1 Even on Christmas, We Still Have Darkness John 1:1-5 December 24, 20017

Transcription

1 1 The Gospel according to John tells us: 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 1:2 He was in the beginning with God. 1:3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 1:4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it (John 1:1-5). Christmas brings an end to Advent. All of us will be celebrating Christmas in a special way. The gospel writers are no different than we are. As they wrote stories that attempted to showcase the

2 2 identity and significance of Jesus, they each remembered Christmas the day that Jesus entered this world. Matthew tells us about Joseph who was visited by an angel who informed him about the son Mary was going to give birth to, and he tells us about the Magi who recognized the baby Jesus as King of the Jews once he was born. Mark s gospel doesn t mention anything about the birth of Jesus. Instead, he begins his story about Jesus with John the Baptist the cousin of Jesus who prepared the way for him by preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

3 3 Luke gives us the classic Christmas story. Luke tells of angels visiting Mary and her sister Elizabeth letting them know that they are going to bear children. Then he tells us you probably know the King James Version of this line It came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And we heard how there was no room for Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem so Mary gave birth to Jesus and placed him in a manger. And who can forget the shepherds who heard the great news of the Savior s birth while they were abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night.

4 4 And then there comes John s gospel. He doesn t mention angels, shepherds, Mary, Joseph, or wise men. John assumes that we already know those stories. And instead of retelling them from his perspective, he gives us an introduction to his story about Jesus that is full of poetry, images, and metaphors. And all of them help summarize the significance of the mission of Jesus and His entrance into the world. It is the apostle John who gave us one of the clearest images of what Christmas is all about. It s an image that has its roots in the Old Testament prophecies. It s an image that Jesus himself used to

5 5 describe his mission. It s an image that we celebrated earlier this evening with the lighting of the Christ candle. And it s an image of the good news that we will walk out of here remembering and proclaiming tonight. John reminds us that at Christmas, we celebrate that Jesus is the light of the world who came to extinguish all darkness. Jesus was God present as a man in the world. He was a prophet who revealed to humanity how we could live alongside of one another and love each other. He was a friend to the outcasts of society the women, the prisoners, the hungry,

6 6 the lepers, and all those who were deemed sinners by others. He was the light of the world shining light into the darkness. But as John tells us, when Jesus was in the world many of his own people who were living in darkness did not accept him. They didn t want to receive light. So they crucified Jesus on a cross hoping to extinguish the light he radiated once and for all. But God had other plans. God lovingly used the death of Jesus on the cross as an all-sufficient sacrifice that was owed to him because of humanity s sin. This provided a way for the darkness of sin to be extinguished from the world. And three days after he died, Jesus

7 7 conquered the darkness of death because the grave could not hold him. He ascended into heaven from where he originally came, and now he reigns. This is the story of the world that the church believes and teaches, but it isn t always clear where we fit into this story and how it continues today. Even on Christmas, we still have darkness, but today we celebrate that God did not leave us in the dark but sent his only Son to identify with us and our situation, and show us the way towards light and new life. And we also look with great expectation to the day in which Jesus will come again in this world and

8 8 complete his work of extinguishing all darkness, for we know that the darkness will never be able to overcome the light. John tells us that all who receive Jesus all who believe that he is the Christ, the Son of God, the light of the world sent to save us from our sins all those who believe will receive the forgiveness of sins, the power to become children of God, and the assurance of life forever with God. This is the good news of Christmas. And if you haven t ever believed in Jesus as the Savior of this world and the Savior of your life, then there is no better time

9 9 than on this day in which we celebrate his entrance into our world. And if you have believed in Jesus and followed him to light and new life, then tonight you have the opportunity to ask God to search your heart, reveal to you the darkness that still resides there, and to send his Holy Spirit to fill it with light. Amen!