THE LIGHT
Isaiah 9:2-7
Among all of the
pieces of scripture that we read, what we are about to hear (with the exception
of the 23rd Psalm), are the most recognizable. Every year we come back around to Christmas,
and every year, we hear from the words of the prophet Isaiah, and the Gospel
according to Luke. Every year we hear
the same words…and yet every year it is as if we are hearing the story for the
first time.
I think one of the
reasons this takes place is because when we hear these words we are taken back
to a time when the simplest of things drew our attention and we could not look
away: we are taken back to a time when it seemed as if the light of a candle
was the most brilliant thing that we had ever beheld.
Isaiah foretells of
this light coming into the world, “and he is
named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince
of Peace.” The scripture reads this way.
Isaiah 9:2-7
2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a
great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness — on them light has shined. 3 You
have multiplied the nation, you ave increased its
joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when
dividing plunder.4 For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across
their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5 For
all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood
shall be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For a child has
been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he
is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His authority shall grow
continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his
kingdom. He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore.
Luke 2:1-20
Intro
The light that was
foretold of by the prophet then comes into the world, as a child: so frail and
weak, and yet ultimately strong enough to carry the light that would lead us
back into a right relationship with the Almighty. Listen again as the light of the world came
in to the world in a new way, a way that changed the world for all time
.
Luke 2:1-20
2 In those
days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be
registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of
8 In that region there were shepherds living in
the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel
of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and
they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be
afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11
to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the
Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a
child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And
suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising
God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and
on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the
shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing
that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So
they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the
manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told
them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what
the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and
pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying
and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
“The Light”
“The people who
have walked in darkness have seen a great light.” Those words kept reverberating through the
recesses of my mind. “The people who
have walked in darkness have seen a great light.” No matter how hard I tried, I could not
escape them. “The people who have walked
in darkness have seen a great light.”
One of my first
memories of Christmas takes me back to when I couldn’t have been much older
than 5 or 6. The reason that it has
carved a place out in my mind is because of how important light is to people
who are in darkness. It took place
during the Christmas Eve service at Huff’s Church over in the Lehigh Valley of
Pennsylvania. The sanctuary was on the
second floor of the building and when all of the seats were being occupied both
on the main floor and in the balcony, the church could sit 500 people if not
more. To a small set of eyes, the space
was huge, and I remember it being full for that Christmas Eve service. I was seated about two thirds of the way back
and had positioned myself on the center aisle.
I don’t remember
anything in terms of the service itself.
What I remember is the light.
Like we will do in a few moments, the overhead lights were turned off
and the sanctuary fell into utter darkness.
I don’t remember being scared, but I’m sure that I was.
As I looked forward
I saw that a candle had been lit. I was
glad that it was because even though I was far away from it, it was providing a
luminance that let me know that everything was going to be all right. Then that light began to be shared: first
with one, then another, and another.
These bearers of the light stepped out into the sanctuary and began to
light the candles of those who were seated on the ends of the pews. Within moments, the light that had been
limited to one solitary flame had spread throughout the entirety of the
sanctuary. We had been immersed in
darkness and yet it was from just one flame that a light emerged to ultimately
shine brighter than any light bulb could ever dream. “The people who have walked in darkness have
seen a great light.”
The light came into
the world in a way that was anything but extraordinary: a little baby being
born to a young, yet-to-be married couple in the sort of dwelling that was
normally only seen fit to house the animals.
A single solitary light being wrapped in bands of cloth and laid in a
manger: anything but extraordinary.
But, just like in
that sanctuary of the days of my youth, it didn’t take long for the light to
begin to move beyond its initial confines.
Soon, shepherds
came to see if what had been told to them by the divine messengers was true and
in doing that, they allowed the light from that newborn child to be passed to
them.
They then took that
newly shared light and then began to share it with others as they told them
about the events that they had become participants in.
Throughout the
pages of scriptures we hear about how that light continued to be shared: with
the wise men, the Pharisees in the temple when Jesus was just 13, the
disciples, the woman at the well, the Roman centurion, the criminal on the
cross, a man named Paul. Those who have
walked in darkness have seen a great light.
The light continued to be shared, the light continued to be embraced and
cherished as the gift that it is, the light continued to be passed on so that
yet another person might know that light has shined upon them.
And now we are here
tonight: in this sanctuary. Many of us
have crossed the threshold of this church and regardless of the number of
lights that are turned on, it can feel so dark.
It feels as if no matter what we do, no matter where we go, that all we find is darkness. You try and act as if the world is light and
cheery, but where it really matters, in your heart, your mind, your soul, you
understand what Isaiah means when he says, “those who live in a land of deep
darkness.” You’re there. You know that darkness.
I am here to say
that the light that Isaiah spoke of, the light that came to fruition in the
birth of an infant king, that light is still being shared today. It is being offered to you here tonight, to
receive it for the first time, or to receive it in a new way. The light that broke forth in the darkness so
long ago is reaching forth longing to help light your way.
Some of you may
hear what I am saying and think that I am just making way too much out of what
it means to light a candle. After all,
it’s just a candle. And that is true.
But the light that
comes from Christ as is symbolized in the lighting of that very simple candle
is so much more: it can be, if you are willing to receive it, embrace it, and
cherish it, it can become the light that will guide your steps through even the
darkest of days. As a boy I watched as
that light broke forth through the darkness of what felt like a cavernous
sanctuary. As an adult, I have seen that
light shine forth in ways that allowed me to hold on, when all I wanted to do
was let go. As dark as it felt, the
light was still there, imploring me to remember, imploring me to hold on.
I don’t know where
you are, or what you are facing, but what I do know is that with the light that
is from the Lord Jesus Christ, you can make it.
Hold on to the light, embrace it, cherish it, and then, as we have heard
it through so many stories in our scriptures, share it with another.
So, with
those thoughts hopefully firmly affixed in your minds, I have an opportunity
for each of you and all of your families.
Tomorrow
morning at 8 AM, the church bells here at the church are going to ring
out. I know that some of you will be
able to hear it, many of you will not.
No matter the case, at 8 AM, take a moment to pray with your family,
offering up a prayer of thanksgiving, a prayer of gratitude for the light we
are able to receive this and every Christmas.
We need to embrace the light: so let’s start on Christmas! 8 AM: hear the bells: take the light we have
been given and offer up your prayers with your family. Not only will you grasp the light that is of
Christ, you will begin to share it as well.
Those who have
walked in darkness have seen a great light.
We have gathered into this place of worship for a whole lot of
reasons. I hope that when we leave in a
little while that each of us might be able to carry forth the light of Christ
into all that we say and do. Let us move
forward, living in darkness no more.
“Those who lived in a land of deep
darkness — on them light has shined.” The light is shining. Trust in that light. Embrace that light. It will never let you down.
After Sermon Prayer
Holy God, Your
light is in the world. We have heard of
its arrival again in these oh so familiar words. We pray that we might be able to receive the
gift of Your light so that, regardless of the darkness
that we may face, it will be able to light our path. Lord, let it be so. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.