Human history has been a battle against darkness
- we learn to fear it as children
- Parents warn against it
- Nothing good happens after…
- We stub our toes in it
- Or step on legos
There are things in the dark that:
- scare us
- Surprise us
- Trip us
- Hurt us
Growing older – Grow accustomed to the dark
- Learn that it can have advantages
We all eventually learn…
Darkness Hides
Light Exposes
- Want to hide something, keep it in the dark
I’m not just referring to PHYSICAL Darkness…
- SPIRITUAL Darkness
- EMOTIONAL/MENTAL Darkness
We all learn to LEVERAGE this darkness
Learn to keep things
- Hidden away
- Out of sight
We can never THRIVE in the darkness
- Can NEVER truly be AT HOME in darkness
The theme of Darkness and Light in Christmas Story
A THEME in the birth narrative is this idea of DARKNESS and LIGHT
- Starts in the beginning
We started this series by talking about Isaiah
- A prophet living hundreds of years before Jesus…
- He said…
Isaiah 9:2
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness.
Who are these people walking in darkness?
Humanity
This whole Series has been about THEMES
- GOD’S STORY
- God Prepares a way for those who trust him
- KING of KILL (Christ is King)
NOW – THEME of LIGHT and DARK
- Starts in the beginning
Adam and Eve eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of GOOD AND EVIL
- They take that responsibility for themselves
- The
Genesis 3:8
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
Where do you go to hide?
- THE DARK
- They ran from the light and HID in the dark
This theme continues all throughout the WHOLE Bible…
Old Testament
Psalm 119:105,130
105 Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.
130 The revelation of your words brings light and gives understanding to the inexperienced.
Salvation
Ephesians 5:8
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light—
In relation to one another
1 John 1:7
If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Jesus Said about Himself
John 8:12
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.”
Our Enemy knows this
2 Corinthians 11:14
And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.
LIGHT AND THE CHRISTMAS STORY
In the video, we saw through the eyes of an ANGEL
Creative liberties
In the OLD TESTAMENT, the stars were thought to be heavenly/angelic hosts
In Matthews’s account of the birth of Jesus, he tells about a STAR…
Matthew 2
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.”
Here is our theme again…
We have TWO groups of people
1: HEROD AND HIS PEOPLE
2: THE WISE MEN
Herod = KING OF OF THE JEWS
- Who are the Jews?
- The ones who were looking for the Messiah
Wise men = Outsiders to the promises of God
Who saw the light?!
- Those on the outside
- Those Truly Seeking
>>Herod assumed he was inside of God’s promises but was out
>>Those on the outside seeking the light will be let in
We learn this…
You must actively search for the light in order to find it.
This is how the Apostle Paul put it…
2 Corinthians 4
4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
5 You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
An important part of Christmas is understanding the darkness in our own hearts
- That we NEED the LIGHT OF CHRIST
- But if you let the LIGHT of Jesus in, it will overcome the darkness
What does it mean to SEEK THE LIGHT?
- Might be easier to explain what living in the dark looks like
Telling a lie…
Light or dark?
Lying is what Herod did
Gossiping
Light or dark?
Unforgiving
Light or Dark?
Galatians 5:19–21
19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Those who CHOOSE to WALK in these things DO NOT SEEK THE LIGHT…
We can be like those WISE MEN who choose to SEEK the light
- To follow that star
The power of the light of Christ is to both Reveal and strengthen
- The light of Christ holds an incredible power
- With its illuminating radiance, it can expose the darkest corners of the soul, bringing clarity and truth to all who seek it
- And once discovered, it has the strength to grow, to flourish, and to transform even the most broken of hearts
- Embrace the power of the light of Christ and watch it ignite the flames of hope and healing within you
Christmas serves as a reminder that we are invited to Walk In The Light
And by walking in the light, you become a light to a dark world
In the words of Jesus…
Matthew 5:14-16
14 “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Over the centuries, the candle has come to represent the light of Jesus Christ
By lighting this candle, you are choosing to be one who WALKS IN THE LIGHT
- To be a light in the dark world
John 1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.