Isaiah 9:2     Martin Luther in Darkness    102608

Intro:  Today we go back to the 1500’s AD—about 500 years ago.  We go back to the man named MARTIN LUTHER.  The Lutheran Church is named for Martin Luther.  Martin Luther was (truly) a wonderful preacher and always studied God’s word.  Martin Luther loved Jesus very much.   But many people criticized Martin Luther and persecuted him.  Martin Luther had another problem also.  He had a mental illness called MANIC DEPRESSIVE.  Happened sometimes Martin Luther was full with enthusiasm and wrote 3 songs and 2 books in 2 weeks.  Other times Martin Luther became depressed.  Luther, his life seemed dark. The great stress in his life made the depression become worse.  Happened one time, Martin Luther stayed in bed for several weeks—too much depressed to get up.  Finally his wife dressed in black funeral clothes.  Wife looking sad, she walked into his bedroom.  Martin looked up at her and asked, “Who died?”  Wife said, “Oh, you  are so sad.  I think maybe God died.”  Martin Luther sat up  and said, “God is alive, not dead!!”  But Martin Luther understood he must focus on Jesus for his help.  Martin Luther understood, only Jesus can make dark become light.

Text and application: Sometimes we maybe feel same-as Martin Luther.  Sometimes

1.   our life seems dark. 

2.   we feel lonely. 

3.   we feel rejected and disappointed. 

4.   we are grieving for someone who is not with us here on earth. 

5.   somebody says unkind words to us and we feel hurt. 

6.   we come to church and we sit and pay attention but we don’t have much joy.  Not much enthusiasm. 

7.   our life seems dark.  Maybe if someone came and looked-hard at us they would say, “Wow!  I think maybe their God is dead!” 

     But our Savior lives!  Same-as Martin Luther, we need to focus on Jesus.  We need to remember the words written 700 years before Jesus was born.  The prophet Isaiah saw Jesus coming in the future and said, (Read Is. 9:2)(John 1:1-5)  Jesus is our light!  Jesus comes and darkness evaporates!  In our troubled time we look-up to Jesus.  We cling to Him.  We allow Him to fill us with His love and His peace and His joy.  Martin Luther did that.  Clung to Jesus.  Trusted Jesus.  Loved Jesus.  Even though (doesn’t matter) Martin Luther experienced darkness and trouble and depression in his life, he looked up to Jesus for his comfort and support.  And Jesus put a song into Martin Luther’s heart.  And the song’s praise and thanks and joy made darkness evaporate and light shine.  Jesus’ light  touched Martin’s heart and Martin wrote this beautiful Christmas song.

  Song:  “A Mighty Fortress.”

CT=  In the middle of our darkness, Jesus comes with His light.