Brighten

 “When Christ entered our world, he didn't come to brighten our Decembers, but to transform our lives.” (Rich Miller)  

Before the world began, there was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ All things were made through him. Nothing was made without him. ⁴ In him there was life. That life was light for the people of the world. ⁵ The Light shines in the darkness. And the darkness has not overpowered the Light.

⁶ There was a man named John who was sent by God. ⁷ He came to tell people about the Light. Through him all people could hear about the Light and believe. ⁸ John was not the Light, but he came to tell people about the Light. ⁹ The true Light was coming into the world. The true Light gives light to all.

¹⁰ The Word was in the world. The world was made through him, but the world did not know him. ¹¹ He came to the world that was his own. But his own people did not accept him. ¹² But some people did accept him. They believed in him. To them he gave the right to become children of God. ¹³ They did not become his children in the human way. They were not born because of the desire or wish of some man. They were born of God.

¹⁴ The Word became a man and lived among us. We saw his glory—the glory that belongs to the only Son of the Father. The Word was full of grace and truth.  (John 1:1-14, ICB)

1.   In your darkness, Jesus has all the power you need.

Later, Jesus talked to the people again. He said, “I am the light of the world. The person who follows me will never live in darkness. He will have the light that gives life.” (John 8:12, ICB) See John 1:1-5 above

2.     The question: Do you recognize Him or reject Him? See John 1:9-11 above

People reject Jesus because …

Many are attracted to this dark world

People are judged by this fact: I am the Light from God that has come into the world. But men did not want light. They wanted darkness because they were doing evil things. (John 3:19, ICB)

3.   Many are afraid of the Light’s exposure.

Everyone who does evil hates the light. He will not come to the light because it will show all the evil things he has done. (John 3:20, ICB)

4.     There is new life for those who believe and receive Him. See John 1:12-13 above

“Those people lived in darkness, but they will see a great light. They lived in a place as dark as death, but a great light will shine on them.”  (Isaiah 9:2, ERV)[i]

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[i] Inspired by the sermon “Christmas, Pure and Simple: Simpler Decorations” (installment two) Sunday December 9, 2018, Pastor Dave Jansen CenterPoint Gahanna Church Gahanna, OH.