The Light and Glory

Edited by Steve Fountain from a sermon on December 30, 2012 called "A Light for All and the Glory of Israel."

We are barely into the second chapter of the gospel of Luke, yet the analogy of light and darkness has appeared three times:

1.  A Glorious Light In Bethlehem’s Night Sky (Luke 2:8-10): the light penetrating the darkness of the Bethlehem night sky with the good news of great joy that will be for all people is a visual reminder of Zechariah’s prophecy.

2.  Zechariah’s Prophecy (Luke 1:76-79): The coming Messiah would be like “a sunrise visiting us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.”  Key here is the positive aspect of light — “to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

3.  Simeon’s Prophecy (Luke 2:29-32):  Notice the description of this little baby of Bethlehem (v. 32).  Jesus is described as a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel. 

The Jews were OK with the glory for Israel part of the prophecy, but not with the light for the Gentiles part.  In fact, very early on in the ministry of Jesus, in his home town of Nazareth Jesus sits down in the synagogue and reads from Isaiah 61.  And he says that he is to proclaim liberty to the captives and give sight to the blind.  And as he does, the crowd admires his gracious words, until he talks about God’s grace for the Gentiles. 

When he talked about God’s dealings with the Widow of Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian in the days of Elijah and Elisha, they were “filled with wrath.  And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built” (Luke 4:28b-29). 

As Mary and Joseph have the baby Jesus in the Temple, they encounter Simeon. He  was an uncommon believer in those days.  He had the Holy Spirit upon him. At some point, the Spirit had told him that he would not die before he saw the Lord’s Christ (v. 26) — the Messiah — the Anointed One.

In verse 28, as he is looking at the child, he recognizes that this child is the One —the Light of the World.

Simeon later warns Mary about the coming pain that the Light will bring as it exposes and forces people to make decisions about their son, Jesus. 

The persecution would intensify as the thoughts from many hearts are revealed (v. 35).  While many will be lifted in Israel, many will fall when faced with the decision regarding Jesus.  Many wanted a political leader, not a forgiver of sins.

When the light exposed the sin and idolatry of their hearts, many chose to crucify him — guaranteeing the forgiveness of sins, and the spread of the gospel to the Gentiles. 

God is light and his Word to us shows a not too pretty picture of what our hearts are really like.  The light exposes the darkness of our hearts. We simply cannot atone for all our sin in our 80 or so years. 

And yet there is a positive side to the light.  The same light that exposes, can also guide us.  It can “guide our feet into the way of peace.”

The path of peace is the way of forgiveness.  You must come to Christ and ask forgiveness. 

To give us the forgiveness we don’t deserve is real grace.  If we repent, believing that he is Lord of All and that he forgives us when we ask him, then he will forgive us.  And when we do sin, we can come to him again, knowing that he has plenty of grace for us.

Has the light of God exposed who you are?  If he has, don’t run away; instead, come. 

Jesus said, “Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:30).