CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT – 2019 – Isaiah 9:2-7
“A GREAT LIGHT IS SHINING”
Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Old Testament Lesson just read, from Isaiah 9. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- Our text speaks of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and all of the “grown up” things He would accomplish. Our text speaks of both immediate blessings of Christ’s coming, and the continuing, durative, and ever increasing blessings that Christ is bringing.
- Our text moves us beyond the quiet celebration of the birth of Jesus to what He would accomplish on the cross, to the blessings His reign brings to life on earth even today, and finally the blessedness of His eternal heavenly kingdom. It is a fact that:
I. We Have Walked In Darkness And We Live Even Today In A Land Of Deep Darkness
Romans 3:23 “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”
Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”
Eph. 2:1-3 “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience – among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”
Statement: The darkness of human sin is so great that many people actually cannot see that they are sinful. Our nature, distorted and wounded as it is, compels us to mount convincing arguments that we are not that bad, arguments that actually blind us to our sinfulness. This the “deceitfulness” of heart that Jeremiah warned of.
Application: We have further compulsion to do this if we are ignorant of God and what He sent Jesus to accomplish for us. For then we feel that our very survival depends upon our defense of our actions and our explanations for our lack of care and compassion. This too is “deep darkness.” It will never work.
Transition: The coming of Christ, however, means that:
II. A Great Light Has Come And Is Shining – It Is Christ Our Savior, Who Has Delivered Us From All Of Our Oppressors
Text: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. . . . For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken.”
A. He Has Brought Salvation For All People
Text: “The yoke of his burden and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken.”
Epistle Lesson: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.”
B. He Has Redeemed Us From Our Lawlessness
Epistle: “He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness.”
Statement: Rather than continuing in the darkness of trying to defend ourselves, Christ offers another way. His gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation provide us with the encouragement to be honest with ourselves. Knowing that we already have salvation, and have been redeemed from our lawlessness, enables us to turn to our Heavenly Father in honesty and integrity, confessing our sin and rejoicing in His gracious mercy and compassion.
Application: This light of God’s love and salvation continues to shine upon us and all the world through the life and ministry of the church! The light that is shining is Christ, the great blessings He brings to people, and He is being shined in the world through the Church – by means of His Word and Sacrament.
How comforting all of this is, as we continue to grow in realization of just how He has delivered us! So we become more and more eager to shine this light of Christ into the world around us! And so, even now:
III. Christ Is Reigning, And The Church Multiplies, As Does Peace
Text: “Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end.”
Text: “You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy.”
A. Justice Is Being Restored, And Righteousness Reigns As He Trains Us
Text: “Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.”
B. His Zeal Does This; He Purifies Us For Himself
Text: “The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”
Epistle: “He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works.”
Statement: These are blessings that are already being accomplished by the “governance” of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Of these processes “there will be no end.” They will come to full fruition at the return of Jesus in great glory!
Application: So let us rejoice in them even now – that “A GREAT LIGHT IS SHINING,” our Lord Jesus Christ. And let us live in full faith, trust, and confidence that this is our future, the future of the church, of those who believe in Jesus and who love God!
Conclusion: It is great to celebrate the coming of Jesus with the innocence of children, and to remember back to the wonder of our younger years. However, it is even better to contemplate what is now already ours because of the coming of Jesus, our dear Redeemer.
In view of all of this, let us also “renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
God grant it to us all, for Jesus’ sake, Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.