Today’s Scripture

Psalm 72    Isaiah 60:1-6     Ephesians 3:1-12   Matthew 2:1-12

 

Isaiah 60:1-2 

Arise, shine, for your light has come,

            And the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

See, darkness covers the earth

            And thick darkness is over the peoples,

              But the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.

 

            In Isaiah’s prophecy, we hear the distinction between darkness and light.  We learn that light comes upon darkness and God’s glory is connected with that light.  It is God’s glory that is the light and that glory appears over you. 

 

            This darkness is written as thick darkness.  We read in the account of creation that before there was light all was chaos.  God first creates light which he calls “good.”  He separates the light from the darkness.  As creation continues, the chaos is replaced by an orderliness that amazes man to this day.  No one can explain nature and all of creation. 

 

            Thick darkness appears again with the plagues in Egypt.  The plague of darkness was such that men could feel the darkness.  One could not see the person standing next to him.  There were no shadows, no outlines, and again one could physically feel this darkness.  As Moses led the Israelites across the Red Sea, God’s cloud brought light to them and darkness on the side of Pharaoh and his army. 

 

            These depictions of darkness in Scripture describe how hopeless and how helpless one is in such a state of darkness.  There is chaos, no sense of order.  The darkness is physically felt and one cannot get out of that darkness.  You are trapped by that darkness even though you know there is an end to it somewhere.  There is chaos and oppression.  One is hopeless and helpless.  The only relief from this darkness is a light that comes from outside this realm of darkness. 

 

            The setting in which Isaiah writes this is during the Babylonian captivity.  Through his prophets and as we read in Daniel, God promised this captivity would end in 70 years.  Even though that time is close at hand, the people of Israel cannot see their way out of this captivity.  They have no sense that God will put in place the Persian emperor Cyrus who will liberate them and send them back to their home, back to Jerusalem, to inhabit the land God gave to their forefathers, to rebuild Jerusalem’s city walls, and to build and restore the temple there. 

 

            Isaiah’s prophecy is first of all that their light, their freedom and return to their homeland will come.  Isaiah’s prophecy has a second level, that telling that the Savior will come into this dark world of sin.  Isaiah’s prophecy has a third level, that all faithful believers will receive this gift of light, this gift of God’s glory that will come upon them.  This prophecy is for you today as it is for people of all times as it points to our one true light, Jesus Christ, son of God, son of man, our Lord and Savior.

 

            Thick darkness does cover the people of today as it did in Isaiah’s time.  Think for a moment of the issues that overwhelm you today and/or have overwhelmed you in the past.  Think of how dark and hopeless and helpless that time is/was.  Think of your sin, your anger, your passion, and how you cannot get out from under it.  That is thick darkness.  And in that darkness there is no light.

 

            Murphy’s law says that the light at the end of the tunnel is a train coming from the other direction.  Lucifer is a name given Satan.  It means light or a bright star.  It was a name given the king of Babylon (Isaiah 14) to denote his glory.  But a single star, a singular individual is not much light in darkness.  Isaiah counsels as he writes, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.”

 

            Remember the glory of the Lord on the hills outside Bethlehem as an entire company of angels appeared to the shepherds.  That light overwhelmed them as has God’s glorious light wherever and whenever he displays it to his people.  His light is always accompanied by those words, “Do not be afraid.”  It is because his light is your salvation.

 

            Paul writes to us in his letter to the Ephesians about the mystery of Christ.  How God would save his people was a mystery until Jesus came.  Jesus’ life, suffering, death and resurrection make public this mystery now revealed for all. 

 

            The Magi as they followed the unnatural star followed also a special revelation to them.  When they followed their own instincts into the capital city, it was a study of God’s word that brought them back on course.  Then the star appeared again to them and led them to where Jesus was. 

 

            When we take wrong turns in our lives, it is a return to God’s word that brings us back on course again.  One can be devout in his/her actions.  One can pray mightily.  The light that shines is always from God’s word.  His law points the path to living according to his love and his commands for us.  The Gospel message of God’s love in Jesus is the light that shines upon you, that reveals to you God’s great love for you and that he is your savior.  Without that one true light, we are still in darkness. 

 

            Today is the last day of the Christmas decorations.  Prominent in the adornments at Immanuel are all of the lights embedded in the trees, wreaths and garland.  Although we will anxiously await next Advent when these reappear, prominent in the lighting at Immanuel are the lights that illumine the chancel area that includes the altar, the cross, and the lectern and pulpit.  The cross tells us the love of God.  The altar depicts Calvary where Jesus shed his body and blood for you, and now that body and blood come to you from that altar today.  The lectern and pulpit are where God’s word is read and the message of his love to all is proclaimed in readings and messages. 

 

• Arise:  God loves you and has lifted you up from the depths of sin, death and hell.
• Shine:  It is God’s glory that shines on you revealing himself to you and his love through you to others.
• Your Light Has Come:  Jesus is born.  Jesus has died.  Jesus is risen.  Jesus will come again to take you to be in the Father’s house with him forever.

 

And this peace that transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Amen.