Tree Lights
based on John 3:19-21
Pastor Richard Mau
Lent 4 – March 30, 2003
Immanuel Lutheran – Des Plaines, IL
Today’s Scripture:
Psalm 27 Numbers 21:4-9 Ephesians 2:4-10 John 3:14-21
Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, our rock and our Redeemer. [Psalm 19:14, adapted]
John 3:19-21 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. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
We like to decorate, especially at Christmas. On the farm one could look out on a December evening and see each house with the outside trees and shrubs lit. It was pretty in the blackness of night to see those little lights shimmering across the fields. We could see Bud and Mabel’s lights from our front windows.
When Dad did lights, he did them all. The house was surrounded. Although we were a half-mile from the main road, cars could see his lights from quite a distance. One year he didn’t get the lights down after Christmas. At Easter my brother said, “Watch this,” as he flipped the switch and all of the outside tree lights went on. My mother quickly came out and yelled at him to “Turn those lights off, we don’t want the whole world to see”
“But men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” Just like Mom who did not want to be embarrassed that we were negligent getting something done, people do not like their shortcomings exposed. And we have each developed some pretty good ways to keep our shortcomings veiled. We turn the light elsewhere and point out another’s faults. We are pretty nice when out in public, but behind the home walls is a bit different. Did you ever notice how we “darken” voices in whisper and lower tones when telling the gossip about another? But we want the lights on when we do something worthy and commendable.
What is the first thing that God created? He created light. Then he separated the light from the darkness. God separated good from evil. He wanted man, the one he made in his own image to know only good as he instructed Adam and Eve to not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. When Adam and Eve sinned, they ran from light and hid in the shadows. They covered their bodies in shame as they did not want their sinfulness exposed.
Just the same as none of us wants our imperfect and sinful bodies exposed to each other in nakedness, we want our sinful actions and motives hidden in dark closets also. In our sinful state, we hate light as it exposes us for what we are.
It is like those Christmas lights. During December, they were turned on each night with joy. They did not just look pretty, but were one way the joy of Christmas, our Lord and Savior has come at last to fulfill God’s promises for us. It is a joyful time and a time to celebrate. Jesus Christ is the light of the world. John writes in the first chapter of his gospel that Jesus is the light among men. [John 1:4]
Jesus came to bring light into a darkened sinful world. Jesus did not bring that light into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world. We are condemned in our sin. The light of Christ shows us that we need a savior. The light of Christ shows us that he is our savior. As one lives in that light, one follows the commands of the Savior. As others see someone following our Savior’s commands, that person sees the love of Christ in those works and comes to know the light of a Savior also.
None of this could have happened if Jesus had not been “lifted up.” We look at being lifted up on a cross as the ultimate of disgrace and humiliation. True, it is. But Jesus made that cross no longer an instrument of fear and shame, but the most glorious of signs that you and I have today. Without that cross is no sacrifice, is no death, is no blood shed to pay the price for sins. Without death there is no resurrection. Without resurrection from death there is no hope. When Jesus was lifted up on the cross it was not in shame and humiliation, but in glory, God’s glory. God loved the world so that he gave his one and only son, lifted up so that all who look to him will receive eternal life.
In the desert the Israelites sinned by complaining against God. God punished them with venomous snakes. When the people repented, he gave them a sign that when they looked to it their lives were saved. That sign was the bronze snake God instructed Moses to put on the pole. That sign was for earthly healing. The sign of the cross is for eternal healing.
Included in today’s readings are two most complete summaries of the Gospel. Martin Luther described John 3 as the “Gospel in a nutshell.” In this passage is the complete message of Law and Gospel, how the law convicts us and how the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus saves us. In Ephesians, Paul writes again of saving faith. “God, who is rich in mercy,” tells of a loving God who wants only that his children live with him eternally. This God who is rich in mercy made us alive in Christ even when we were dead in sin. It is by God’s grace that we are saved. He did it by raising up his dear son. Just as Jesus is raised up to the glory of God, sitting on the right hand of God, all believers will be raised up to share in that glory too.
Note how both readings from John and Ephesians focus on the good works that God has given believers to do. Jesus’ final command is to teach all nations. We teach by doing the things that God has given us to do. Living lives of love in witness to his love, and telling others about Jesus. Not because we have to, but in our loving response to the greatest love that God gave us, Jesus. Amen.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. [Philippians 4:7]
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