The light shines in the darkness

01 03 2021

John 1:1-18

This year, the way the calendar falls, we have a choice of observing the Second Sunday of Christmas or Epiphany Sunday. St Matthew’s has a history of observing Epiphany with a separate service, so today we read the Prologue from the Gospel of John, and on Wednesday evening, the service of Evening Prayer will focus on the visit of the Magi to Jesus and his family.

For today, then, the Prologue to John’s Gospel. You may remember in Advent that I stressed the importance of the opening sentence of Mark’s Gospel: the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Mark’s point is that Jesus is the Son of God and the long-expected messiah.

In John, the opening lines also tell us where the story will take us. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. John begins by telling us Jesus has been present within the Godhead from the very beginning of creation. More, through Jesus, everything that exists came into being.

 

So, Jesus is divine, powerful, God incarnated in human flesh. Later in John’s Gospel, Jesus will identify himself as I AM, the same name God uses with Moses – I AM WHO I AM. In John, Jesus frequently says “I and the Father are one.” Throughout the Gospel, it is clear that Jesus is God-with-skin-on.

John the Baptist shows up in all four gospels. For a time in the ancient world, John was at least as important as Jesus, even after they were both dead. John’s followers continued for decades to gather in his name, just as Jesus’ followers gathered in his name. But … all four gospels make it clear that John always points to Jesus as the more important one.

Jesus is the one who brings the light because he is from the light. He shines divine light into the world to bring life to all people. Where there is light, there is life and where there is life there is hope. Where there is hope, there is life and light. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome, overpower, the light.

 

Jesus’ light shines into our world this year as every year – amid the coronavirus; amid the reminders of racism and injustice; amid the antagonism of elections. Jesus sees it all, and he knows our pain, our grief, our anxiety, our frustration. Jesus came to remind us that God loves us and cares about the multiple traumas of this year.

 

Jesus’ light also shines into the dark corners, the dark corners we would rather not think about, the dark corners we regret, the dark corners we didn’t know existed. Jesus’ light shines into our grief and depression, reminding us that we are noticed and loved. Jesus’ light shines through our sadness and fear to fill us with hope, if we open our hearts to receive it.  

Jesus’ light shines into our COVID-19 world to remind us that there are many ways to connect, to worship, to serve our neighbors. Through the internet, Jesus’ light shines into our hearts in worship and learning.

Jesus’ light shines into the scientific world, guiding and giving wisdom to those seeking remedies and vaccines against the virus. It shines into the hearts of essential workers – from doctors and nurses to delivery drivers and store clerks.

We would rather see the light easily, shining brightly against the darkness of our days. But, sometimes the light is harder to see. It may feel totally dark to us.

 

 

But it only takes one candle, just a single candle to make a difference. A single candle can dispel a lot of darkness.

 Jesus’ light brings us hope and love along with the light. There are days when we need someone to be the light for us. There are days when we all, you and I, need someone to share Jesus’ light with us, days when all we can see is darkness.

When the light – Jesus’ light – shines in the darkness, the darkness cannot overcome his light. Let’s give thanks for those who have been Jesus’ light for us. … And, let’s be the ones who share some light, some of Jesus’ light, shining into someone else’s darkness. Amen