WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.980 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.480 --> 00:00:09.060 Our passion is to experience and express grace. 00:00:09.580 --> 00:00:10.099 Join us. 00:00:12.220 --> 00:00:13.640 I love Christmas. 00:00:14.599 --> 00:00:21.019 Singing these songs that we've heard and love, enjoying these beautiful decorations. 00:00:21.740 --> 00:00:23.140 Thank you, ladies. 00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:24.699 Mostly ladies. 00:00:24.980 --> 00:00:26.320 I think there were a couple men who helped. 00:00:27.859 --> 00:00:28.800 It's wonderful. 00:00:28.800 --> 00:00:42.179 People especially celebrating the life-changing, history-altering entrance of God into this world in human flesh. 00:00:42.260 --> 00:00:44.020 That's what we're celebrating, right? 00:00:45.359 --> 00:00:50.980 As we often do, I want us to focus for a few weeks in our sermons on Christmas. 00:00:51.900 --> 00:00:55.460 And this year we're going to use John chapter 1 as our starting point. 00:00:55.460 --> 00:01:01.539 Over the next few weeks we're going to leave John 1 and jump into a few other passages from time to time. 00:01:01.620 --> 00:01:05.599 But that will be our focus, where we'll be getting our themes. 00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:10.000 It's this glorious prologue to John's gospel. 00:01:11.560 --> 00:01:14.340 Talking about the glory of Christmas. 00:01:15.260 --> 00:01:16.540 We'll read it in a couple of minutes. 00:01:16.540 --> 00:01:21.100 But as you'll see here in this really nice graphic that Eli made for us, 00:01:21.880 --> 00:01:27.160 the focus, the most Christmas part of these 18 verses is there in the middle. 00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:30.480 The Word became flesh. 00:01:30.800 --> 00:01:35.240 This shocking statement that John has for us. 00:01:35.360 --> 00:01:41.400 One that no Jew or Gentile, no one would have had categories for this. 00:01:41.400 --> 00:01:44.640 The Word became flesh. 00:01:46.460 --> 00:01:57.260 If that's true, that God became man, that the material, the immaterial actually became material 00:01:57.260 --> 00:02:01.340 and walked among us, then it changes everything. 00:02:02.219 --> 00:02:04.260 If that happened, that can't be ignored. 00:02:04.719 --> 00:02:09.439 Nothing else could possibly be more important than that. 00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:13.400 That's why we need to spend some time thinking about the incarnation. 00:02:14.139 --> 00:02:16.859 The Word became flesh. 00:02:17.859 --> 00:02:24.819 I'll use this as a working description of the incarnation for our time together. 00:02:24.919 --> 00:02:28.560 What the essence of Christmas is over the next few weeks. 00:02:28.939 --> 00:02:31.599 You know that Christmas means the coming of Christ, right? 00:02:31.639 --> 00:02:32.699 That's what the Word means. 00:02:32.699 --> 00:02:40.419 So we'll talk about the incarnation as the intentional entrance of the divine Son of God 00:02:40.419 --> 00:02:50.179 into our fallen world in human flesh to secure our redemption at the cost of His life 00:02:50.179 --> 00:02:53.899 because of His great love. 00:02:54.120 --> 00:02:59.120 Nothing fancy or complicated in that, but it is glorious. 00:02:59.120 --> 00:03:04.420 We're going to look in the next few weeks at all the aspects of that description, 00:03:04.759 --> 00:03:09.180 but right now I especially want to point out the uniqueness of the incarnation. 00:03:09.780 --> 00:03:14.379 This is a one-time event in history that we cannot replicate. 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:20.180 The divine Son of God becoming man to accomplish redemption. 00:03:20.180 --> 00:03:23.719 And you may say, yeah, well, we know. 00:03:24.360 --> 00:03:25.260 That's what it's all about. 00:03:25.260 --> 00:03:32.480 I say that in part because part of my heart in this series is that we would understand 00:03:32.480 --> 00:03:38.560 and learn for ourselves a few things about how the incarnation impacts our lives. 00:03:39.300 --> 00:03:41.580 How it changes the way we live. 00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:48.980 The pattern in that the way Jesus relates to people can be for the way we relate to others. 00:03:50.180 --> 00:03:56.879 Jesus is sometimes referenced biblically as a pattern for us, an example for us. 00:03:57.480 --> 00:03:59.879 Now, that's not the point of John chapter 1. 00:04:00.060 --> 00:04:01.180 It's simply not there. 00:04:02.060 --> 00:04:06.360 But we'll see it in some other passages as we read in the next few weeks. 00:04:06.439 --> 00:04:08.680 And I want you to know something as we see that. 00:04:08.939 --> 00:04:16.480 I want you to know how important it is that we not see the incarnation primarily as an example 00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:18.620 for us to replicate. 00:04:18.620 --> 00:04:28.160 First and foremost, it is the unique, unrepeatable event by which we are rescued, not merely redirected. 00:04:29.399 --> 00:04:34.240 So we're going to talk in the next few weeks about the sacrifice of the incarnation. 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:35.699 What Jesus gave up. 00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:38.480 The pain of the incarnation. 00:04:39.040 --> 00:04:40.060 What Jesus endured. 00:04:41.139 --> 00:04:43.740 The motivation for the incarnation. 00:04:43.740 --> 00:04:47.420 What drove Jesus to become flesh. 00:04:48.780 --> 00:04:53.220 And in all of those, we're going to learn important principles for our lives. 00:04:53.840 --> 00:04:56.560 How we relate to God and those around us. 00:04:56.660 --> 00:05:00.879 How in some ways, as Jesus says in John 17, 18, 00:05:01.139 --> 00:05:07.139 as God sent Jesus into the world, so Jesus sends us into the world. 00:05:07.500 --> 00:05:09.120 There's connectivity there, right? 00:05:09.120 --> 00:05:11.180 There is a pattern going on. 00:05:12.199 --> 00:05:17.579 But we're going to end by coming back to the uniqueness of the incarnation. 00:05:17.899 --> 00:05:22.480 The one and only Son of God who became man. 00:05:22.980 --> 00:05:23.720 You got that? 00:05:24.220 --> 00:05:25.819 Am I belaboring this point at this point? 00:05:26.280 --> 00:05:30.840 We're going to focus on the incarnation of Jesus. 00:05:30.839 --> 00:05:32.699 On Him. 00:05:33.019 --> 00:05:35.859 The glory and the uniqueness of Jesus' incarnation. 00:05:36.339 --> 00:05:37.000 Celebrate it. 00:05:37.319 --> 00:05:39.279 Worship Him for it. 00:05:39.599 --> 00:05:44.899 And learn, where appropriate, how He's a pattern for us. 00:05:46.299 --> 00:05:50.159 This morning, we'll focus on the need for the incarnation. 00:05:50.979 --> 00:05:52.719 The first few verses of John 1. 00:05:52.779 --> 00:05:56.120 I'm going to read this whole beautiful prologue this morning. 00:05:56.120 --> 00:06:03.680 Why don't we stand together and give our attention to the reading of God's holy word in John 1. 00:06:06.660 --> 00:06:08.079 This is the word of God. 00:06:08.740 --> 00:06:13.840 In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. 00:06:14.340 --> 00:06:16.139 He was in the beginning with God. 00:06:16.899 --> 00:06:21.620 All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. 00:06:22.579 --> 00:06:25.780 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 00:06:26.120 --> 00:06:30.340 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 00:06:31.660 --> 00:06:34.759 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 00:06:35.699 --> 00:06:40.000 He came as a witness to bear witness about the light that all might believe through Him. 00:06:40.439 --> 00:06:45.000 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 00:06:45.300 --> 00:06:49.000 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 00:06:50.060 --> 00:06:54.980 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him. 00:06:56.120 --> 00:06:59.280 He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. 00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:05.660 But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, 00:07:05.980 --> 00:07:12.340 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 00:07:12.339 --> 00:07:17.539 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us. 00:07:17.739 --> 00:07:24.339 And we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 00:07:25.479 --> 00:07:27.879 John bore witness about Him and cried out, 00:07:27.879 --> 00:07:29.819 This was He of whom I said, 00:07:30.159 --> 00:07:34.139 He who comes after me ranks before me, because He was before me. 00:07:34.839 --> 00:07:39.000 And from His fullness, we have all received grace upon grace. 00:07:39.740 --> 00:07:44.740 For the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 00:07:46.019 --> 00:07:47.699 No one has ever seen God. 00:07:48.719 --> 00:07:51.519 The only God, who is at the Father's side, 00:07:52.279 --> 00:07:53.719 He has made Him known. 00:07:54.620 --> 00:07:56.279 Thus far, God's holy Word. 00:07:56.279 --> 00:07:56.979 Father, pray with me. 00:07:59.339 --> 00:08:01.879 Father, for Your Word, we give You great thanks. 00:08:03.099 --> 00:08:06.219 And we beg this morning that You would teach us, 00:08:06.719 --> 00:08:09.000 not just lessons for our heads, 00:08:09.099 --> 00:08:13.599 but that You would help us to experience Your truth, 00:08:14.259 --> 00:08:16.559 to know it in the depths of our beings, 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:21.279 and to have it transform us that we might be different people, 00:08:21.279 --> 00:08:24.079 that we might worship You, 00:08:24.219 --> 00:08:25.139 and know You, 00:08:25.239 --> 00:08:26.419 and serve You. 00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:28.879 To that work, we pray, 00:08:29.019 --> 00:08:30.859 by Your Spirit, in Jesus' name. 00:08:31.899 --> 00:08:32.220 Amen. 00:08:33.220 --> 00:08:34.039 Please be seated. 00:08:34.039 --> 00:08:44.240 If you've ever been on a tour deep into a cave, 00:08:44.299 --> 00:08:46.199 where they get you in the middle of the tour, 00:08:46.299 --> 00:08:47.539 and then turn all the lights out, 00:08:47.599 --> 00:08:49.699 and you can't even see your hand in front of your face, 00:08:50.699 --> 00:08:53.299 then you know what darkness feels like. 00:08:53.299 --> 00:08:59.199 My family took a trip this fall break up to Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, 00:08:59.759 --> 00:09:04.000 and went on a tour like that in this huge cave. 00:09:05.259 --> 00:09:08.299 And while we were in the dark part of that cave, 00:09:08.359 --> 00:09:10.740 at that part of the tour where they turn all the lights out, 00:09:11.099 --> 00:09:14.859 the tour guide told us the story of a man who decades ago 00:09:14.859 --> 00:09:16.319 had been on a tour like that. 00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:21.100 And he forgot his hat early in the tour, 00:09:21.400 --> 00:09:25.379 and so he asked if he might be allowed to go back and get his hat. 00:09:26.340 --> 00:09:27.860 And they allowed him to, in fact, 00:09:27.940 --> 00:09:31.240 gave him a lantern to take with him to go back and find his hat. 00:09:31.960 --> 00:09:33.100 And they were going to meet up later. 00:09:33.700 --> 00:09:36.920 He found the hat and went back to look for the tour group, 00:09:37.100 --> 00:09:40.180 but took a wrong turn and couldn't find them. 00:09:40.920 --> 00:09:42.880 He thought perhaps he saw them coming 00:09:42.880 --> 00:09:45.020 and thought he would see the light of the tour better 00:09:45.019 --> 00:09:46.199 if he blew his lamp out. 00:09:46.279 --> 00:09:47.480 So he blew the lamp out, 00:09:47.720 --> 00:09:53.059 only to find himself alone in utter darkness, 00:09:53.879 --> 00:09:57.620 stuck, no way to turn the light back on. 00:09:59.519 --> 00:10:02.039 He sat down, and as the hours passed, 00:10:02.159 --> 00:10:04.379 he, as you can imagine, began to get pretty frantic. 00:10:05.819 --> 00:10:09.259 He thought he heard footsteps coming nearer to him 00:10:09.259 --> 00:10:12.799 and began to call out and to bang rocks together over and over. 00:10:12.799 --> 00:10:14.340 And the closer the footsteps got, 00:10:14.340 --> 00:10:15.740 the louder he would bang the rocks. 00:10:16.519 --> 00:10:18.280 And nobody showed up. 00:10:18.960 --> 00:10:21.000 It was late the next day, in fact, 00:10:21.100 --> 00:10:24.440 before a rescue team finally found him. 00:10:25.540 --> 00:10:26.960 And when they found him, 00:10:27.080 --> 00:10:28.440 they said, you know, 00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:29.340 how have you been doing? 00:10:29.420 --> 00:10:30.000 How's it going? 00:10:30.060 --> 00:10:30.519 And he said, well, 00:10:30.660 --> 00:10:32.620 people were close so many times. 00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:34.820 Were you all in this part of the cave overnight? 00:10:35.639 --> 00:10:37.220 They said, no, no one's been near here. 00:10:38.560 --> 00:10:40.639 Those footsteps you thought you heard, 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:41.399 do you know what those were? 00:10:43.000 --> 00:10:44.059 That was his heart. 00:10:44.860 --> 00:10:48.659 That was his own heart beating in the darkness, 00:10:49.319 --> 00:10:50.379 in the silence. 00:10:50.580 --> 00:10:51.919 It was so confusing, 00:10:52.220 --> 00:10:53.039 so disconcerting, 00:10:53.720 --> 00:10:56.980 that he didn't even recognize his own heart beating. 00:10:57.360 --> 00:10:58.439 He was stuck. 00:10:59.240 --> 00:11:00.879 Trying to get out of the cave by himself 00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:03.659 would have ended in certain injury or death, 00:11:03.659 --> 00:11:06.679 falling into something that he couldn't see. 00:11:06.679 --> 00:11:08.939 All he could do was sit 00:11:08.939 --> 00:11:12.740 and wait for light to come. 00:11:14.620 --> 00:11:15.980 I tell you that story 00:11:15.980 --> 00:11:17.699 because it's a good picture 00:11:17.699 --> 00:11:22.039 of what darkness feels like and is like. 00:11:22.139 --> 00:11:24.179 We've been talking already this morning 00:11:24.179 --> 00:11:27.659 of the darkness of our lives 00:11:27.659 --> 00:11:29.839 and the light of Christ. 00:11:29.840 --> 00:11:32.480 It's the kind of darkness 00:11:32.480 --> 00:11:36.180 that John describes Jesus bringing light into. 00:11:36.840 --> 00:11:40.160 Jesus' incarnation is necessary. 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:41.420 It's so needed 00:11:41.420 --> 00:11:45.340 because of the darkness of this world. 00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:48.220 That can't see my hand in front of my face 00:11:48.220 --> 00:11:49.820 kind of darkness. 00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:52.420 Can't take a single confident step 00:11:52.420 --> 00:11:53.560 in the right direction. 00:11:54.560 --> 00:11:55.000 Darkness. 00:11:55.519 --> 00:11:57.519 Desperate for light. 00:11:57.519 --> 00:11:59.180 Look at verse 4. 00:11:59.840 --> 00:12:02.160 In him was life 00:12:02.160 --> 00:12:04.060 and the life was the light of men. 00:12:04.600 --> 00:12:06.879 The light shines in the darkness 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:10.480 and the darkness has not overcome it. 00:12:10.800 --> 00:12:12.399 There's in these verses 00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:15.120 a connection of light and life. 00:12:15.720 --> 00:12:17.060 And so what we see is that 00:12:17.060 --> 00:12:19.060 darkness is quite the opposite. 00:12:19.240 --> 00:12:22.000 There's death associated with darkness. 00:12:22.200 --> 00:12:24.600 The absence of life. 00:12:24.840 --> 00:12:29.180 The Word, the light, is with God. 00:12:29.179 --> 00:12:32.919 Connected to Him in relationship closely. 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:35.779 But the darkness is not. 00:12:37.379 --> 00:12:39.500 You can feel the distance 00:12:39.500 --> 00:12:41.879 from the light of life. 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:44.620 No connection to God whatsoever. 00:12:46.179 --> 00:12:48.719 The world into which Jesus entered 00:12:48.719 --> 00:12:51.359 was marked by the violence 00:12:51.359 --> 00:12:55.319 and debauchery and idolatry of Rome. 00:12:55.320 --> 00:12:57.920 Having nothing to do with Yahweh, 00:12:58.480 --> 00:12:59.600 the God of Israel. 00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:02.540 In fact, it's very similar 00:13:02.540 --> 00:13:04.300 to the darkness of Babylon. 00:13:05.060 --> 00:13:07.600 In that famous prophecy from Isaiah 9, 00:13:07.700 --> 00:13:09.580 we've read a couple of times already 00:13:09.580 --> 00:13:10.260 this morning, 00:13:10.660 --> 00:13:11.060 verse 2, 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:13.300 the people who walked in darkness 00:13:13.300 --> 00:13:15.820 there in exile in Babylon, 00:13:16.060 --> 00:13:18.520 those people have seen a great light. 00:13:18.640 --> 00:13:21.600 Those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:25.040 darkness on them has light shone. 00:13:25.820 --> 00:13:29.360 The darkness of exile in Babylon 00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:31.899 featured a nation in control 00:13:31.899 --> 00:13:33.980 who was totally opposed to Yahweh 00:13:33.980 --> 00:13:36.879 and everything that He stood for. 00:13:38.960 --> 00:13:42.860 Notice as well that feeling of distance from God 00:13:42.860 --> 00:13:44.940 was not just true for that nation, 00:13:45.460 --> 00:13:46.899 not just true for the Romans 00:13:46.899 --> 00:13:47.920 and the Babylonians. 00:13:47.919 --> 00:13:49.779 It was true as a feeling 00:13:49.779 --> 00:13:51.439 for the people of God 00:13:51.439 --> 00:13:52.399 in Babylon 00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:55.279 and in John chapter 1, right? 00:13:56.240 --> 00:13:59.539 They were feeling that distance from God. 00:13:59.639 --> 00:14:00.399 In Babylon, 00:14:00.599 --> 00:14:02.279 away from the promised land, 00:14:02.860 --> 00:14:04.179 feeling neglected, 00:14:05.059 --> 00:14:06.519 not knowing where to go 00:14:06.519 --> 00:14:07.500 or what to do. 00:14:08.959 --> 00:14:10.919 By the time of the incarnation, 00:14:11.240 --> 00:14:12.279 John chapter 1, 00:14:12.839 --> 00:14:14.439 God's people have been hearing what? 00:14:14.440 --> 00:14:18.100 Silence from God 00:14:18.100 --> 00:14:19.880 for hundreds of years, 00:14:19.980 --> 00:14:20.580 generations, 00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:22.700 not knowing if He's still there, 00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:25.300 if He can still be trusted. 00:14:26.580 --> 00:14:29.460 Darkness for God's people too. 00:14:31.920 --> 00:14:34.500 Of course, darkness in the Bible 00:14:34.500 --> 00:14:38.300 involves this element of moral confusion as well. 00:14:38.380 --> 00:14:40.840 It's not just being separated from God, 00:14:40.840 --> 00:14:44.320 but the people in power in Rome 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:44.980 and in Babylon, 00:14:45.220 --> 00:14:46.879 they seem to do whatever they want. 00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:48.940 They live however they please. 00:14:49.220 --> 00:14:50.180 Maybe it's okay. 00:14:51.420 --> 00:14:53.379 Where does obeying the commands of God 00:14:53.379 --> 00:14:54.259 get one anyway? 00:14:56.460 --> 00:14:57.800 Apparently not very far, 00:14:57.899 --> 00:14:58.740 they might be thinking. 00:14:59.320 --> 00:15:00.560 Perhaps right and wrong is, 00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:01.060 you know, 00:15:01.080 --> 00:15:02.560 it's more difficult to define 00:15:02.560 --> 00:15:03.320 than we thought. 00:15:03.560 --> 00:15:05.160 It's really quite confusing. 00:15:07.680 --> 00:15:09.440 There's a word in verse 5, 00:15:09.440 --> 00:15:11.500 the light shines in the darkness, 00:15:11.780 --> 00:15:14.880 but the darkness has not overcome it. 00:15:15.640 --> 00:15:16.280 Overcome. 00:15:16.460 --> 00:15:17.780 That word there means 00:15:17.780 --> 00:15:20.720 to grasp or seize something. 00:15:21.260 --> 00:15:22.540 Sometimes physically. 00:15:23.200 --> 00:15:24.720 So like it's translated here, 00:15:24.800 --> 00:15:25.820 it would mean the darkness 00:15:25.820 --> 00:15:27.200 has not overcome 00:15:27.200 --> 00:15:29.180 or defeated the light. 00:15:30.700 --> 00:15:32.040 Sometimes it means 00:15:32.040 --> 00:15:33.120 hasn't been grasped 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:35.080 or seized mentally. 00:15:36.200 --> 00:15:37.800 Hasn't been understood. 00:15:37.799 --> 00:15:40.039 The thought hasn't been mastered. 00:15:40.839 --> 00:15:42.459 It rejects it offhand 00:15:42.459 --> 00:15:44.259 as later in chapter 1 00:15:44.259 --> 00:15:44.819 we're going to see 00:15:44.819 --> 00:15:46.740 the darkness just rejects 00:15:46.740 --> 00:15:47.779 the light. 00:15:47.979 --> 00:15:49.219 Just utter confusion 00:15:49.219 --> 00:15:50.699 about what truth 00:15:50.699 --> 00:15:52.139 would even be. 00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:55.159 Sometimes that's because 00:15:55.159 --> 00:15:57.399 of willful blindness. 00:15:58.679 --> 00:16:00.079 Like what Jesus describes 00:16:00.079 --> 00:16:01.839 in John chapter 3. 00:16:02.439 --> 00:16:03.399 This is the judgment. 00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:05.439 The light has come into the world 00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:07.500 and people loved the darkness 00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:08.960 rather than the light 00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:10.540 because their works 00:16:10.540 --> 00:16:12.180 were evil. 00:16:12.640 --> 00:16:13.980 Why did they prefer 00:16:13.980 --> 00:16:15.340 the darkness to the light? 00:16:16.280 --> 00:16:18.100 Everyone who does wicked things 00:16:18.100 --> 00:16:19.100 hates the light 00:16:19.100 --> 00:16:21.040 and does not come to the light 00:16:21.040 --> 00:16:22.460 lest his works 00:16:22.460 --> 00:16:23.780 should be exposed. 00:16:24.840 --> 00:16:26.960 Because of our willful choice 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:28.440 of these evil deeds, 00:16:29.400 --> 00:16:30.260 I don't want the light 00:16:30.260 --> 00:16:32.680 to expose the darkness. 00:16:32.679 --> 00:16:32.919 darkness. 00:16:33.479 --> 00:16:34.599 You're in that cave 00:16:34.599 --> 00:16:36.559 and the right way out 00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:38.879 is not just a 50-50 guess 00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:40.000 this way or that way. 00:16:40.319 --> 00:16:43.019 It's one of a million passageways 00:16:43.019 --> 00:16:43.979 will get you out 00:16:43.979 --> 00:16:44.879 but most of them 00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:45.579 you'll fall 00:16:45.579 --> 00:16:46.959 to your great injury 00:16:46.959 --> 00:16:48.000 or death. 00:16:49.179 --> 00:16:50.459 You can't see which step 00:16:50.459 --> 00:16:52.059 has clear footing. 00:16:52.539 --> 00:16:53.579 And even if you could, 00:16:54.079 --> 00:16:55.279 perhaps you're not sure 00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:56.339 you'd want to get out 00:16:56.339 --> 00:16:57.620 that way. 00:16:59.079 --> 00:17:00.639 You've kind of grown accustomed 00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:02.419 to the darkness. 00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:04.460 I'd rather stay safe here 00:17:04.460 --> 00:17:07.240 than risk moving in that direction. 00:17:08.680 --> 00:17:09.960 Moral confusion. 00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:14.220 Finally, perhaps the most prominent aspect 00:17:14.220 --> 00:17:16.400 of the darkness described here 00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:18.519 is its utter helplessness. 00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:21.740 If you try to find your own way 00:17:21.740 --> 00:17:24.119 to safety in the darkness, 00:17:24.319 --> 00:17:26.700 you're only going to hurt yourself. 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:29.019 You can provide no light. 00:17:29.019 --> 00:17:30.559 All you can do 00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:31.740 is sit there in the dark 00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:33.119 with your heart pounding 00:17:33.119 --> 00:17:34.779 and wait for light, 00:17:34.920 --> 00:17:36.379 for help to come to you. 00:17:37.139 --> 00:17:38.480 It's like Paul telling us 00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:40.500 we're spiritually dead, 00:17:40.920 --> 00:17:42.099 completely unable 00:17:42.099 --> 00:17:44.019 to move toward light, 00:17:44.460 --> 00:17:46.059 hopelessly stuck, right? 00:17:48.139 --> 00:17:49.299 We've got to feel 00:17:49.299 --> 00:17:52.139 the weight of this darkness 00:17:52.139 --> 00:17:53.059 in the world 00:17:53.059 --> 00:17:54.440 before the incarnation. 00:17:55.879 --> 00:17:57.420 The darkness into which 00:17:57.420 --> 00:17:58.920 Jesus as the light of the world 00:17:58.920 --> 00:17:59.740 would come. 00:17:59.960 --> 00:18:01.259 There's no help 00:18:01.259 --> 00:18:03.400 for those walking in darkness, 00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:04.700 for those in a land 00:18:04.700 --> 00:18:06.019 of deep darkness. 00:18:06.420 --> 00:18:07.820 No one else in the darkness 00:18:07.820 --> 00:18:08.600 can help. 00:18:12.039 --> 00:18:13.860 Sadly, it's not just 00:18:13.860 --> 00:18:16.000 the pagan nations of old 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:17.620 or the people of God 00:18:17.620 --> 00:18:19.640 in Babylon or Rome 00:18:19.640 --> 00:18:21.360 who have felt darkness 00:18:21.360 --> 00:18:22.380 like this, is it? 00:18:24.160 --> 00:18:26.380 Relational distance from God. 00:18:26.380 --> 00:18:29.320 moral confusion. 00:18:30.820 --> 00:18:32.560 Utter helplessness. 00:18:33.800 --> 00:18:35.040 Felt any of that lately? 00:18:36.040 --> 00:18:37.840 Thought any of those things 00:18:37.840 --> 00:18:38.480 recently? 00:18:39.640 --> 00:18:40.660 Would you sometimes 00:18:40.660 --> 00:18:41.940 describe the darkness 00:18:41.940 --> 00:18:42.660 of the world 00:18:42.660 --> 00:18:43.600 in which we live 00:18:43.600 --> 00:18:44.580 as tangible, 00:18:45.300 --> 00:18:46.220 as palpable? 00:18:46.800 --> 00:18:47.780 I can feel it 00:18:47.780 --> 00:18:48.580 everywhere I look 00:18:48.580 --> 00:18:49.620 and everything I do. 00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:50.860 You can feel the weight 00:18:50.860 --> 00:18:52.100 of it all around you, 00:18:52.320 --> 00:18:52.820 can't you? 00:18:52.819 --> 00:18:55.879 We've been reminded daily 00:18:55.879 --> 00:18:57.419 in recent months 00:18:57.419 --> 00:18:58.619 and again this week 00:18:58.619 --> 00:19:00.339 that we live in a culture 00:19:00.339 --> 00:19:01.419 where we think 00:19:01.419 --> 00:19:02.639 we have some special 00:19:02.639 --> 00:19:03.740 kind of light, 00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:06.439 but celebrities, 00:19:06.980 --> 00:19:09.460 those lives that we follow 00:19:09.460 --> 00:19:10.259 and idolize 00:19:10.819 --> 00:19:12.220 and watch closely, 00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:14.599 sports or entertainment figures, 00:19:15.119 --> 00:19:16.460 they're openly acknowledged 00:19:16.460 --> 00:19:18.179 to be distant from God 00:19:18.180 --> 00:19:19.700 and regularly found 00:19:19.700 --> 00:19:20.400 to be empty 00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:21.519 and debased. 00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:24.620 A culture where 00:19:24.620 --> 00:19:25.660 moral confusion 00:19:25.660 --> 00:19:26.960 is so epidemic 00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:28.140 that even the most 00:19:28.140 --> 00:19:29.400 basic issues 00:19:29.400 --> 00:19:30.620 of right and wrong 00:19:30.620 --> 00:19:31.960 can hardly be established. 00:19:32.440 --> 00:19:33.220 We can't agree 00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:34.740 on almost anything. 00:19:34.740 --> 00:19:38.019 A culture where 00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:39.019 elected leaders, 00:19:39.660 --> 00:19:41.200 far from helping us 00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:41.799 sort through 00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:42.880 our deep confusion 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:44.240 and see virtue 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:45.319 and the right path 00:19:45.319 --> 00:19:46.140 more clearly, 00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:48.120 are the exemplars 00:19:48.120 --> 00:19:49.019 in many cases 00:19:49.019 --> 00:19:50.940 of this present darkness 00:19:50.940 --> 00:19:52.700 displaying 00:19:52.700 --> 00:19:53.579 and at times 00:19:53.579 --> 00:19:54.420 even defending 00:19:54.420 --> 00:19:56.319 their own corruption. 00:19:59.240 --> 00:20:00.200 What makes it hard 00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:01.859 for us to feel this 00:20:01.859 --> 00:20:02.900 the way Israel 00:20:02.900 --> 00:20:04.079 would have in Isaiah 00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:05.699 or the Jews 00:20:05.699 --> 00:20:06.559 in John 1 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:07.899 is that we now 00:20:07.899 --> 00:20:08.779 within the church 00:20:08.779 --> 00:20:09.659 of Jesus Christ 00:20:09.659 --> 00:20:10.319 are shielded 00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:11.220 from all of that. 00:20:11.859 --> 00:20:12.639 The darkness 00:20:12.639 --> 00:20:13.960 never comes in here. 00:20:14.399 --> 00:20:15.039 We're immune 00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:16.059 from those struggles. 00:20:17.879 --> 00:20:18.439 Right? 00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:22.259 Who are we kidding? 00:20:24.139 --> 00:20:25.460 We certainly feel 00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:26.339 oppressive darkness 00:20:26.339 --> 00:20:27.039 around us, 00:20:27.179 --> 00:20:28.019 but usually, 00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:28.720 if we're honest, 00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:29.699 we also feel it 00:20:29.699 --> 00:20:30.740 inside of us. 00:20:31.220 --> 00:20:31.679 Don't we? 00:20:32.519 --> 00:20:33.480 In some ways, 00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:34.360 we've been called 00:20:34.360 --> 00:20:35.220 to be a light 00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:36.299 in a dark world, 00:20:36.440 --> 00:20:37.200 shining the light 00:20:37.200 --> 00:20:38.460 of God before men. 00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:40.740 But we too, 00:20:40.819 --> 00:20:41.740 even in the church, 00:20:41.880 --> 00:20:43.140 have neglected 00:20:43.140 --> 00:20:44.720 God's Word so much 00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:46.299 that He does feel distant. 00:20:47.099 --> 00:20:48.279 And the path of righteousness 00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:49.860 does seem unclear. 00:20:51.860 --> 00:20:53.160 We too fail to love 00:20:53.160 --> 00:20:54.400 each other faithfully. 00:20:54.680 --> 00:20:56.440 Even the ones closest to us 00:20:56.440 --> 00:20:56.960 whom we have 00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:58.700 particularly promised 00:20:58.700 --> 00:20:59.460 to love, 00:21:00.039 --> 00:21:01.680 we fail to love. 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:04.720 We too experience leaders 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:06.620 preying on the vulnerable 00:21:06.620 --> 00:21:07.700 and demonstrating 00:21:07.700 --> 00:21:09.240 their own idolatry 00:21:09.240 --> 00:21:10.620 and moral confusion. 00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:13.240 And so, 00:21:13.380 --> 00:21:14.560 because of these things, 00:21:14.680 --> 00:21:15.420 we ourselves 00:21:15.420 --> 00:21:16.500 often approve 00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:18.080 of the darkness. 00:21:18.600 --> 00:21:18.980 Why? 00:21:19.360 --> 00:21:19.680 Why? 00:21:19.779 --> 00:21:21.360 Just like in John 3, 00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:22.460 we approve of the darkness 00:21:22.460 --> 00:21:23.420 so that our own evil 00:21:23.420 --> 00:21:24.259 is not exposed. 00:21:24.600 --> 00:21:25.519 So we don't have to deal 00:21:25.519 --> 00:21:26.519 with the ugly reality 00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:28.360 we see in our own hearts 00:21:28.359 --> 00:21:29.719 and in our own relationships. 00:21:31.419 --> 00:21:32.519 Or we're at times 00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:34.119 guilty of avoiding darkness, 00:21:34.839 --> 00:21:36.240 hiding our light, 00:21:36.279 --> 00:21:37.559 rather than putting the lamp 00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:38.240 on a stand 00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:39.959 where Jesus has called us to. 00:21:40.099 --> 00:21:41.419 We keep to ourselves 00:21:41.419 --> 00:21:42.079 thinking, 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:42.439 aha, 00:21:42.619 --> 00:21:43.779 we will avoid darkness 00:21:43.779 --> 00:21:44.339 altogether. 00:21:44.500 --> 00:21:45.659 We'll just stay in here. 00:21:47.099 --> 00:21:49.519 The completely nonsensical 00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:50.139 opposite 00:21:50.139 --> 00:21:51.859 of what our Savior 00:21:51.859 --> 00:21:53.479 has done Himself 00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:54.700 and called us 00:21:54.700 --> 00:21:55.839 to do. 00:21:57.420 --> 00:21:58.660 But some days, 00:21:59.620 --> 00:22:00.740 you look around 00:22:00.740 --> 00:22:01.740 and the darkness 00:22:01.740 --> 00:22:02.700 just feels 00:22:02.700 --> 00:22:03.680 too strong, 00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:04.220 doesn't it? 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:05.920 Feels ever-present 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:07.099 around us, 00:22:07.099 --> 00:22:07.860 too. 00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:10.120 Are you starting 00:22:10.120 --> 00:22:11.059 to feel a little bit 00:22:11.059 --> 00:22:12.360 of why we need 00:22:12.360 --> 00:22:13.799 the good news 00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:14.420 of Christmas, 00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:15.620 of the incarnation? 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:18.460 Why we need God 00:22:18.460 --> 00:22:19.339 to break in 00:22:19.339 --> 00:22:19.960 with light 00:22:19.960 --> 00:22:21.920 to our darkness? 00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:25.120 Back in the 11th century, 00:22:25.400 --> 00:22:26.140 a theologian 00:22:26.140 --> 00:22:27.700 named Anselm 00:22:27.700 --> 00:22:30.380 asked that very question, 00:22:30.580 --> 00:22:31.640 why did God 00:22:31.640 --> 00:22:32.900 have to become 00:22:32.900 --> 00:22:34.039 a man? 00:22:34.880 --> 00:22:35.740 In Latin, 00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:36.539 he said, 00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:38.620 cur Deus homo. 00:22:39.360 --> 00:22:41.960 Why the God-man? 00:22:43.080 --> 00:22:44.140 And he gave us 00:22:44.140 --> 00:22:45.160 a great start 00:22:45.160 --> 00:22:46.039 on the answer 00:22:46.039 --> 00:22:47.500 to that question. 00:22:48.120 --> 00:22:48.220 Now, 00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:49.420 Anselm understood 00:22:49.420 --> 00:22:50.920 this dynamic 00:22:50.920 --> 00:22:52.560 that even though 00:22:52.560 --> 00:22:53.800 men ought 00:22:53.800 --> 00:22:55.279 to be the one 00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:57.340 to make the payment 00:22:57.340 --> 00:22:58.539 to satisfy 00:22:58.539 --> 00:22:59.779 divine justice 00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:01.539 because men 00:23:01.539 --> 00:23:02.400 were the debtors, 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:03.200 the ones who 00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:04.820 owed that debt, 00:23:05.940 --> 00:23:06.840 even though men 00:23:06.840 --> 00:23:08.680 ought to pay it, 00:23:09.080 --> 00:23:10.539 only God 00:23:10.539 --> 00:23:11.680 was capable 00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:12.779 of paying 00:23:12.779 --> 00:23:14.180 the infinite debt, 00:23:14.580 --> 00:23:15.519 of satisfying 00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:17.500 the perfect standard, 00:23:17.500 --> 00:23:18.819 and so God 00:23:18.819 --> 00:23:20.200 had to become 00:23:20.200 --> 00:23:21.279 man. 00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:22.900 That's why 00:23:22.900 --> 00:23:24.140 God had to 00:23:24.140 --> 00:23:25.420 become man. 00:23:26.019 --> 00:23:26.980 In my words, 00:23:28.119 --> 00:23:29.200 human flesh 00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:30.380 must be 00:23:30.380 --> 00:23:31.279 divinely 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:32.160 perfect. 00:23:33.140 --> 00:23:33.940 That's what 00:23:33.940 --> 00:23:34.799 had to happen. 00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:35.940 God created 00:23:35.940 --> 00:23:36.460 humanity 00:23:36.460 --> 00:23:37.500 to live in this 00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:38.740 perfect relationship 00:23:38.740 --> 00:23:39.380 with Him 00:23:39.380 --> 00:23:41.059 where we trusted 00:23:41.059 --> 00:23:41.519 Him 00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:43.079 and obeyed Him 00:23:43.079 --> 00:23:44.059 and reflected 00:23:44.059 --> 00:23:44.920 His image. 00:23:44.920 --> 00:23:46.820 He commanded 00:23:46.820 --> 00:23:47.420 us to be 00:23:47.420 --> 00:23:47.680 what? 00:23:47.960 --> 00:23:48.440 Holy. 00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:49.120 Just a little 00:23:49.120 --> 00:23:49.560 bit holy? 00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:51.380 No, 00:23:51.500 --> 00:23:52.200 as holy 00:23:52.200 --> 00:23:53.360 as He 00:23:53.360 --> 00:23:53.880 is 00:23:53.880 --> 00:23:54.560 holy. 00:23:55.259 --> 00:23:55.759 Human 00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:56.700 flesh, 00:23:57.200 --> 00:23:57.880 divinely 00:23:57.880 --> 00:23:58.840 perfect. 00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:00.100 That's what 00:24:00.100 --> 00:24:01.279 was necessary. 00:24:02.140 --> 00:24:02.779 But then in our 00:24:02.779 --> 00:24:03.180 rebellion, 00:24:03.400 --> 00:24:04.259 we found ourselves 00:24:04.259 --> 00:24:05.120 in the darkness. 00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:06.940 Distant from 00:24:06.940 --> 00:24:07.700 this close 00:24:07.700 --> 00:24:08.380 relationship 00:24:08.380 --> 00:24:09.019 with God 00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:09.380 we were 00:24:09.380 --> 00:24:10.519 created for. 00:24:10.820 --> 00:24:11.440 Contradicting 00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:12.240 His commands. 00:24:12.640 --> 00:24:13.420 Without hope 00:24:13.420 --> 00:24:14.180 and without 00:24:14.180 --> 00:24:15.160 God in the 00:24:15.160 --> 00:24:15.519 world. 00:24:15.640 --> 00:24:16.220 Ephesians 00:24:16.220 --> 00:24:17.560 chapter 2. 00:24:18.680 --> 00:24:19.279 The darkness 00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:20.120 of this world 00:24:20.120 --> 00:24:21.400 leaves everyone 00:24:21.400 --> 00:24:22.380 alone 00:24:22.380 --> 00:24:24.120 and hopeless 00:24:24.120 --> 00:24:25.800 and helpless 00:24:25.800 --> 00:24:27.320 stuck, 00:24:27.700 --> 00:24:27.920 right? 00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:30.200 Unless, 00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:32.680 unless light 00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:33.360 comes 00:24:33.360 --> 00:24:34.519 and finds 00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:35.120 us. 00:24:35.779 --> 00:24:36.279 Unless 00:24:36.279 --> 00:24:37.140 light 00:24:37.140 --> 00:24:38.180 moves into 00:24:38.180 --> 00:24:39.039 our darkness 00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:40.080 and shines 00:24:40.080 --> 00:24:41.000 there. 00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:42.059 and so 00:24:42.059 --> 00:24:42.940 the Word 00:24:42.940 --> 00:24:43.740 had to 00:24:43.740 --> 00:24:44.240 become 00:24:44.240 --> 00:24:45.200 flesh. 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:46.660 The light 00:24:46.660 --> 00:24:47.359 had to 00:24:47.359 --> 00:24:47.740 come 00:24:47.740 --> 00:24:48.559 shine 00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:49.019 in the 00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:49.400 darkness. 00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:50.099 God 00:24:50.099 --> 00:24:50.660 Himself 00:24:50.660 --> 00:24:51.599 had to 00:24:51.599 --> 00:24:51.980 come 00:24:51.980 --> 00:24:52.799 find 00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:53.920 us. 00:24:56.920 --> 00:24:57.720 Have you 00:24:57.720 --> 00:24:58.019 been there 00:24:58.019 --> 00:24:58.480 in the dark 00:24:58.480 --> 00:24:59.019 cave 00:24:59.019 --> 00:24:59.640 on one of 00:24:59.640 --> 00:25:00.180 those tours 00:25:00.180 --> 00:25:01.180 when the 00:25:01.180 --> 00:25:02.099 light comes 00:25:02.099 --> 00:25:02.400 on? 00:25:03.799 --> 00:25:04.299 Usually it may 00:25:04.299 --> 00:25:04.779 even just be 00:25:04.779 --> 00:25:05.900 one flashlight 00:25:05.900 --> 00:25:06.460 or something. 00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:08.000 It doesn't 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:08.720 just light up 00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:09.620 a little spot 00:25:09.620 --> 00:25:10.180 in the 00:25:10.180 --> 00:25:11.019 huge empty 00:25:11.019 --> 00:25:11.440 cavern, 00:25:11.539 --> 00:25:11.860 does it? 00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:13.259 Very quickly 00:25:13.259 --> 00:25:13.819 the light 00:25:13.819 --> 00:25:15.100 fills the 00:25:15.100 --> 00:25:16.440 entire space. 00:25:17.819 --> 00:25:18.559 The people 00:25:18.559 --> 00:25:19.019 of God 00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:20.299 failed over 00:25:20.299 --> 00:25:21.299 and over 00:25:21.299 --> 00:25:21.880 and over 00:25:21.880 --> 00:25:22.440 to be a 00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:23.279 light to 00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:23.779 the nations. 00:25:25.079 --> 00:25:25.559 And so 00:25:25.559 --> 00:25:26.500 God promised 00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:27.920 to send 00:25:27.920 --> 00:25:28.339 one 00:25:28.339 --> 00:25:29.600 to bring 00:25:29.600 --> 00:25:30.059 them 00:25:30.059 --> 00:25:31.400 light. 00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:34.880 Even more 00:25:34.880 --> 00:25:36.259 than bringing 00:25:36.259 --> 00:25:36.880 light just 00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:37.440 to God's 00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:37.800 people, 00:25:38.400 --> 00:25:38.860 that one 00:25:38.860 --> 00:25:39.340 was going 00:25:39.340 --> 00:25:39.700 to be 00:25:39.700 --> 00:25:40.280 a light 00:25:40.280 --> 00:25:41.100 that would 00:25:41.100 --> 00:25:41.740 light up 00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:42.180 and bring 00:25:42.180 --> 00:25:42.800 light to 00:25:42.800 --> 00:25:43.520 the nations. 00:25:44.020 --> 00:25:45.320 Isaiah 49 00:25:45.320 --> 00:25:46.440 verse 6. 00:25:47.020 --> 00:25:48.060 Not just 00:25:48.060 --> 00:25:48.600 for the 00:25:48.600 --> 00:25:49.140 tribes of 00:25:49.140 --> 00:25:49.600 Jacob and 00:25:49.600 --> 00:25:50.380 the preserved 00:25:50.380 --> 00:25:51.000 of Israel, 00:25:51.520 --> 00:25:51.840 but a 00:25:51.840 --> 00:25:52.340 light for 00:25:52.340 --> 00:25:53.520 the nations 00:25:53.520 --> 00:25:55.220 was this 00:25:55.220 --> 00:25:56.100 one who 00:25:56.100 --> 00:25:56.980 was coming 00:25:56.980 --> 00:25:58.680 to fill 00:25:58.680 --> 00:25:59.820 the entire 00:25:59.820 --> 00:26:00.700 world 00:26:00.700 --> 00:26:01.740 with light. 00:26:01.980 --> 00:26:02.300 This is 00:26:02.300 --> 00:26:02.880 what Jesus 00:26:02.880 --> 00:26:03.880 offers to 00:26:03.880 --> 00:26:04.560 all of 00:26:04.560 --> 00:26:04.920 us. 00:26:05.780 --> 00:26:06.040 The 00:26:06.039 --> 00:26:06.599 light 00:26:06.599 --> 00:26:07.420 of 00:26:07.420 --> 00:26:08.059 life. 00:26:09.420 --> 00:26:09.899 John 00:26:09.899 --> 00:26:10.539 chapter 8. 00:26:10.599 --> 00:26:10.799 Jesus 00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:11.659 says it. 00:26:11.879 --> 00:26:12.240 He spoke 00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:12.500 to them 00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:12.779 and says, 00:26:12.879 --> 00:26:13.180 I'm the 00:26:13.180 --> 00:26:13.500 light of 00:26:13.500 --> 00:26:13.799 the world. 00:26:13.899 --> 00:26:14.079 Here's 00:26:14.079 --> 00:26:14.420 why I 00:26:14.420 --> 00:26:14.680 came. 00:26:15.039 --> 00:26:15.259 Whoever 00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:15.940 follows 00:26:15.940 --> 00:26:16.420 me will 00:26:16.420 --> 00:26:17.019 not walk 00:26:17.019 --> 00:26:17.659 in darkness, 00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:18.420 but will 00:26:18.420 --> 00:26:18.920 have the 00:26:18.920 --> 00:26:19.899 light of 00:26:19.899 --> 00:26:20.460 life. 00:26:20.980 --> 00:26:21.519 Later in 00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:21.819 John 00:26:21.819 --> 00:26:22.740 chapter 12, 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:23.399 I have 00:26:23.399 --> 00:26:23.879 come into 00:26:23.879 --> 00:26:24.359 the world 00:26:24.359 --> 00:26:25.099 as light 00:26:25.099 --> 00:26:25.799 so that 00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:26.159 whoever 00:26:26.159 --> 00:26:26.899 believes 00:26:26.899 --> 00:26:27.599 in me 00:26:27.599 --> 00:26:28.579 may not 00:26:28.579 --> 00:26:29.200 remain 00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:30.079 in darkness. 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:30.859 That's 00:26:30.859 --> 00:26:31.319 why he 00:26:31.319 --> 00:26:32.000 came. 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:35.039 God 00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:35.619 may seem 00:26:35.619 --> 00:26:36.059 very 00:26:36.059 --> 00:26:37.259 distant 00:26:37.259 --> 00:26:39.000 to you 00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:39.559 this morning. 00:26:41.059 --> 00:26:41.599 I know 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:42.019 there are 00:26:42.019 --> 00:26:42.839 some of 00:26:42.839 --> 00:26:43.279 you for 00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:43.619 whom 00:26:43.619 --> 00:26:44.079 life 00:26:44.079 --> 00:26:44.720 seems 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:45.759 purposeless 00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:47.240 and 00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:47.839 confusing 00:26:47.839 --> 00:26:50.119 and you're 00:26:50.119 --> 00:26:50.460 thinking 00:26:50.460 --> 00:26:51.559 the best 00:26:51.559 --> 00:26:52.160 way forward 00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:52.480 is to 00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:53.000 escape 00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:54.440 from it. 00:26:56.440 --> 00:26:57.160 Others 00:26:57.160 --> 00:26:57.579 of you 00:26:57.579 --> 00:26:57.900 have 00:26:57.900 --> 00:26:58.740 failed 00:26:58.740 --> 00:26:59.420 in such 00:26:59.420 --> 00:27:00.539 humiliating 00:27:00.539 --> 00:27:01.379 ways that 00:27:01.379 --> 00:27:02.220 you just 00:27:02.220 --> 00:27:02.839 feel like 00:27:02.839 --> 00:27:03.180 there's 00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:04.379 no hope 00:27:04.379 --> 00:27:05.299 for you 00:27:05.299 --> 00:27:05.680 at all. 00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:07.779 Some of 00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:08.000 you have 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:08.759 been harmed 00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:09.819 in such 00:27:09.819 --> 00:27:10.599 dark, 00:27:11.079 --> 00:27:11.720 devastating 00:27:11.720 --> 00:27:12.700 ways that 00:27:12.700 --> 00:27:13.319 you think 00:27:13.319 --> 00:27:14.059 there's no 00:27:14.059 --> 00:27:14.759 way forward. 00:27:14.920 --> 00:27:15.500 There's no 00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:16.619 hope for 00:27:16.619 --> 00:27:17.000 me. 00:27:19.579 --> 00:27:20.339 Others 00:27:20.339 --> 00:27:20.619 of you 00:27:20.619 --> 00:27:21.000 have felt 00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:21.619 the emptiness 00:27:21.619 --> 00:27:22.779 of success 00:27:22.779 --> 00:27:24.779 and you've 00:27:24.779 --> 00:27:25.599 gotten there 00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:26.539 and it 00:27:26.539 --> 00:27:27.019 didn't 00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:27.559 fulfill 00:27:27.559 --> 00:27:28.379 and you're 00:27:28.379 --> 00:27:28.839 feeling 00:27:28.839 --> 00:27:29.339 nothing 00:27:29.339 --> 00:27:30.259 left 00:27:30.259 --> 00:27:31.139 to live 00:27:31.139 --> 00:27:31.579 for. 00:27:33.059 --> 00:27:33.759 And I've 00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:34.119 had the 00:27:34.119 --> 00:27:34.740 privilege 00:27:34.740 --> 00:27:35.740 of seeing 00:27:35.740 --> 00:27:36.980 some of 00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:37.379 you in 00:27:37.379 --> 00:27:37.959 all of 00:27:37.959 --> 00:27:38.240 those 00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:39.039 situations 00:27:39.039 --> 00:27:40.319 hopeless 00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:42.240 and stuck 00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:43.179 and with 00:27:43.179 --> 00:27:43.759 no way 00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:44.279 forward 00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:45.339 and to 00:27:45.339 --> 00:27:45.859 find 00:27:45.859 --> 00:27:46.859 God 00:27:46.859 --> 00:27:47.859 show up 00:27:47.859 --> 00:27:48.599 to see 00:27:48.599 --> 00:27:49.099 Jesus 00:27:49.099 --> 00:27:50.059 bring light 00:27:50.059 --> 00:27:50.720 and meet 00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:51.559 you in 00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:52.559 those dark 00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:53.159 places 00:27:53.159 --> 00:27:54.019 and bring 00:27:54.019 --> 00:27:54.779 life 00:27:54.779 --> 00:27:55.699 and to 00:27:55.699 --> 00:27:56.039 see you 00:27:56.039 --> 00:27:56.679 rejoice 00:27:56.680 --> 00:27:58.120 in that. 00:27:59.660 --> 00:28:00.160 Jesus 00:28:00.160 --> 00:28:00.799 says 00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:02.060 no matter 00:28:02.060 --> 00:28:03.340 how thick 00:28:03.340 --> 00:28:04.299 the darkness 00:28:04.299 --> 00:28:05.460 you feel 00:28:05.460 --> 00:28:06.600 he brings 00:28:06.600 --> 00:28:07.279 light 00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:08.860 and life 00:28:08.860 --> 00:28:09.799 into that 00:28:09.799 --> 00:28:10.220 darkness. 00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:11.600 That's the 00:28:11.600 --> 00:28:12.500 message of 00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:12.940 Christmas 00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:14.100 that Jesus 00:28:14.100 --> 00:28:14.680 has come 00:28:14.680 --> 00:28:15.400 to be the 00:28:15.400 --> 00:28:16.220 light of the 00:28:16.220 --> 00:28:16.620 world that 00:28:16.620 --> 00:28:17.420 whoever knows 00:28:17.420 --> 00:28:17.840 him will 00:28:17.840 --> 00:28:18.660 have the 00:28:18.660 --> 00:28:19.960 life of 00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:21.200 light in 00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:21.600 you. 00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:22.720 Will no 00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:23.620 longer walk 00:28:23.620 --> 00:28:24.200 in darkness 00:28:24.200 --> 00:28:25.120 that there is 00:28:25.120 --> 00:28:25.620 something on 00:28:25.619 --> 00:28:25.919 the other 00:28:25.919 --> 00:28:26.399 side of 00:28:26.399 --> 00:28:26.699 where you 00:28:26.699 --> 00:28:27.119 are right 00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:27.759 now that 00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:28.179 there is 00:28:28.179 --> 00:28:29.039 deliverance 00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:30.459 from that 00:28:30.459 --> 00:28:31.019 pain and 00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:31.919 hopelessness 00:28:31.919 --> 00:28:32.779 that you 00:28:32.779 --> 00:28:33.199 feel. 00:28:33.559 --> 00:28:34.399 Because Jesus 00:28:34.399 --> 00:28:35.119 comes as a 00:28:35.119 --> 00:28:35.599 man who has 00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:36.279 a perfect 00:28:36.279 --> 00:28:37.000 relationship 00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:37.739 with God. 00:28:38.259 --> 00:28:38.739 The word 00:28:38.739 --> 00:28:39.239 was with 00:28:39.239 --> 00:28:39.579 God. 00:28:39.819 --> 00:28:40.219 The word 00:28:40.219 --> 00:28:41.739 was God. 00:28:42.259 --> 00:28:42.759 And all 00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:43.079 through the 00:28:43.079 --> 00:28:43.619 life of 00:28:43.619 --> 00:28:44.159 Jesus it's 00:28:44.159 --> 00:28:44.539 not just 00:28:44.539 --> 00:28:44.819 in his 00:28:44.819 --> 00:28:45.619 birth we 00:28:45.619 --> 00:28:46.559 see him 00:28:46.559 --> 00:28:46.819 and we 00:28:46.819 --> 00:28:47.239 hear him 00:28:47.239 --> 00:28:48.079 talking with 00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:48.639 the father 00:28:48.639 --> 00:28:49.779 seeking the 00:28:49.779 --> 00:28:50.359 glory of 00:28:50.359 --> 00:28:50.819 the father 00:28:50.819 --> 00:28:51.939 always doing 00:28:51.939 --> 00:28:52.519 the will 00:28:52.519 --> 00:28:52.879 of his 00:28:52.879 --> 00:28:53.359 father. 00:28:54.459 --> 00:28:54.979 He loves 00:28:54.980 --> 00:28:55.539 and trusts 00:28:55.539 --> 00:28:55.900 him as 00:28:55.900 --> 00:28:56.200 we were 00:28:56.200 --> 00:28:56.700 always 00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:57.099 supposed 00:28:57.099 --> 00:28:57.480 to. 00:28:58.759 --> 00:28:59.019 No 00:28:59.019 --> 00:28:59.559 relational 00:28:59.559 --> 00:29:00.240 distance. 00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:01.400 Absolute 00:29:01.400 --> 00:29:02.339 intimacy 00:29:02.339 --> 00:29:03.220 and knowledge 00:29:03.220 --> 00:29:04.039 and trust. 00:29:04.620 --> 00:29:05.200 That's why 00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:05.880 Jesus has 00:29:05.880 --> 00:29:07.099 life and 00:29:07.099 --> 00:29:07.599 light. 00:29:09.539 --> 00:29:10.220 And then 00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:10.799 he provides 00:29:10.799 --> 00:29:11.360 the perfect 00:29:11.360 --> 00:29:11.920 righteousness. 00:29:13.319 --> 00:29:14.259 He lives 00:29:14.259 --> 00:29:15.360 as a man. 00:29:15.700 --> 00:29:16.099 Human 00:29:16.099 --> 00:29:17.380 flesh being 00:29:17.380 --> 00:29:18.180 divinely 00:29:18.180 --> 00:29:19.120 perfect. 00:29:19.660 --> 00:29:20.460 Keeping all 00:29:20.460 --> 00:29:21.200 the father's 00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:21.700 commands. 00:29:22.120 --> 00:29:22.559 Always 00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:23.460 obedient even 00:29:23.460 --> 00:29:24.079 in the great 00:29:24.079 --> 00:29:24.900 temptations. 00:29:24.980 --> 00:29:25.539 Even in 00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:26.400 the agonizing 00:29:26.400 --> 00:29:27.440 situations. 00:29:27.640 --> 00:29:28.079 All the 00:29:28.079 --> 00:29:28.339 way to 00:29:28.339 --> 00:29:29.180 the cross 00:29:29.180 --> 00:29:30.279 obedient. 00:29:30.779 --> 00:29:31.059 He has 00:29:31.059 --> 00:29:31.860 come to 00:29:31.860 --> 00:29:32.200 do the 00:29:32.200 --> 00:29:32.640 will of 00:29:32.640 --> 00:29:33.180 the father 00:29:33.180 --> 00:29:33.819 and to 00:29:33.819 --> 00:29:34.640 finish his 00:29:34.640 --> 00:29:35.140 work. 00:29:35.539 --> 00:29:36.059 John 4 00:29:36.059 --> 00:29:36.500 34. 00:29:38.180 --> 00:29:38.940 This is 00:29:38.940 --> 00:29:39.279 why we 00:29:39.279 --> 00:29:39.579 need the 00:29:39.579 --> 00:29:40.000 incarnation. 00:29:41.099 --> 00:29:41.740 We needed 00:29:41.740 --> 00:29:42.400 someone to 00:29:42.400 --> 00:29:42.880 come do 00:29:42.880 --> 00:29:43.420 that for 00:29:43.420 --> 00:29:43.680 us. 00:29:44.079 --> 00:29:44.660 The perfect 00:29:44.660 --> 00:29:45.120 obedience. 00:29:45.299 --> 00:29:45.839 The perfect 00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:46.700 relationship 00:29:46.700 --> 00:29:48.400 that we 00:29:48.400 --> 00:29:48.940 were created 00:29:48.940 --> 00:29:49.400 for. 00:29:50.319 --> 00:29:51.099 Except it 00:29:51.099 --> 00:29:51.460 gets even 00:29:51.460 --> 00:29:52.860 better than 00:29:52.860 --> 00:29:53.200 that. 00:29:53.200 --> 00:29:53.880 God 00:29:53.880 --> 00:29:54.600 because Jesus 00:29:54.600 --> 00:29:55.279 doesn't just 00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:56.340 come to 00:29:56.340 --> 00:29:56.799 show the 00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:57.100 way. 00:29:57.580 --> 00:29:57.960 He doesn't 00:29:57.960 --> 00:29:58.480 just walk 00:29:58.480 --> 00:29:59.019 in and say 00:29:59.019 --> 00:29:59.660 here's how 00:29:59.660 --> 00:29:59.940 you can 00:29:59.940 --> 00:30:00.299 do it. 00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:01.400 Here's how 00:30:01.400 --> 00:30:01.640 you can 00:30:01.640 --> 00:30:02.059 relate to 00:30:02.059 --> 00:30:02.259 God. 00:30:02.340 --> 00:30:02.660 Here's what 00:30:02.660 --> 00:30:03.039 obedience 00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:04.100 looks like. 00:30:04.400 --> 00:30:04.819 He doesn't 00:30:04.819 --> 00:30:05.480 merely show 00:30:05.480 --> 00:30:06.240 us how to 00:30:06.240 --> 00:30:06.799 relate to 00:30:06.799 --> 00:30:07.180 God. 00:30:07.860 --> 00:30:08.620 And how to 00:30:08.620 --> 00:30:09.080 obey the 00:30:09.080 --> 00:30:09.600 father so 00:30:09.600 --> 00:30:10.059 that we 00:30:10.059 --> 00:30:10.380 could maybe 00:30:10.380 --> 00:30:11.019 find our 00:30:11.019 --> 00:30:11.539 way to 00:30:11.539 --> 00:30:12.100 light and 00:30:12.100 --> 00:30:12.559 life. 00:30:12.980 --> 00:30:13.160 No. 00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:13.880 He is the 00:30:13.880 --> 00:30:15.299 help that 00:30:15.299 --> 00:30:16.000 we really 00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:16.460 need. 00:30:16.460 --> 00:30:17.460 Because of 00:30:17.460 --> 00:30:18.180 our utter 00:30:18.180 --> 00:30:19.480 helplessness. 00:30:20.660 --> 00:30:21.500 That's why 00:30:21.500 --> 00:30:22.059 there's hope 00:30:22.059 --> 00:30:22.579 for every 00:30:22.579 --> 00:30:23.200 one of us. 00:30:23.539 --> 00:30:23.920 No matter 00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:24.819 how thick 00:30:24.819 --> 00:30:25.680 the darkness 00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:26.480 you feel 00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:27.100 is, there's 00:30:27.100 --> 00:30:28.140 hope because 00:30:28.140 --> 00:30:28.680 of this. 00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:30.360 I want you 00:30:30.360 --> 00:30:30.779 to imagine 00:30:30.779 --> 00:30:31.299 for a minute 00:30:31.299 --> 00:30:31.779 that you're 00:30:31.779 --> 00:30:32.500 that person 00:30:32.500 --> 00:30:34.440 stuck in 00:30:34.440 --> 00:30:34.940 the darkness 00:30:34.940 --> 00:30:35.740 of the cave. 00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:38.340 You're utterly 00:30:38.340 --> 00:30:38.900 helpless. 00:30:39.200 --> 00:30:39.880 Just imagine 00:30:39.880 --> 00:30:40.559 you've fallen 00:30:40.559 --> 00:30:41.420 down to this 00:30:41.420 --> 00:30:41.940 place and 00:30:41.940 --> 00:30:42.900 broken both 00:30:42.900 --> 00:30:43.180 of your 00:30:43.180 --> 00:30:43.579 legs. 00:30:43.579 --> 00:30:45.419 Is it 00:30:45.419 --> 00:30:46.259 any use 00:30:46.259 --> 00:30:46.980 to you for 00:30:46.980 --> 00:30:47.960 someone to 00:30:47.960 --> 00:30:48.679 show up and 00:30:48.679 --> 00:30:49.899 say, hey, I 00:30:49.899 --> 00:30:50.379 know the way 00:30:50.379 --> 00:30:50.699 out. 00:30:51.359 --> 00:30:52.439 If you climb 00:30:52.439 --> 00:30:52.839 up this 00:30:52.839 --> 00:30:53.720 really tall 00:30:53.720 --> 00:30:54.759 rock face 00:30:54.759 --> 00:30:55.899 and get to 00:30:55.899 --> 00:30:56.480 the top of 00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:57.079 it and turn 00:30:57.079 --> 00:30:57.720 left and go 00:30:57.720 --> 00:30:58.159 down that 00:30:58.159 --> 00:30:58.759 passageway 00:30:58.759 --> 00:30:59.519 about 500 00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:00.179 yards and 00:31:00.179 --> 00:31:02.220 then, that's 00:31:02.220 --> 00:31:02.819 no help to 00:31:02.819 --> 00:31:03.339 you at all. 00:31:04.519 --> 00:31:05.799 In fact, it's 00:31:05.799 --> 00:31:06.379 almost just 00:31:06.379 --> 00:31:07.079 heaping a 00:31:07.079 --> 00:31:07.819 heavier burden 00:31:07.819 --> 00:31:08.480 on you, 00:31:08.559 --> 00:31:09.399 taunting you 00:31:09.399 --> 00:31:10.859 that you can't 00:31:10.859 --> 00:31:12.159 do and get 00:31:12.159 --> 00:31:13.059 out the way 00:31:13.059 --> 00:31:13.480 that you've 00:31:13.480 --> 00:31:14.099 been told 00:31:14.099 --> 00:31:14.960 you could. 00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:16.920 Those kinds 00:31:16.920 --> 00:31:17.460 of directions 00:31:17.460 --> 00:31:17.920 are not 00:31:17.920 --> 00:31:18.299 enough. 00:31:20.759 --> 00:31:21.539 Imagine you're 00:31:21.539 --> 00:31:22.240 lying there 00:31:22.240 --> 00:31:23.339 in utter 00:31:23.339 --> 00:31:24.140 darkness, 00:31:24.920 --> 00:31:26.819 stuck on 00:31:26.819 --> 00:31:27.339 the floor 00:31:27.339 --> 00:31:28.000 of the cave 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:28.360 and all 00:31:28.360 --> 00:31:28.860 of a sudden 00:31:28.860 --> 00:31:29.980 the ceiling 00:31:29.980 --> 00:31:30.839 of the cave 00:31:30.839 --> 00:31:31.500 starts to 00:31:31.500 --> 00:31:32.759 shake and 00:31:32.759 --> 00:31:33.759 pull apart 00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:34.799 and light 00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:35.900 comes crashing 00:31:35.900 --> 00:31:36.700 in and a 00:31:36.700 --> 00:31:37.740 rescue team 00:31:37.740 --> 00:31:38.860 reaches down 00:31:38.860 --> 00:31:39.539 and plucks 00:31:39.539 --> 00:31:40.180 you up and 00:31:40.180 --> 00:31:41.039 pulls you up 00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:42.240 into the 00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:42.680 light. 00:31:42.680 --> 00:31:42.740 light. 00:31:43.960 --> 00:31:44.580 That's the 00:31:44.580 --> 00:31:45.279 vision you 00:31:45.279 --> 00:31:45.820 need to have 00:31:45.820 --> 00:31:46.299 in your head 00:31:46.299 --> 00:31:46.700 of what the 00:31:46.700 --> 00:31:47.779 incarnation is. 00:31:48.120 --> 00:31:48.759 See, Jesus 00:31:48.759 --> 00:31:49.900 has broken 00:31:49.900 --> 00:31:51.060 through heaven 00:31:51.060 --> 00:31:51.640 and earth 00:31:51.640 --> 00:31:52.720 to come into 00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:53.360 your darkness 00:31:53.360 --> 00:31:54.279 and not just 00:31:54.279 --> 00:31:54.820 shine a little 00:31:54.820 --> 00:31:55.320 light in the 00:31:55.320 --> 00:31:56.480 corner, but 00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:57.840 to come flooding 00:31:57.840 --> 00:31:58.799 in with light 00:31:58.799 --> 00:32:00.000 to grab you, 00:32:00.120 --> 00:32:01.100 to rescue you 00:32:01.100 --> 00:32:02.180 and bring you 00:32:02.180 --> 00:32:03.519 into light 00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:04.799 and life. 00:32:05.360 --> 00:32:06.220 Not merely to 00:32:06.220 --> 00:32:06.860 show us where 00:32:06.860 --> 00:32:07.700 rescue can be 00:32:07.700 --> 00:32:09.720 found, but 00:32:09.720 --> 00:32:10.360 truly to 00:32:10.360 --> 00:32:11.279 rescue us, 00:32:11.580 --> 00:32:12.380 to give us 00:32:12.380 --> 00:32:13.580 that perfect 00:32:13.580 --> 00:32:14.440 righteousness, 00:32:14.759 --> 00:32:15.559 to restore 00:32:15.559 --> 00:32:16.559 that perfect 00:32:16.559 --> 00:32:18.080 relationship with 00:32:18.080 --> 00:32:18.580 our Father. 00:32:18.819 --> 00:32:19.220 Did you know 00:32:19.220 --> 00:32:19.759 you could know 00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:20.160 that? 00:32:21.100 --> 00:32:21.680 Did you know 00:32:21.680 --> 00:32:22.319 as you trust 00:32:22.319 --> 00:32:23.000 Christ that's 00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:23.860 the relationship 00:32:23.860 --> 00:32:24.720 that He's 00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:25.460 invited you 00:32:25.460 --> 00:32:25.819 into? 00:32:27.100 --> 00:32:28.039 He's done all 00:32:28.039 --> 00:32:28.440 that we were 00:32:28.440 --> 00:32:29.240 supposed to do 00:32:29.240 --> 00:32:30.240 and He comes 00:32:30.240 --> 00:32:31.039 to restore 00:32:31.039 --> 00:32:32.319 true life 00:32:32.319 --> 00:32:33.759 to those of 00:32:33.759 --> 00:32:34.579 us stuck in 00:32:34.579 --> 00:32:35.240 the death 00:32:35.240 --> 00:32:36.559 of darkness. 00:32:38.119 --> 00:32:38.720 Not to put a 00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:39.299 heavy burden 00:32:39.299 --> 00:32:39.799 on already 00:32:39.799 --> 00:32:40.700 confused and 00:32:40.700 --> 00:32:41.619 helpless people, 00:32:41.819 --> 00:32:43.159 but to give 00:32:43.159 --> 00:32:45.000 you life. 00:32:46.919 --> 00:32:47.319 In fact, 00:32:47.399 --> 00:32:47.879 God breaking 00:32:47.879 --> 00:32:48.439 in to be the 00:32:48.439 --> 00:32:48.899 light in the 00:32:48.899 --> 00:32:49.759 darkness is not 00:32:49.759 --> 00:32:50.779 over yet. 00:32:51.559 --> 00:32:52.599 He rescues 00:32:52.599 --> 00:32:53.500 so thoroughly 00:32:53.500 --> 00:32:54.299 that He brings 00:32:54.299 --> 00:32:55.579 life forever 00:32:55.579 --> 00:32:57.039 as the eternal 00:32:57.039 --> 00:32:57.759 light. 00:32:57.939 --> 00:32:58.819 Isaiah tells us 00:32:58.819 --> 00:32:59.220 what it's going 00:32:59.220 --> 00:32:59.779 to be like. 00:33:00.200 --> 00:33:01.000 Chapter 60, 00:33:01.359 --> 00:33:01.960 darkness shall 00:33:01.960 --> 00:33:02.360 cover the 00:33:02.360 --> 00:33:02.759 earth in 00:33:02.759 --> 00:33:03.400 thick darkness. 00:33:03.579 --> 00:33:04.180 The peoples, 00:33:04.340 --> 00:33:05.079 we know that 00:33:05.079 --> 00:33:05.660 condition, 00:33:06.299 --> 00:33:06.960 but the Lord 00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:08.140 will arise upon 00:33:08.140 --> 00:33:08.880 you and His 00:33:08.880 --> 00:33:09.680 glory will be 00:33:09.680 --> 00:33:10.500 seen upon you 00:33:10.500 --> 00:33:11.460 and nations 00:33:11.460 --> 00:33:12.440 shall come to 00:33:12.440 --> 00:33:13.160 your light and 00:33:13.160 --> 00:33:14.319 kings to the 00:33:14.319 --> 00:33:14.960 brightness of 00:33:14.960 --> 00:33:15.579 your rising. 00:33:16.059 --> 00:33:16.400 Where's the 00:33:16.400 --> 00:33:16.900 light coming 00:33:16.900 --> 00:33:17.240 from? 00:33:17.980 --> 00:33:18.779 The sun shall 00:33:18.779 --> 00:33:19.539 be no more 00:33:19.539 --> 00:33:20.180 your light by 00:33:20.180 --> 00:33:21.740 day, nor for 00:33:21.740 --> 00:33:22.400 brightness shall 00:33:22.400 --> 00:33:22.960 the moon give 00:33:22.960 --> 00:33:24.180 you light, but 00:33:24.180 --> 00:33:25.480 the Lord will 00:33:25.480 --> 00:33:26.559 be your everlasting 00:33:26.559 --> 00:33:27.880 light and your 00:33:27.880 --> 00:33:28.900 God will be your 00:33:28.900 --> 00:33:29.340 glory. 00:33:29.700 --> 00:33:30.440 Your sun shall 00:33:30.440 --> 00:33:31.079 no more go 00:33:31.079 --> 00:33:31.759 down, nor your 00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:32.359 moon withdraw 00:33:32.359 --> 00:33:33.579 itself, for the 00:33:33.579 --> 00:33:34.539 Lord will be your 00:33:34.539 --> 00:33:35.940 everlasting light 00:33:35.940 --> 00:33:37.379 and your days of 00:33:37.379 --> 00:33:39.019 mourning shall be 00:33:39.019 --> 00:33:39.420 ended. 00:33:39.579 --> 00:33:40.220 There's hope. 00:33:40.779 --> 00:33:41.700 Those dark days 00:33:41.700 --> 00:33:42.119 are over. 00:33:42.240 --> 00:33:43.099 John actually 00:33:43.099 --> 00:33:44.059 sees a picture of 00:33:44.059 --> 00:33:44.980 it in Revelation. 00:33:45.200 --> 00:33:45.700 Here's what it's 00:33:45.700 --> 00:33:46.259 going to be like. 00:33:46.259 --> 00:33:47.480 The city has no 00:33:47.480 --> 00:33:48.539 need of sun or 00:33:48.539 --> 00:33:49.660 moon to shine on 00:33:49.660 --> 00:33:50.900 it, for the glory 00:33:50.900 --> 00:33:52.140 of God gives it 00:33:52.140 --> 00:33:53.359 light and its 00:33:53.359 --> 00:33:54.960 lamp is the 00:33:54.960 --> 00:33:55.379 Lamb. 00:33:57.220 --> 00:33:58.160 By its light will 00:33:58.160 --> 00:33:59.160 the nations walk. 00:33:59.160 --> 00:34:00.900 The kings of the 00:34:00.900 --> 00:34:01.700 earth will bring 00:34:01.700 --> 00:34:03.080 their glory into 00:34:03.080 --> 00:34:03.259 it. 00:34:03.300 --> 00:34:04.279 That's how great 00:34:04.279 --> 00:34:06.380 this light is. 00:34:07.660 --> 00:34:08.840 An eternal light 00:34:08.840 --> 00:34:09.960 for the people of 00:34:09.960 --> 00:34:13.360 God and all the 00:34:13.360 --> 00:34:15.579 nations who in the 00:34:15.579 --> 00:34:16.240 midst of their 00:34:16.240 --> 00:34:18.119 darkness cry out 00:34:18.119 --> 00:34:19.980 even today for the 00:34:19.980 --> 00:34:22.260 light of Jesus, the 00:34:22.260 --> 00:34:23.440 light we know only 00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:24.480 he can offer. 00:34:24.480 --> 00:34:29.099 it's for us, yes. 00:34:30.179 --> 00:34:32.139 And it's for all the 00:34:32.139 --> 00:34:32.519 nations. 00:34:33.280 --> 00:34:34.780 May Christmas remind 00:34:34.780 --> 00:34:36.119 you of something. 00:34:36.980 --> 00:34:37.760 May you remember 00:34:37.760 --> 00:34:38.460 when you think of 00:34:38.460 --> 00:34:39.420 the incarnation and 00:34:39.420 --> 00:34:39.960 you think of 00:34:39.960 --> 00:34:41.159 Christmas that there 00:34:41.159 --> 00:34:42.840 is a light powerful 00:34:42.840 --> 00:34:44.840 enough and passionate 00:34:44.840 --> 00:34:46.719 enough to break into 00:34:46.719 --> 00:34:47.940 whatever darkness you 00:34:47.940 --> 00:34:49.199 feel no matter how 00:34:49.199 --> 00:34:50.000 thick it is. 00:34:50.980 --> 00:34:51.740 Would you remember 00:34:51.740 --> 00:34:52.579 that there's hope 00:34:52.579 --> 00:34:53.340 because of that? 00:34:53.340 --> 00:34:54.320 That there's life 00:34:54.320 --> 00:34:55.079 on the other side 00:34:55.079 --> 00:34:55.800 of where you are 00:34:55.800 --> 00:34:56.880 because the light 00:34:56.880 --> 00:34:58.100 has come in and 00:34:58.100 --> 00:34:59.039 broken into our 00:34:59.039 --> 00:34:59.440 darkness. 00:34:59.900 --> 00:35:00.620 And would we not 00:35:00.620 --> 00:35:02.620 rest until we have 00:35:02.620 --> 00:35:04.140 shared the good news 00:35:04.140 --> 00:35:05.340 of that light with 00:35:05.340 --> 00:35:07.700 every nation and 00:35:07.700 --> 00:35:09.500 every person who 00:35:09.500 --> 00:35:10.280 needs to know there's 00:35:10.280 --> 00:35:12.000 hope in Jesus. 00:35:12.180 --> 00:35:12.579 Let's pray. 00:35:12.579 --> 00:35:19.099 Jesus, thank you. 00:35:19.159 --> 00:35:20.179 You have broken into 00:35:20.179 --> 00:35:23.099 the darkness for us 00:35:23.099 --> 00:35:24.880 to find us. 00:35:26.579 --> 00:35:27.420 Come now, 00:35:27.539 --> 00:35:28.199 day spring. 00:35:28.599 --> 00:35:29.860 Come and cheer our 00:35:29.860 --> 00:35:32.400 spirits by your 00:35:32.400 --> 00:35:34.000 advent here. 00:35:34.440 --> 00:35:35.579 Disperse the gloomy 00:35:35.579 --> 00:35:37.639 clouds of night and 00:35:37.639 --> 00:35:39.179 death's dark shadows 00:35:39.179 --> 00:35:41.039 put to flight. 00:35:41.039 --> 00:35:43.599 Jesus, we need you 00:35:43.599 --> 00:35:44.099 to come. 00:35:45.960 --> 00:35:47.279 We know what that 00:35:47.279 --> 00:35:48.579 darkness feels like. 00:35:49.279 --> 00:35:50.259 Many of us feel it 00:35:50.259 --> 00:35:51.579 weighing us down this 00:35:51.579 --> 00:35:53.300 morning and we beg 00:35:53.300 --> 00:35:54.599 that you would come 00:35:54.599 --> 00:35:55.980 and we rejoice that 00:35:55.980 --> 00:35:57.199 you have come. 00:35:58.279 --> 00:35:59.679 Might we glory in the 00:35:59.679 --> 00:36:00.400 light that you have 00:36:00.400 --> 00:36:02.079 given us and might you 00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:03.460 come again quickly, 00:36:03.719 --> 00:36:05.380 Lord Jesus, to bring 00:36:05.380 --> 00:36:07.380 us into your eternal 00:36:07.380 --> 00:36:08.599 light where you are our 00:36:08.599 --> 00:36:09.739 light and you are our 00:36:09.739 --> 00:36:11.579 life forever. 00:36:12.819 --> 00:36:13.500 Thank you. 00:36:14.679 --> 00:36:14.980 Amen. 00:36:14.980 --> 00:36:15.079 Amen. 00:36:19.079 --> 00:36:20.719 For more information, 00:36:21.099 --> 00:36:22.420 visit us online at 00:36:22.420 --> 00:36:23.319 southwood.org.