It was the darkness of which Isaiah had prophesied long ago:

“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness [or, a land where death casts its shadow], a light will shine” (Is. 9:2).

The darkness into which Jesus was born is a richly meaningful metaphor of human existence in this world.  Think for a moment about several of the layers of meaning of this darkness:

• For the nation of Israel, it was the darkness of being ground under the heel of Rome, burdened with the heavy yoke of slavery as they suffered under what Isaiah had called “the rod of their oppressor.”
• For the shepherds, it was the darkness of grinding poverty and social contempt and quiet despair.    
• For King Herod, it was the darkness of blind hatred and ambition, seeing only an enemy to fight with, a rival to be destroyed.
• For the Magi, traveling through dark nights across trackless wastelands following only the dim light of a star, it was the darkness of ignorance, of our best human attempts to understand or know or find God through philosophy or religion.  Even Israel’s priests and religion scholars with their great learning and great religious traditions, were still blind to the signs pointing them toward the birthplace of their long-awaited Messiah.
• Or think of Joseph, a faithful and good man cast into the darkest of human circumstances.  In his own wisdom Joseph could only interpret the incursion of the Messiah into his life as a personal tragedy, as a betrayal and deception by his beloved Mary.  
• Then there is the darkness of those on whose doors Joseph knocked, one after another, that night in busy Bethlehem, seeking room, seeking space, seeking hospitality for the soon-to-be born child who would be Savior of the world. The darkness of unwelcoming hearts.

But Isaiah promised that even on those living in deep darkness, light would shine. And indeed, it did!  

John 1:5 says that “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend [or overcome] it.”  It’s an interesting word that is used there, with a double significance.  It can mean either “to grasp with the mind and so to comprehend”; or “to grasp with the hand and so to overcome or destroy” (Gary Burge, New International Version Application Commentary on John). 

Both meanings are visible in the examples I’ve mentioned: they show that this light from God cannot be grasped, by either our minds or our hands.

• We must receive God as the mystery of Amazing Grace, freely offered to us – unworthy, failed sinners though we be – which we can never truly understand, only gratefully accept.  
• We must receive God as King, as the One whom we could never conquer, and to whom we submit in humble obedience.  

Thanks be to God, this glorious light is still shining upon us, my friends!

But the darkness is still with us, too.

•  Darkness is present in the oppressive powers of addiction or unhealthy habits which wrap their chains around us and won’t let go – like the occupying armies of Rome did to Israel.  Is there a “rod of oppression” operating in your life, from which you long to be free?
  
•  Darkness is present in the daily grind of poverty or of social contempt which some of us suffer, like the shepherds did – never having enough or being enough, or able to do enough, to merit the respect or admiration of others.
• Darkness is present in our world in those who, like Herod, refuse to see Jesus as anything other than a rival power, and who will go to insane lengths to seek to destroy or resist the claims of His kingdom.  Is that you?  I suppose that at times, it is all of us. But let us be aware: resistance is futile!  Resistance equals self-destruction.  The darkness that seeks to grasp and overcome the light of Christ’s kingdom – whether seen in the schemes of a brutal tyrant or in the quiet hardening of our hearts against the daily decisions of obedient discipleship – can never be successful and can never lead to the light of life.
• Darkness is present in our world wherever human religious effort or human wisdom is trusted to lead us to ultimate truth.  That’s not to say that we shouldn’t give our best to seek out the truth or to understand reality.  It is to say that intellectual achievement and intellectual brilliance can lead quickly to intellectual pride, and from there it is only one small step to unbelief.  The Magi exhibited both diligence and humility in their search for the light, and the light was revealed to them; whereas the religious establishment in Jerusalem had “all the answers,” yet their pride kept them from recognizing the light, with the end result that they remained tragically in the dark.  Do not let trust in your intellectual abilities keep you from embracing the light!
• But maybe darkness is operating in some of our worlds in the same way it was for Joseph: in frustrating, and hurtful, and confusing and tragic circumstances which have come upon us.  And we just cannot imagine how any good could possibly come from the wrong that has been done to us.  Yet, if we have ears to hear the voice of God’s messenger, and a heart that trustingly receives, maybe we will come to see our circumstances as being actually pregnant with God’s salvation.
• Many of us, undoubtedly are like the benighted people of Bethlehem: our lives are just too busy and too full to make space for hospitality to the one who comes bearing the light of God’s salvation.  The census was most likely a great opportunity for many of them to make money in a kind of overnight "hospitality industry." And the pursuit of more money, more security, more luxury, can become a huge distraction for us, keeping us from making that quiet space in our lives for hospitality to our Savior.  What a tragedy it is that so many people missed out that night, and that so many continue to miss out on the opportunity to commune with God – because their lives are simply too full of other things, events, happenings, opportunities. It’s so easy to get our priorities completely out of alignment.  So, what needs to get cut out of your life to make space for the light of God to shine in?

Yes, there is darkness.  But the good news is that the light is still shining!  Over nearly 2,000 years, the darkness has never yet overcome it.  

So how do you respond?  Will you welcome the light? May God bless us with open hearts to receive Him. 

This Christmas, may the Christ-Child be born in you!

Blessings, 

Pastor Trent

For those who are interested, there are opportunities for making this a daily journey through the use of an “Ashes to Fire” devotional journal, and for experiencing the journey in community through an “Ashes to Fire” small group!

We began our journey with a worship service on Ash Wednesday, March 9 at 7 p.m., and will conclude it with worship on Pentecost Sunday, June 12.

The Ashes to Fire journals have arrived, and there are plenty of them available!  So even if you didn't sign up, feel free to ask for one!

Mr. Zaretsky will set a table with items traditionally used at the Passover meal and detail their spiritual significance.  He will also explain the connection between the events of the first Passover in Egypt and the redemption that Jesus accomplished, as well as the deep bond between the ancient Passover feast and the Christian Communion celebration today.

Jews for Jesus has presented “Christ in the Passover” at over 38,000 churches. It has been enthusiastically received by Christians who appreciate learning more about the Jewish backgrounds of their faith.  It is also a tremendous opportunity for Christians to share with their friends – both Jewish and non-Jewish – who Jesus is and why He came into the world. 

This event will be of interest to a wide variety of ages; children and families are most welcome.

PLEASE PLAN TO COME AND BRING A FRIEND!

There is no admission charge, but a freewill offering will be received in support of the ministry of Jews for Jesus.

• On the Sundays in Lent, the Pastors and Upward Ministries Team will be presenting a series of services on the theme “Honest to God: Learning to Pray in the Lost Language of Lament.” 
• The colors in our worship space will feature the traditional Lenten color purple, and also other colors that are associated with the various emotions we will be considering throughout the sermon series.
• On March 29 at 7:00 p.m. – the Monday of Holy Week – we will be hosting guest speaker Jeremiah Zaretsky from “Jews for Jesus” who will lead us through a very special worship experience entitled “Christ in the Passover.”  Plan to come and invite a friend!
• Every Sunday throughout the year is celebrated as a Day of Resurrection, a “feast day,” not a “fasting day.” This means that the Sundays in Lent are not considered a part of Lent.  Therefore, if you are fasting during Lent, consider taking a break from it on Sundays!

How do we hide God’s Word in our hearts? Two simple activities that any of us can learn to do: MEMORIZE and MEDITATE. Memorizing gets God’s truth into our heads; meditating (repeating it out loud; reflecting on it; praying over it) gets it from our head to our hearts, from where it will actually change our lives.

Proverbs 4:23 says: Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life (NIV). When your heart is saturated with God’s truth, the life that gushes forth from your heart will bear the marks of God’s holiness!

Here are some Scriptures to start with:

• Romans 5:3-5
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
• 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
• Romans 8:28
• James 1:2-5
• Deuteronomy 6:4-9

In a recent sermon, I told a story which came from Gary Smalley's newest book, called Change Your Heart, Change Your Life. If you'd like to read that story again, click here to go to the first chapter of Gary's book. You may also want to follow this link to find some further insight and instruction from Gary on how this process has worked for him!

God bless you as you undertake this wonderful journey of transformation!

- posted by Pastor Doug Herbert