmas season feels differently than other ones in the past. You’ve done everything right, but you’ve suffered. Your family has struggled. You’ve endured loss. Understand that this world we live in is broken due to sin. Sin not only impacts ourselves but everything in this fallen world. In the midst of this world of darkness, the good news of Christmas that Jesus brings is light. A light to maybe not have all the answers that you’d like to have, but a light that shines in the midst of suffering and confusion. A light that provides you with hope in the darkest of nights. A light that promises to never leave or abandon you.

Maybe you’re here and you’re a follower of Jesus but you’re in darkness tonight because of a situation that is more specific than the general brokenness and suffering of this world, but you’re in darkness because of someone else who has wronged you. Someone promised to be faithful and they broke that promise and you’re left in darkness trying to just pick up the pieces. In the midst of that present darkness, Jesus’ light shines as He is with you and for you. He is eternally faithful and He never drops His children. While people will still fail us, the more that we look to Jesus, the more that darkness begins to fade.

Maybe you’re here and you are a follower of Jesus but you’re in darkness tonight because of your own sin. You’ve hurt people with your actions. You’ve dropped the ball. You’ve stumbled. Maybe lots of people know, maybe a few people know, maybe it’s a sin that only God knows about, but you’re walking in darkness tonight because of that sin. Are you ready for the good news of the Gospel that we celebrate this Christmas season? Our sins are many, but His mercy is more. Jesus Christ came to this earth and lived a sinless life to save you from the penalty of your sin and once you are in Christ, though you won’t always be faithful, your identity is that of a faithful son or daughter of the King of Kings because of the blood of Jesus that speaks on your behalf. 1 John 1:9

1 John 1:9 CSB

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We rest in that promise - especially whenever the enemy attempts to tempt us to despair in our sin.

Finally, maybe you’re here and you are not a follower of Jesus Christ - possibly you think that you’re fine because this is the most wonderful time of the year. Maybe, though, you recognize that there’s a problem in your life. You recognize the darkness in your life, the void that nothing is able to satisfy. What’s the good news of Christmas for you? Come and See the Light of the World. Don’t be like the stiff-necked people of Jesus’ day as Stephen talked about in Acts who rejected Jesus. Don’t reject the Savior of sinners whenever He is exactly WHO you need today. Look to Jesus. He still saves. He still provides. He still lights up worlds. He still provides hope to a weary world. He still provides peace between His people and God.

Ephesians 2:13 CSB

13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Do you know this Jesus? The peace that He provides is not the lack of problems, but the promise of His presence in our problems!

If you don’t, I’m about to pray and I’d invite you to come outside of these double doors after this prayer and I’d love to pray with you. I’d love to talk with you about how Jesus can transfer you from the kingdom of darkness into His marvelous light and provide you with hope, purpose, joy, and peace. We’re going to pray and after we do, if you are saved, we’re going to partake of the Lord’s Supper and we’ll do it a little differently than most of you are used to. Tonight we’re going to have 4 tables set up at the front of our sanctuary and I’m going to ask those who are saved by grace through faith in Christ to participate. Send a family member or two down the middle aisles and grab the elements for your family - once you get back to your seat, pray as a family. Pray that God would reveal any sin in your life that you need to confess. Pray that God would remind you of the joy of salvation and the hope of Christmas. Pray and get your heart right with the Lord as a family, and after everyone has been through and returned to their seats, then I will pray come and pray and THEN we will take the Lord’s Supper together.

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Lord’s Supper

It is impossible to celebrate Christmas without looking from the Cradle to the Cross. This was Jesus’ purpose, after all! Not to create a holiday, but to create a people who are saved by grace through faith in Christ and this required Him to give His life to save us from our sins. The entirety of Jesus’ ministry was lived with His eyes looking to the cross. Thankfully, this isn’t where the story stops as we know that our Savior conquered the grave. As we gather together this evening, we remember His sacrifice. We remember the blood that was shed for our salvation. We remember and we rejoice. We remember and we worship. We remember and we tell others about this good news.

1 Corinthians 11:23–27 CSB

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27 So, then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sin against the body and blood of the Lord.

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Candlelight

Part of being saved and having the light of Jesus come into your life means that you are now responsible to share that light with others. Our world is lost and in darkness and in desperate need of the light of the Gospel! Our community is no exception. There are people here in Salem, Missouri who have no idea who Jesus is! This Christmas season, and every season, we must let the light of Christ shine in our lives in such a way that people would see something different inside of us and our prayer is that with the way that we live, the way that we speak, the way that we post, the way that we suffer, and the way that we act stands out and shines the light of Jesus brightly. Our light does no one good if we cover it up - but just one light can shine bright in a large room of darkness. In fact, one light can turn into 2. 2 lights can turn into 4. We are called to let our light shine and in doing so, we glorify God and we share the Gospel with others knowing that God’s Word promises to never return void. We let our light shine and as we do this, we make a dent in Dent County for God’s glory, one life at a time.