Amen. You may be seated, unless you are a kid and you get to come take a seat up here on the steps with me.
Okay. We're going to talk for just a minute. All right.
Is everybody excited for Christmas? Just find a seat where you can see me, all right? See if you
can see my face. Uh-oh, we're running out of steps. If you want to sit right down there on the floor,
that's just great too. Okay. It doesn't have to be on the steps. Hey, you can be on the floor if
that's easier. Okay. It gets very exciting this time of year with Christmas coming up. It's so
close, isn't it? You know, one of my favorite, it is tomorrow. You're right. One of my favorite parts
of Christmas is Christmas lights. Do y'all like Christmas lights? Like the ones on these trees
or even candles, like pretty candlelight. Do y'all like pretty candlelight? Maybe you'll get to hold
one in just a little while. You know, all of those lights at Christmas time, they remind us that Jesus
is the light of the world. Can you say that? The light of the world. Let me show you a little bit
what that means. Okay. Now we're going to make it a little bit darker. It was already dark in this room,
wasn't it? We're going to make it a little bit darker, but it's going to be all right. Okay. Just
stay with me. Okay. Hold on. I was, it's kind of dark. It won't last long, but I was going to read
you a verse from the Bible, but I can't even see it anymore. I can't see to read. Do you know,
does anybody have any, where could we get, look, there's a light over there. Do you see that light?
Yeah. You know, does that light help me? I still can't read. What if that light came over here closer
to me? Do you think that would help? Oh, wow. Look, but I can't get up. Thank you so much, DJ.
Look, oh, look, now I can read. Listen, listen to what the Bible says.
The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it. Can y'all sit down for just a
second while we talk so everybody else can see? Awesome. You know, it's a dark world sometimes,
isn't it? So many things, so many things we can't understand. There are, there are bullies
in the world and monsters in the world. I know it's scary. In fact, there's even sin in our own
hearts, isn't there? Times when we don't want to obey our parents. We just want to do what we want
to do. It's very dark and we need light, don't we? And just like DJ brought me this light so that I
could read, the light shines in the darkness. Who did we say is the light of the world? Jesus.
Jesus is, you know, that is actually what Christmas is all about. Hey, listen to me just once. We're
almost finished, okay? Listen, listen. Jesus didn't stay far away in heaven, did he? He came all the way
down to bring his light to shine close to us. He was stronger than all the bullies and the monsters.
He even beat sin and death so that our sin could be forgiven and we could live with him forever.
That is the good news of Christmas, that Jesus is the light of the world and that he's come close to
us, okay? So listen, when you see Christmas lights tonight or when you hold a candle that has a light,
I want you to remember something, okay? Every one of you, as you hold that light, remember that Jesus is
your light who comes close to you and he never leaves you and he never goes out, does he? He's
always our light. Jesus is the light of the world who came into the world to defeat all the darkness,
all right? Can we pray about that? Let's pray and thank Jesus for being our light.
Jesus, thank you so much for loving us. Thank you for not staying far away but for coming into this
world to be born and live and die and rise for us. I pray that every one of these precious kids
will know that you're with them and that you love them and that they'll celebrate Christmas because of
that and we ask it in your name, amen. All right, hang on one second. We're going to wait for some lights
to come back on. There you go. Now you can go back calmly and safely, I hope, to your seats. Thank you so much.
Can you blow it out for me? Can I do it? Thank you.
Ethan!
Love you.
All right.
I think I'm going to give us just a minute.
And I am really sorry if that causes any difficulty going to sleep tonight.
It was darker than I anticipated.
This Advent season here at Southwood, we have walked through Matthew's account.
of Jesus' birth, tracking his family tree back to Abraham, Emmanuel, God with us, wise men coming to worship the king.
Tonight, in case you hadn't noticed, we've been reading Luke's account of the Savior coming into the world.
There are angels singing and shepherds worshiping and Mary pondering.
And now John goes back a bit further than both of these to tell us about Jesus' entrance into the world.
John starts, not just at a manger scene, but he starts with very familiar words,
in the beginning.
He's going way back.
Okay?
John chapter 1.
This is God's holy word.
In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
I want to spend just a few more minutes tonight reflecting on that one phrase,
the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
The reason is that I'm not sure that there's a more hopeful truth in the entire Bible,
especially when you feel the darkness.
See, that statement, that the light shines in the darkness,
clearly acknowledges the reality of the darkness, doesn't it?
The darkness that we live in.
The darkness many of us feel right now.
The heaviness of the darkness that's in us, and that's around us,
and that often hangs over us like a heavy blanket.
It may just be me.
Sometimes pastors feel things too much.
But my sense is that more of us than usual are feeling the heaviness of that darkness
at the end of this year.
There just seems to have been a lot.
Maybe a lot in this church family, in this community, in this world.
We're feeling the weight of the darkness.
Maybe for some of you, the darkness you feel is from grief,
loss in your own life, and the life of those around you,
those you love and care about.
The hopelessness that sometimes sets in in the midst of that.
Maybe your darkness, your feelings from the evil in the world around you,
the wars, the injustices you see that aren't rectified,
the abuses of power, even in the name of good,
just infuriates you.
Maybe for others of you, it's from failures in your own life.
You thought you'd be better by now, but you've messed up again.
Or just this sense of darkness that the Bible describes
where you don't really know where you're going.
You're living life, you're getting by, fine,
but you don't really know where it's all headed,
where life's going.
There's no real clear sense of purpose and direction for you.
So the darkness feels thick and deep and sometimes overwhelming.
In fact, I'd like to try to be really honest tonight
without ruining your Christmas Eve.
Sometimes it seems darkness is winning.
It does sometimes feel that way.
I like to go up on a mountainside overlooking Huntsville
and watch the sunrise.
It's beautiful so often.
There's these beautiful oranges and purples
right as the day is breaking.
It's glorious.
But sometimes it's not that.
Sometimes I get up on the mountainside
and it's sunrise time and I'm double-checking
and all you can see is fog,
clouds,
darkness.
I've shared this with some of you,
this sense of not being able to see
or to feel the sun at all.
No heat and warmth,
no light.
I can't even see where to walk.
It appears from everything that I can tell
on those days that darkness has overcome,
has won.
That's what it looks like.
That's the evidence as I look around me.
And so I love that John says
the darkness has not overcome it
because I can tell that God knows
that it sometimes feels as if it has.
I think that's why he says it.
Because he knows that many days seem to us
as if darkness wins.
In fact, in the story that he tells of Jesus,
there are many moments where it looks like
from everybody looking on that that's true.
It's that way from the start.
I mean, who's going to win this battle
of light versus darkness?
I mean, you tell me,
who's going to win?
The little baby in the manger
or the big strong king
who intends to kill him?
Who's going to win?
The child of two poor people
or the rich and powerful Jewish leaders
and establishment?
Who's going to win?
A humble Jew or the mighty Roman Empire?
Come on.
The light of the world
doesn't seem to stand a chance.
The same is true, by the way,
toward the end of the story
when we're told that the world
literally goes dark
in the middle of the day.
As the Christ, the Messiah,
the King of the Jews
hangs on a cross
and cries out
and dies
and it's dark
and the powers of darkness
celebrate.
everyone is picking
darkness
to win.
Not so fast, my friend.
God doesn't deny
the reality
of darkness.
He just comes
to assure us
that light
is stronger.
It's what he's told us
since the days
of the prophet.
We read that
at the beginning
of the service.
The people walking
in darkness.
He sees them.
They've seen
a great light.
He knew that we were
going to feel this way
that darkness
shall cover the earth
and thick darkness
all the peoples
but the Lord
will arise
upon you.
Arise, shine
for your light
has come.
The light
shines in the darkness
and the darkness
has not
overcome it.
He knows
and he's telling you
how the story goes.
Look what we learn
about this unbeatable
light here.
How can we be
sure tonight
that the light
will win?
What is it about
this light
that lets us
grab onto it
and have hope?
First, the light
is loving.
In other words,
it's personal.
John is not
talking about
some vague
force
that may
or may not
last.
You know,
good vibes,
karma.
It's not even
some mysterious
logos,
the word,
a power
out there
that will magically
turn evil
to good.
No,
read,
it's a person.
The true light
that gives light
to everyone
wasn't staying
far off
but was
coming
into
the world.
Verse 9.
Verse 14,
the word
became flesh
and made
his home
in our
neighborhood,
walked on
our dirt.
The light
John is talking
about then
is indisputable.
Jesus really
came and lived
here,
we know this,
with this
inexpressible
love that has
changed the world,
healing the sick,
welcoming the lonely,
challenging
the powerful,
comforting the grieving,
teaching the confused,
forgiving the sinners.
The loving light
pushes back
the darkness.
But you might say,
yeah,
great,
but didn't he die?
Yep.
In fact,
his death
on the cross
is as historically
attested
as the rest
of his life.
life.
This light
overcomes
darkness
because Jesus
is the living
light,
absolutely
invincible.
Here's how we
know it.
Look at verse 4.
In him
was life
and the life
was the light
of men.
Life,
yes,
he died,
but the third day
he rose again
from the dead,
never more
to die.
That midnight
darkness
in the garden
of his betrayal,
the midday
darkness
at the cross,
the early morning
darkness
at the tomb
is replaced
by the light
of resurrection
life
and that's
so that we can know
that in our
darkest moments
and moments
you've known
even this year,
moments like
tragic death,
moments like
devastating
miscarriage,
moments like
terminal
diagnoses
from which
you look around
and say
there is no
hope
in this
life.
Even then,
still,
darkness
does not win.
it feels
like it,
right?
You may have
had those days,
you may be
in those seasons
and you look
around and you
say,
all I can see,
all I can feel
is the darkness,
but the light
of life
has come
into our world
so that we
don't face
even death
as the final
chapter.
It's not.
Listen,
there is good
news.
The darkness
has not
overcome
Jesus,
the light.
The grave
could not
hold him.
Death
could not
defeat him.
Darkness
could not
overcome him.
So you can
stare death
in the face
and say,
I hate you.
You can
even weep
with Jesus.
It'll be right
there next to you
and through those
tears,
you can say,
but death,
you don't win.
You will not
win.
The game
is not
over.
The living
light shines.
A living
person,
so many saw
and felt
and touched
it and one
day I'm
going to feel
it again.
I'm going to
see it again
and it may
not be today,
but I know
the sun is
still there.
It's behind
those really
heavy clouds.
I know it
is.
I'm going to
feel its
warmth.
I'm going to
see its
light again.
The darkness
has not
overcome it.
And the
last reason
you can be
confident that
this light
is a
divine
light.
The word
was with
God
and the
word
was
God.
There
from the
very
beginning,
creating
the entire
world,
breathing
life into
each and
every one
of us
who's
ever
walked
in this
world.
See,
God is
light.
In Him
there is
no darkness
at all.
But we
wouldn't know
that.
How would
we know
that if
God stayed
far away
from us
all the
time?
If God
hid from
us far
away,
if we
stayed with
our hearts
and minds
in darkness
about
Him,
we
wouldn't
know.
John
says,
verse 18,
no one
has ever
seen
God.
Problem.
But God,
the only
Son,
has now
made Him
known to
us by
coming near
to us.
Son of
God
loves
pure
light.
We're going
to sing it.
Now Jesus
comes
to help
us see
God's
light.
You ever
wonder what
God would
be like
if you
got up
really close
to Him?
How would
He respond
to you?
What would
He say?
How would
it go?
You don't
have to
wonder
anymore.
Jesus
shows you.
Are you
grieving
tonight?
not sure
you'll
ever
stop?
He
weeps
with you.
He
blesses
the
mourner.
He
wipes
away
tears.
Are you
confused?
Hopeless?
Not
sure your
life
matters
anymore?
He
sees
you.
He
calls
you
by
name.
He
shines
the
light
of
the
world
so
that
you
don't
have
to
walk
in
darkness
anymore.
Are you
sinful?
Are you
failing
again?
Are you
not
sure
that you
can
acknowledge
that God
is
there?
That
you
could
ever
get
close
to
Him
without
being
destroyed?
He
eats
with
you.
He
eats
with
sinners.
He
is
destroyed
for
you.
He
forgives
your sins
forever
so that
you can
be
with
Him.
See,
the baby
born at
Christmas
is God
come
to be
with
us.
But
even
then
on that
first
Christmas
night
it's
only
the
dawn
of
redeeming
grace.
It's
the
first
little
glimmers
of
sunlight
breaking
through.
But
He's
headed
to a
cross
and
an
empty
tomb
where
redeeming
grace
shines
brilliantly.
We've
never
seen
anything
like it.
It's
at
full
strength
and
it
will
never
be
put
out.
It
is
inextinguishable
this
light.
The
glory
of
God
in the
face
of
Jesus
Christ.
The
divine
light
living
loving
always
overcoming
the
darkness.
See the
light
shines
present
tense
in the
darkness
then
now
and
always
the
greatest
reality
in all
of history
is that
the
light
shines
in the
darkness.
Amen.
That's
the
greatest
truth
you can
count
on.
The
light
shines
in the
darkness
and the
darkness
has not
overcome
it.
It may
feel
really
dark
tonight
but
light
shines
in Jesus
even if
there's
no other
light.
In
him
God
promises
the
darkness
is already
passing
away
and the
true
light
is already
shining
because of
the tender
mercy
of our
God
the
sunrise
shall
visit
us
from
on
high
to
give
light
to
those
who
sit
in
darkness
and
in
the
shadow
of
death
to
guide
our
feet
in
the
way
of
peace
the
light
shines
in
the
darkness
and
the
darkness
has
not
will
not
cannot
overcome
it.
Let's
pray.
Oh
Jesus
we
thank
you
we
thank
you
that
you
did
not
stay
far
off
but
that
you
have
indeed
come
near
to
us
you've
entered
into
our
darkness
so
that
we
will
know
the
light
of
life
would
you
shine
that
light
into
the
darkest
places
of
this
world
of
this
room
of
our
hearts
even
now
as
we
meet
with
you
we
ask
you
to
do
that
Amen
it was a dark
night
it was a night
when the
son of
God
was going
to be
betrayed
to be
killed
on a cross
and Jesus
sat
with his
disciples
to celebrate
the Passover
meal
and he
took
bread
and he
broke
it
and he
gave
it
to
them
as
I
ministering
in his
name
give
this
bread
to
you
he
said
take
and
eat
this
is
my
body
given
for
you
he
knew
where
it
was
going
do
this
in
remembrance
of
me
and
then
in
the
same
manner
after
supper
he
took
the
cup
and
said
this
cup
is
the
new
covenant
in
my
blood
shed
for
many
for
the
forgiveness
of
sins
drink
from
it
all
of
you
for
as
often
as
you
eat
this
bread
and
drink
this
cup
you
proclaim
my
death
until
I
come
this
is a
table
tonight
where
you can
come
and
eat
with
Jesus
it's
not
the
table
of
Southwood
or
of
the
Presbyterian
church
it's
the
Lord's
table
he's
the
one
who
set
this
table
and
extended
the
invitation
to
you
to
come
if
you
are
one
of
his
if
you're
one
who
has
received
his
light
shining
into
your
life
so
that
you
say
I'm
not
the
source
of
light
I
don't
have
it
in
me
I'm
not
enough
but
he
is
and
he
knows
what
to
do
with
the
darkness
in
me
then
if
you've
professed
that
as
your
hope
publicly
if
you're
a
part
of
his
church
anywhere
come
and eat
with
us
tonight
and
more
importantly
with
him
he's
come
near
you
to
meet
with
you
I
know
there
are
many
of
you
here
tonight
that
may
have
come
with
family
or
with
friends
maybe
you're
not
used
to
being
in
a
church
service
like
this
maybe
you're
a
kid
who's
usually
not
in
the
sanctuary
during
this
part
of
the
service
look
we're
so
glad
that
you're
all
here
one
of
the
things
we
love
to
do
at
Christmas
Eve
during
the
Lord's
supper
is
to
pray
with
every
group
that
comes
up
and
if
you'd
be
comfortable
with
that
then
we'd
love
for
you
to
come
and
let
us
pray
with
you
if
you're
not
one
who's
actively
trusting
Jesus
if
you're
not
old
enough
yet
that
you've
professed
your
faith
in
him
and
join
the
church
that's
you're
welcome
to
stay
exactly
where
you
are
our
heart
for
you
would
be
that
you
know
about
the
light
of
the
world
and
that
you
meet
him
you
don't
have
to
take
bread
and
wine
tonight
for
that
to
be
true
Jesus
meets
you
wherever
you
are
he
shines
into
whatever
darkness
you're
feeling
and
so
we're
thrilled
that
you're
here
to
celebrate
with
us
I'm
going
to
pray
and
our
for
what
we
celebrate
at
Christmas
that
you
haven't
left
us
alone
that
you
don't
stay
far
away
that
you
don't
leave
us
in
the
dark
and
you
don't
hide
from
us
you've
entered
in
and
we
give
you
thanks
and
so
would
you
take
these
very
common
elements
would
you
use
them
to
do
something
special
in
our
hearts
that
we
would
in
a
fresh
way
remember
that
you're
with
us
that
your
light
is
with
us
now
and
will
never
leave
us
would
that
be
our
hope
even
this
Christmas
we
ask
it
in
your
name
amen
for
more
information
visit
us
online
at
southwood.org