Luke 1:67-79 - Light Shines into Darkness

Introduction: Darkness

This is the final Sunday of the Advent season. On Wednesday, the expectation of this season will be fulfilled. The light has come into the world. And that is the theme of this message: “Light Shines into Darkness,” taken from verse 79 of our text which says,

Luke 1:79 “To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To direct our feet into the way of peace.””

John 1:9 LSB

There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens everyone.

We know what it means to be in darkness. If you have ever tried to walk from you bedroom to the bathroom in the middle night without a light, you know the pain of stubbing your toe on something that you did not know was there. The Scriptures say that this is the way, or the path, or the life, of the wicked:

Proverbs 4:19 LSB

The way of the wicked is like thick darkness; They do not know over what they stumble.

In this season of Advent and soon to be the Christmastide (the 12 days of Christmas), we are celebrating the coming of light into darkness.

When Adam sinned, he plunged the whole world into darkness, separating us from where God is said to dwell, which is in unapproachable light (1 Timothy 6:16). With the fall of mankind came darkness, sin, and death.

When the Scriptures describe the destruction of a nation, or a city, or even of the old creation, it is described in terms of removing its light:

Regarding Babylon

Isaiah 13:10 “For the stars of heaven and their constellations Will not flash forth their light; The sun will be dark when it rises And the moon will not shed its light.”

Regarding Egypt

Ezekiel 32:7–8““And when I extinguish you, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars; I will cover the sun with a cloud, And the moon will not give its light. “All the shining lights in the heavens I will darken over you And will give darkness on your land,” Declares Lord Yahweh.”

Old Creation

Zechariah 14:6 “And it will be in that day, that there will be no light; the luminaries will dwindle.”

Joel 2:31 ““The sun will be turned into darkness And the moon into blood Before the great and awesome day of Yahweh comes.”

Joel 3:15 “The sun and moon grow dark, And the stars lose their brightness.”

This destruction is described in terms of darkness. All mankind, by their fall, lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell for ever. (WSC #19).

This was the estate of mankind after the fall in Genesis 3, and continued to be the estate of man until the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas day, and even today, we see the continuing effects of sin, death, and darkness on many still in the world.

Yes, the light has come and yes the new creation has been inaugurated, but many are still in darkness.

Light

It says in John that Jesus Christ was the Light of men. He brought light.

John 1:4–5 “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.”

And in Zechariah 14:7 “...but it will be that at evening time there will be light.”

When Jesus came as a baby, He was bringing the new light of a new creation into the darkness of the old creation.

In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth He said,

Genesis 1:3 “Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.”

So you can see, when we look at it this way, how when the lights go out, that is the end of creation, and when new light appears, that is the beginning of creation. When Jesus came, He was shining into darkness as the light of creation.

Consider:

Is Yahweh your light?

Is your chief end to glorify God and enjoy Him forever?

Psalm 27:1 “Yahweh is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the strong defense of my life; Whom shall I dread?”

Psalm 119:130 “The unfolding of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.”

We talked last week about God filling the hungry with bread. This week, He is giving us sight through His light.

Are we walking as children of light?

Ephesians 5:8–13 “for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of that light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. And do not participate in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead even expose them. For it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.”

Is the fruit of that light evidenced in us? Goodness, righteousness, and truth. Are we trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord?

Are you seeking to understand and know God more and more? Are you seeking to apply His Truth to every area of your life? Are you walking in the Light?

Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”

How can we be lighthouses for those outside in darkness if we ourselves are not glorying in, seeking, and gazing at the True Light?

To put this another way, are we actually applying the light of God’s Word to our lives so that we can be salt and light to the darkness around us?

Paul says that his mission was Acts 26:17-23, “…to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God…that the Christ was to suffer; and that as first of the resurrection from the dead, He was going to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

Are we endeavoring to shine the light of the Gospel into the darkness of those around us?

2 Corinthians 4:4 “in whose case the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

So, during Advent, we are in a time of darkness, waiting for the light of a new creation in the promised seed of the woman. That new creation light will come at Christmas. And His light will shine into the darkness and the darkness will not overtake it. And the light that shines into darkness will produce children of the light who will love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. And, their neighbor as themselves. They will bring the delivering light to those who are blinded in darkness by the god of the old creation. Are we ready to bring the light?

Zechariah’s Benedictus

This coming light is what Zechariah is proclaiming in his prophecy. He is proclaiming the arrival of the promises of God concerning salvation.

It is called the Benedictus because of the Latin Vulgate translation, “Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel.”

It is called a “prophecy” in verse 67, “Zechariah…prophesied, saying...” And he prophesied upon being “filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Just like Mary’s Magnificat, Zechariah’s Benedictus, is filled with allusion and quotations from other Scriptures. And on the one hand, and i’m certain this was true, it points to the knowledge that these people had of the Scripture. But, I think more important than this is the phrase “filled with the Holy Spirit.” The Spirit of God will speak consistently with what He has already spoken. This is why the same song is song in Exodus 15, 1 Samuel 1, 2 Samuel 22, and Luke 1. The same Spirit is filling these people to sing the same song.

It is possible to know the data of Scripture and yet to sing a different song. It is possible to have the knowledge, and yet have no light. We cannot attain the filling of the Spirit through works of righteousness which we have done. This power cannot be bought, as Simon the sorcerer thought in Acts 8:17-24. If we are in darkness, the only hope for us is to do what Peter told Simon to do:

Acts 8:22 LSB

“Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray earnestly to the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.

What is the intention of your heart? Is it simply to know more than everyone else? Is it to gain authority or power? Or is it to be of service to God?

Zechariah was filled with the Spirit and so spake according to what the Spirit had revealed.

John MacArthur likes to point out that Colossians 3:16 is a parallel passage to Ephesians 5:18–19 .

Colossians 3:16 LSB

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with gratefulness in your hearts to God.

Ephesians 5:18–19 LSB

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly = but be filled with the Spirit. They have the same result.

If we are speaking according to what God has revealed, then we will be speaking according to the Spirit of God. And if we are speaking according to the Spirit of God, then we will be speaking according to what God Has revealed.

Zechariah is singing the same song that has been sung throughout redemptive history in his prophecy. He is proclaiming the faithfulness of God to His people. The covenant-keeping God has done what He has promised.

Covenant Promises (v. 68-75)

Zechariah starts the prophecy by proclaiming a blessing upon the Lord God of Israel. He then proceeds to explain why.

Visiting and accomplishing redemption

Davidic Covenant (v. 69) - As a king, saving His people from their enemies.

Abrahamic Covenant (v. 72-73) - As a priest, serving Yahweh in security.

He weaves in references to Psalm 105, Psalm 106, and Micah 7 (along with a few other references).

Psalm 105:8, Psalm 105:42, Psalm 106:10, Psalm 106:45, Micah 7:20.

Zechariah is remembering the covenant promises of God, and he is celebrating their fulfillment.

John the Baptist (v. 76-79)

Zechariah then prophecies what John the Baptist’s ministry will be:

The prophet of the Most High.

He will be called the “prophet of the Most High.” Gabriel tells Mary that Jesus will be called the “Son of the Most High.” John will be the “prophet of the Most High.” Because, says Zechariah, he “will go on before the LORD.” - This means that “the Most High” is in reference to the One who John is going before: Jesus Christ (Luke 1:32).

Prepare the way for the Most High

He “…will go on before the LORD to make ready His ways...” A reference to Isaiah 40:3. And this concept of preparation is also mentioned when the angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah in the Temple (Luke 1:17), describing what John’s ministry would be: preparing the way for the LORD.

Isaiah 40:3 “A voice is calling, “Prepare the way for Yahweh in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.”

Luke 1:17 ““And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.””

Proclaim the salvation of the Most High

He will “…give to His people the knowledge of salvation.”

The forgiveness of their sins because of the mercy of our God (Jeremiah 31:34).

Which will come as the dawn to shine light into the darkness (Isaiah 9:2).

And will direct our feet into the way of peace (Isaiah 59:8).

Walk as Children of Light

When you read this passage, and you see phrases such as, “horn of salvation,” “Salvation from our enemies,” “rescued from the hand of our enemies,” all found in verses 68-75, what comes to your mind first? The removal of our political adversaries? Or, the coming salvation of God to forgive the sins of mankind?

Are we thinking, “Yes! He is coming to crush the Romans!”??

When we see the Davidic king coming, and we hear His prophets proclaiming His salvation from our enemies, are we imagining a fulfillment of Psalm 2, in which the King will crush his enemies with a rod of iron?

Are we, like Jonah, positioning ourselves so that we can watch the amazing display of God’s wrath against a wicked people?

We know that this will happen, it says every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. But, He will not do it according to our earthly perception of what ought to happen.

The Jews thought the Messiah, in fulfillment of Psalm 2, would crush their immediate, political enemies. He did not. He was fighting a bigger and much more meaningful battle: the battle against darkness. And we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against rulers, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places. And our weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but they are mighty through God to the tearing down of strongholds.

The reality is that the Romans were not the enemy. And thanks be to God, the Roman empire eventually converted to the true religion. And the reality for us today is that our apparent political enemies are not the true enemy. Yes, they may serve the enemy: darkness. But they are not the enemy. We proclaim to them salvation. Their sins can be forgiven in Christ, thanks be to God! They can come into the light and have fellowship with God Almighty!

God will crush his enemies, He will establish justice in all the earth, He will have pre-eminence. But until that time comes on earth as it is in heaven, our duty is to walk as children of light.

Will we let our passions get the best of us? Will we respond in human wrath and vengeance against the enemies of God? The steady hand of justice will be administered. But we must be on guard that we are not being spiritual vigilantes and disdaining the very mission field which God has given us to cultivate.

Yes, be a Boniface. He was a strong man who courageously cut down down the sacred tree of the pagan people he was evangelizing. But do you know how he died? He was killed by a marauding band of pagans. The very people he was seeking to evangelize killed him. This is not a message about justice and the sword wielded appropriately in self-defense, this is a message about how we ought to view other people in the world who right now are aligned against God, Christ, and us. They are servants of darkness and we are called to shine the light upon them.

So, let’s be light in this community. Let’s be the ones who can show Warsaw the way of peace. Let’s proclaim the good news that Warsaw can have peace with God Almighty!

First, we must ensure that Yahweh is our light. Our Chief end must be to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

Second, we must seek to walk as children of light: both applying the light of God’s revelation to ourselves in our lives, and by shining that light courageously and unashamedly into a world that is hostile to us and to God.

Let’s pray:

“Oh Father in Heaven, Hallowed be your name, I pray that you would grant us your Spirit, that we may walk as children of your light. That we might be as Boniface, your servant, who fearlessly felled the tree of the false god, Thor and saw many pagans won by the light. I pray that we would fight the good fight of faith, that we would not rely upon the strength of our own arm or weapons, but that we would remember the weapons you have given us with which to fight against this spiritual darkness.

I pray that we would use these means of grace, prayer, your Word, the bread and wine of our communion, to fight the evil of darkness. And I pray that through righteousness, goodness, and truth, we may win some who oppose themselves, sitting in the shadow of death, lost in darkness.

I pray that we would be lighthouses to this dark world, that our neighbors and coworkers would associate us with the wonder of having peace with you. I pray that we would never lose sight of the gratitude that we should have for being in the light ourselves.

I thank you, Father, for sending the light of the world as a baby, conceived by the Holy Ghost in the womb of the virgin Mary, and born of her, yet without sin. We thank you for Christmas; for hope, for joy, and for light.

It is in Jesus’ name that I pray. Amen!”

They will be glad in Your presence

Isaiah 9:2–7 “The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in the land of the shadow of death, The light will shine on them. You shall multiply the nation, You shall make great their gladness; They will be glad in Your presence As with the gladness of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For You shall shatter the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders, The rod of their taskmaster, as at the battle of Midian. For every boot of the booted warrior in the rumbling of battle, And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire. For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of Yahweh of hosts will accomplish this.”

We who have walked in darkness have seen the light of the World, Jesus Christ, born of Mary, crucified on the cross, dead, buried, risen again, and ascended up into heaven.

We who have lived in the land of the shadow of death have had the light shine on us. God has made us glad in His presence because He has shattered the yoke of our burden.

How did He do this?

He gave us a child. And that child’s name is Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. He is even now sitting on the throne of David. And here, in His kingdom we sit at His table and we have peace with God Almighty.

The invitation goes out to this feast. Jesus, at this table says, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28). We take the yoke of Christ, we have peace with God, and we are glad in His presence, filled with His light.

We can eat the bread and drink the wine of victory. the Kingdom of Darkness has been overthrown. The victory feast is here. And that feast is the broken body and the shed blood of our atoning sacrifice, Jesus Christ, the Son of the Most High, the True veil of the Temple who, when rent in two, makes a way for us into the presence of God.

Let us give thanks to our Great God for the bread and wine which we are about to receive as a memorial to Christ and His sacrifice for our sins.

Let us pray.