Sermon Tone Analysis

I remember as a child that this time of the year was always a special time, when we could drive down the neighborhood to see the houses lit up with lights.

Some would have different colors and others would have all white lights.

Some would decorate the roof, while others would decorate every tree and bush in sight.

As an adult, I have seen decorations of lights in many cities.

In Tulsa, OK and Dallas, TX I have seen displays that were absolutely breathtaking.

At Callaway Gardens, near where we lived in GA, you could drive for miles to see all the different lights.

There was a place in Natchitoches, LA that was famous for decorating the river with lights.

And I know there is a place near Belleville, IL called Our Lady of the Snows that decorates with lights each year (although I have not seen that one yet).

Even here in Carbondale, there is a celebration of lights each year.

No matter where you go, there is always some celebration of lights.

Of course, we also decorate our Christmas trees with lights.

We even light candles to represent the light—as we did before (point to Advent candles burning).

This is all very appropriate because what we celebrate at Advent is the *Light of World—Jesus*—coming to us while we were in great darkness.

Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 (NIV) The people walking in darkness have seen a great *light*; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a *light* has dawned.

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Last week we talked about the message of Advent being one of Anticipation.

Today, I want to talk about the *Light* that shines in the darkness of this world.

God is the author or creator of *light*.

Gen. 1:3-5 (NIV) And God said, “Let there be *light*,” and there was *light*.

4 God saw that the *light* was good, and He separated the *light* from the darkness.

5 God called the *light* “day,” and the darkness He called “night.”

And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

What is it about *light* that fascinates us?

Light is everywhere in our world.

We need it to see: it carries information from the world to our eyes and brains.

Seeing colors and shapes is second nature to us, yet light is a perplexing phenomenon when we study it more closely.

Here are some things to think about:

·        Our brains and eyes act together to make extraordinary things happen in perception.

Movies are sequences of still pictures.

Magazine pictures are arrays of dots.

·        Light acts like particles—little light bullets—that stream from the source.

This explains how shadows work.

·        Light also acts like waves—ripples in space—instead of bullets.

This explains how rainbows work.

In fact, light is both.

·        Light in Color—Color is more than decoration, and perceiving color is tricky.

·        Laws of Light.

Light behaves according to special rules; for example, it usually travels in a straight line and it bounces off mirrors at the same angle it hits them.

[i]

 

Where there is *light*, the darkness is gone—the more *light*, the less darkness.

Light and darkness are opposites and do not go together well.

*Light* has a unique quality that allows it to penetrate into every corner and crevice where there is darkness.

*Light* brings comfort to us.

I will admit that I was afraid of the dark for many years, due to movies I had seen as a child—parents please don’t let your children watch horror movies, you don’t know the affect it can have on them for the rest of their life.

In fact, I have been afraid of the dark most of my life, and only within the past few years have I been able to conquer that fear.

Honestly, what is the difference between walking into a room that is dark and one that has light in it?

I’m not sure I know, but I can tell you this, I still prefer to go into a well lit room rather than a dark one!

V.2

tells us that the people walking in darkness have seen a *great* *light*.

God knew that we needed light, not only the physical kind, but the spiritual kind.

He promises that no matter how dark our life may be due to sin, there is a *great* *light* that can shine into it and penetrate the darkness.

We may be stumbling around—because that is how you walk in darkness—but He will shine the *great* *light* so we can see our way out the darkness.

There is only one *Light*, the *Light* of the Messiah that will bring comfort and peace to a dark world.

I find it interesting that when the angels announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds in the field, there was a *great* *light*—the *light* of God’s glory—shining around them (Luke 2:9).

God did not make this announcement in the dark, secret places, but openly for all the world to see.

Also, note that the star that guided the wise men to Bethlehem, gave off a *great light *(Matt 2:2, 9-10).

When God wanted to make an announcement, He knew how to do it—with *great light*—what a light show God can put on for us!

 

Let’s see what else is said about this *great Light*—the Messiah.

V.

6 tells us “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.”

1.

The Messiah will be born as a human baby (9:6a).

This shows His humanity—humility to become a man.

2.    The Messiah will be sent as a gift from heaven (9:6b).

This shows His deity—exalted King and Lord of the universe.

Every year we recite this verse and hear it sung as we celebrate Christmas.

Yet it also contains a reference to one of the great, perplexing truths in the Bible: the Incarnation—“a Child is born, . . .

a Son is given.”

That is, God would become a man.

We can accept that truth by faith, but we cannot fully grasp what it meant for the Second Person of the Godhead to leave heaven and put on flesh.

But Paul tells us that He took the form of a servant and came as a man.

“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name” (Phil.

2:7, 9).

The child in v. 6 is the Immanuel spoken of in Isaiah 7:14.

Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Immanuel means “God with us.”

God not only brought the *light* through Him, but will keep the *light* with us through Him.

In fact, Jesus told His disciples that the Spirit of God would not be on them, but it would be in them (John 14:17).

“He is God’s gift to man’s predicament.

He is fully human (“child,” “born,” “son”), but he is also divine, with all the perfections of kingship in himself: supernatural wisdom, might, paternal beneficence (goodness), and peace.

This son will reign forever in justice, righteousness, and peace.

The certainty of his kingdom is guaranteed by “the zeal of the Lord” (v.

7b).”[ii]

The real significance of this unique Child comes in His fourfold name:

1.     *Wonderful, Counselor* (/pele//˒// yō//˓//ets/) is actually one title in the Hebrew.

“Wonder,” from /pele//˒/, means that which is miraculously accomplished by God Himself.

The two words of this title may be rendered “a wonder of a counselor,” or “a wonderful counselor.”

The term “counselor” is often used in parallel with “king”.

Micah 4:9 (NIV) Why do you now cry aloud— have you no king?

Has your counselor perished

So that the emphasis here implies that of God-like counsel of a God-like King.

Where else can we go to get the Godly wisdom we need for our lives, but to the Wonderful Counselor—our Messiah—Jesus Christ!

2.     *The mighty God* (Heb /˒//el gibbōr/).

This is the strongest of the titles with reference to deity.

/Gibbōr/ means “hero or champion.”

Therefore, the Child is the mighty God Himself—our champion!

He is the strong warrior who fights for us.

The Lord is the Hero of His people, the Divine Warrior who has triumphed over sin and death.