The Light in the Darkness
Notes
Transcript
Tonight, in the night sky, a star shines. . . or at least it looks like a star. We call it the star of Bethlehem, and it is a convergence, where two planets get so close to one another that it forms a brilliant light that looks like the brightest star in the sky. Convergences that cause such a brilliant light in the sky are rare, especially ones that are very view-able from Earth, but they are special because they can be viewed from anywhere on Earth, if you know where to look.
Tonight, we are gathered together to worship our Savior, to praise God and to thank Him for sending His One and only Son, so that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. Every 24th of December, Christmas Eve, and the 25th of December, Christmas day, we mark the celebration of His birth. The word, Christmas, means the celebration of Christ. We celebrate on December 25th, not really knowing the actual day of His birth. And yet, tonight, these two things meet to remind us of something truly amazing.
In the year 3 B.C., to the east of Judea, was what remained of Babylon. There was a group of Babylonian scholars known as magi that, among other things, studied the stars. The Babylonians believed in astrology, that the movement of the stars and planets affected things happening on earth. For example, they saw happenings around the constellation of Leo, the lion, as representative of Israel. They saw the planet, Venus, as being related to motherhood, and Jupiter as kingship. Regulus, a star, was looked at as a predictor of royal occurrences.
I mention these things because, while the Bible strictly forbids astrology, God does say that He put signs in the heavens. In Numbers 24:17, He says:
“I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near;
A star shall come forth from Jacob,
A scepter shall rise from Israel,
And shall crush through the forehead of Moab,
And tear down all the sons of Sheth.
Most Bible scholars believe that Jesus was born between the years 2 and 3 B.C. And starting in the year 3 B.C., there was a series of 5 different astronomical convergences that occurred over about an 11 month period involving the constellation, Leo, the star, Regulus, and the planets of Venus and Jupiter. To the Babylonians, these 5 events involving these 4 “stars” of the heavens, would have signified something great: they would have told the Babylonian Magi of the birth of a great and mighty King in Israel.
And while they did not operate on our modern calendar, nine months after the very first of these events, Jupiter, the symbol of kingship, converged in the greatest and most brilliant of convergences with Venus, the symbol of motherhood. Nine months after the first event, the biggest and brightest “star” that had ever appeared showed up in the night sky in mid-June of 2 B.C. The star was so bright, that the Romans thought it was a sign for them, and they started imprinting a star on their coins. The last event, the last great star would have occurred on December 25th of 2 B.C.
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:
‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah;
For out of you shall come forth a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”
Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared.
And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.”
After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.
Magi, the wisemen, from the east came to honor Christ. They weren’t there the day of His birth, they followed a star, until the day of their arrival. Could it be that we celebrate and exchange gifts on the 25th of December because that is the day that Jesus’ gifts arrived? Perhaps. But what is infinitely more important this Christmas, is that we too have come to adore Him. For
The people who walk in darkness
Will see a great light;
Those who live in a dark land,
The light will shine on them.
The star that shines in the sky tonight reminds us once again of the brilliant star of Bethlehem. The stars above us cannot reshape your life, but they do point us to the One who can! The true star of Christmas was not in the heavens to follow, but in a lowly manger. The Light of the world on that dark night was not the glory that streamed from angels, but what those angels came to celebrate.
Rome turned their attention on the star, but missed its significance as they looked at themselves. Herod and the priests of Israel missed the glory of God, as they worried over their challenger. But wise men rejoiced at the sight of the star, not for what it was, but for Who it was for. The heavens were declaring the glory of their King, and wise men had come to worship.
Tonight, around the world, scientists and enthusiasts alike are staring through their telescopes. Headlines have spoken of the star of Bethlehem. The media have discussed this rare event, and none of them have tied it to Jesus. Though the name of the convergence itself would seem to point us to the truth, it eludes those hearts that seek after the stars and not the God that created them.
May it be tonight, that gathered in this place, that we could count ourselves among wise men. Let us worship Christ this blessed Christmas. Let our eyes be fixed on the manger that held our King, and our hope of salvation. As we sing together in candlelight, may it point us to the Light of the world, that has come to deliver God’s people from darkness.
Darkness is nothing new to God’s people. We read just moments ago from Isaiah 9, of the people who live in great darkness seeing a great light. In Isaiah chapter 8, Isaiah wrote to a discouraged and downtrodden remnant in Judah. Judah was supposed to be a nation under God, a nation who sought the Lord. But they weren’t. They sought their salvation from other nations. And yet, there was a remnant. There were some, in the midst of the darkness, that loved the Lord and were seeking Him. Isaiah spoke to them. He spoke of the fall of Judah and the judgment that was coming to those who were scheming against those that loved the Lord. And the reason that God’s people would be protected, that they would not be overcome in the midst of the trouble that was coming was Immanuel. God with us would come. As verse 9:2 promised, a Light in the darkness was coming. And one night He did. John 1:9-10 speaks of Him.
There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
The Light of the world, God with us, has come. Jesus is the true Light of Christmas. What an incredible thought, that God would choose to dwell with us. That He who created all that is came to be among us. That the One that we offended and broke our relationship with as we chose our sin and death over His abundance of life, became sin for us, that we can live.
Jesus, the Living Star of Christmas, who opened the eyes of blind men and made the lame to walk again. Jesus, whose gaze pierces to the heart of a man, and who loves us anyway. Let the star of Bethlehem point us to Him tonight. Let it remind us of Immanuel, that we may fix our eyes on the One true light. Though we may live in dark days, though our nation under God makes a mockery of that phrase, there is a remnant for the Lord, here tonight. Let us turn our eyes, not to the skies, but to the wonder of our Savior. We will not find our warmth in the nations of men, but we will bask forever in the glow of the true Star of Christmas, so that the darkness cannot overwhelm us.
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 the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.
As God used the mighty works of His heavens to declare the glorious unfolding of His will among men, let the stars on this night point us to Him once again. What darkness can overthrow the very source of Light Himself? Whom shall you fear, when our King is King forever, whose Kingdom is eternal, who Himself is Mighty God.
It is a piece of irony isn’t? These magi that sought him were using divination. Astrology proposes that the movement of the stars changes and shapes the ways of men. These Magi, these wisemen, were searching for divine wisdom and understanding in the stars, that they could plot their course through life. It is a foolish endeavor, and yet in it, God the Divine, charted their course to Himself. And for those that seek Him now, the same is true for you.
Your path to Jesus is infinitely easier than it was for those magi. You don’t need a star to guide you to Him because Jesus is already with us. He is here tonight, even in our midst. Jesus is ready for all that would partake of Him. Will you find your joy in Him today? Come and love the Child who lay in the manger. He did not stay there! He is on His throne, forever, and His Kingdom will have no end. Come, with the wisemen this Christmas. Come adore Him on bended knee. Before we open shiny wrapped packages, and feast on great food, let us hold out our hearts as our greatest offering. Come before the King of Kings, and find in His star all the Light You will ever need.
It is a little Ironic, that the star of Bethlehem isn’t actually a star. After all, planets have no light of their own. All of the light that makes them so bright is a reflection of the Sun. In a moment we are going to break bread together. We are going to share the Lord’s Supper for the first time since the darkness of this year set in. And in the quiet of this moment, we find an invitation. It is an invitation into the reflection of the Son. It is a chance for us to not only be drawn by His light, but to be filled with it, so that you too might reflect Him to others.
Let’s pray together: Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ, the true star of Christmas. We thank You for His Light that You have given to this dark world of sin, so that we can find freedom from it. Lord, would You let Your light be born in each of us gathered here tonight? Help us to be filled with Jesus this Christmas, that His hope, peace, love, and joy will be ours to share with all those You are calling to Yourself. We long to be reflections of You, Jesus. As we bow our hearts before You, would You make us like You. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.