12/13/20- Christmas Light Part 3: Joy and Promise- Pastor Adrian Mills

Luke 2:8-168And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.9An angelof the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.11Today in the town of David a Saviorhas been born to you; he is the Messiah,the Lord.12This will be a signto you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,14“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peaceto those on whom his favor rests.”15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

Matthew 2:1-122After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea,during the time of King Herod,Magifrom the east came to Jerusalem2and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his starwhen it rose and have come to worship him.”3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.4When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.5“In Bethlehemin Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:6“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’[b]”7Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.Then they opened their treasures and presented him with giftsof gold, frankincense and myrrh.12And having been warnedin a dreamnot to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route

Throughout the Christmas season, our focus has been upon Light and it’s symbolism for all that Jesus did in overcoming darkness for us.The question for us today is: How will you respond to the light?

Light played a critical role in the account of two Christmas-related stories, particularly involving “outsiders” (they were not religious leaders or even devoted Jews):An angel appeared to shepherds and the glory of the Lord “shone” around them. The primary description we have of this angel involves light – so bright that they were afraid.Magi “from the east” followed a light in the sky that moved along with them until the light settled on the place where Jesus was.In both stories we see an answer to the question: “How will you respond to the light?”
The bottom line:The light is a promise (of joy) and a call (to pursue).

A promise (of joy)The light represented a fulfillment of the promise of God and a continual promise that the light will overcome the darkness, no matter what is to come.Joy is evident in these stories because the light of Jesus represented hope for all people.
Luke 2:10-1110But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.I bring you good news that will causegreat joy for all the people.11Today in the town of David a Saviorhas been born to you; he is the Messiah,the Lord.
Matthew 2:1010When they saw the star,they were overjoyed.

A call (to pursue)Seeing the promise of God is not enough. Ultimately, it requires a response.The shepherds and the magi made a choice not just to observe the light, but to pursue it.

Luke 2:15-16When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,“Let’s goto Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lordhas told us about.”16Sothey hurried offand found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
Matthew 2:10-11When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.Then they opened their treasures and presented him with giftsof gold, frankincense and myrrh.

1 John 1:77Butif we walk in the light,as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from allsin.