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Closer Part III

Marvelous Light
Closer – part 3
Isaiah 9:1-3

Over the past two weeks, we have examined Isaiah 7 and 8 where we found doom and gloom. The prophet Isaiah spoke on behalf of God that Northern Israel and Aram would attack Judah and then the superpower Assyria would attack Judah and take it captive and plunder its riches. These were consequences to Judah’s continual disobedience, its turning away from God. Isaiah was preparing the people for the adversity, the despair, the evil, the gloom…the long night of darkness. And, then in the midst of preparing the people for the worst and how dark it would be for years and years with Assyria over them, Isaiah introduces Christmas. Isaiah 9:1,3 “But there'll be no darkness for those who were in trouble…The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. For those who lived in a land of deep shadows— light! sunbursts of light! You repopulated the nation, you expanded its joy. Oh, they're so glad in your presence! Festival joy! The joy of a great celebration, sharing rich gifts and warm greetings.”

Look at v.3, Isaiah introduces the idea what we today would call Christmas. “Festival joy! The joy of a great celebration, sharing rich gifts and warm greetings.” (v.3) On Christmas morning we have great celebrations where we share gifts and warm greetings. Yet, why celebrate…what is Isaiah calling them to celebrate? A celebration is an outpouring of joy. Because we are so happy, so overflowing with joy, we want to gather together and celebrate our happiness with others. In v.3, Isaiah said, “you expanded [the nation’s] joy. Oh, they’re so glad in your presence! Festival joy!” Our joy is connected with the presence of God. The psalmist agrees “you [God] will fill me with joy in your presence…” (Psalm 16:11) Our joy is derived ultimately from the presence of God not the presents from God. It is the closeness of God, his intimate presence that fills us with overflowing joy that causes us to want to celebrate. This great celebration of sharing gifts and warm greetings that Isaiah speaks of is not about the gifts of God but instead it is God the gift - Immanuel, God with us. This is our 3rd study in the series called Closer – a study of Isaiah chapters 7-9.

Comm: With only 9 days till Christmas, we are frantically finalizing our preparations for our family Christmas celebrations. Since Christmas is a happy time, a joyous time, and it is a festival of joy. Considering what a wonderful time Christmas is, I presume that you are not experiencing any adversity, any gloom, or sorrow. How could we celebrate a happy Christmas if we feel suffering at the same time? … We celebrate in the midst of difficulties all of the time, and it is this truth that the prophet Isaiah was pointing Israel to. Israel you will be overtaken and plundered by Assyria, but celebrate with a festival of joy gift gifts and warm greetings even when you are walking in the shadows of darkness. Likewise we are called to joy, great joy, festival joy, a celebration of gifts and greetings as we walk through the deep hurt.

Let’s ask Isaiah, how? How is it possible to have such overflowing joy leading into authentic celebrations of happiness when we hurt? Are you asking me to put on a show at the Christmas parties and Christmas morning…just turn that frown upside down. Give me a break.

Isaiah called the people of Judah to joyful celebration when they were about to be swooped down upon and taken over by another nation who would take and plunder it. How? Why? Here is Isaiah’s answer “But there'll be no darkness for those who were in trouble…The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. For those who lived in a land of deep shadows— light! sunbursts of light!” In the midst of our darkness, our trials there is light, a great light, sunbursts of light, marvelous light. This light he said would remove darkness; the deep dark shadows would be illuminated. Isaiah began in chapter 7 giving the sign of Immanuel – he told the king that he could be faithful to God because God would give him the sign of a virgin would have a child and his name would be God with us. In chapter 8 Isaiah told us that the battle cry of O Immanuel would sustain us and save us from being overwhelmed by the mighty floodwaters. Here in chapter 9 Isaiah tells us Immanuel, God with us, is this great light, these sunbursts of light, this marvelous light that would remove darkness.

This prophecy of light entering the world and coming close to us – close enough to light up our personal darkness and shadows that haunt us - is fulfilled through Jesus. Jesus is the true light of the world. John 8:12 “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Jesus’ statement that he is the light of the world means that he is the source of light for the whole world and sets him apart from all others. Everything else is a derivative from the ultimate source of light, for God is light. (1 John 1:5) The rabbis sometimes used “light” as a name for the Messiah. To have light is to have Jesus. There is no light only darkness apart from a right relationship to Jesus. Only those who follow Jesus are delivered from darkness and enjoy the light. While the whole world finds itself in darkness, those few with a right relationship with Jesus find light. Light is always connected with life, and Jesus is the life-bringer and the light bearer. Christ is the light of the world, and he has come into this world as a light. Anyone who follows him will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

Then we find in John 9 the outworking of Jesus’ claim to be the light. John 9:5 “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” This connects the chapter 9 account with chapter 8. John 9:6-7 “Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. "Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.” Jesus came literally remove darkness, he has miraculous power to heal blindness. This miracle evidences Jesus’ claim to be the light of the world. He evidences that Jesus is Messiah, Lord. If he can do this, then do you believe he has power over your emotional and physical darkness? Do you believe that Jesus has sovereign say over your marriage, your children, your school, your relationships, and your job? Do you believe that Jesus is sovereign over your church? Can you trust that Jesus is the light that removes the power of darkness in all of these environments?

When Jesus made this claim that he was the light of the world, some people believed and some people rejected it. If you believe Jesus is this marvelous light, then here is the walk of light Jesus offers you:

* 1st - When the light is shined into your life, you discover that you have been walking the wrong direction due to the darkness. Jesus’ light is an offer of salvation which is a change in the direction you have been traveling. – “The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?” (Psalm 27:1) Do you believe that Jesus is both light and life? The blind man who was healed later was thrown out by the Pharisees, and the Bible says that Jesus went and found him. Jesus asked him if he believed in the Son. That day, the blind man received both physical sight and spiritual sight. God offers you light in the midst of your darkness. Only for those people who have a right relationship with Jesus will find light. Do you believe that Jesus is God who died on a cross for your sins? And, if you will repent and choose now to turn from sin toward the light, he offers you saving light. John 3:18-20 “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.”

* 2nd – with the light shinning in your life, then you can continue walking on God’s lighted path rather than returning to your previous walk in darkness. Jesus is the light to guide the spiritual pathway “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105) Many scholars believe Jesus in saying he is the light may have been pointing to the fulfillment of the pillar of fire that led Israel through the dark wilderness. God’s word offers us the light necessary to have a spiritual walk for a blessed life. Any departure from God’s lit pathway is a walk in darkness and walk outside the kingdom of God and toward undue suffering.

Satan, the great deceiver, is carrying out his opposition to our Lord as an “angel of light.” (2 Cor. 11:13-15) Satan gives a new light to cause us to look at things just slightly differently then God’s way. Satan successfully deceived Eve by slightly changing God’s words. He desires to keep us from walking in God’s light. He shines his satanic light to take you off course. Just because it has the appearance of light does not mean it is God’s light.

* 3rd – Jesus not only shines light on you and your path, but he shines his light through you so you become light-bearers. “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world…” (Phil. 2:12-15) There is great power in appearing as lights in this world. We were attracted to Jesus because he offered light in the midst of all our darkness. And, if we can live the life of doing God’s will without grumbling and disputing, then our light from God will shine. We become light bearers and will attract people to God. God told Israel that, “I will also make you a light of the nations so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth." (Isaiah 49:6) God’s desire is to reach many people with this light. And, it will be your light shining through your testimony of staying on the right path of obedience without grumbling and disputing that will attract others who live in the darkness toward your light. But, they will not be satisfied with your light, instead they will want to know the real source of your light. And, you show them Jesus Christ – the marvelous light.

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