A Shining Light in a Dark World
A Sermon preached Sunday, February 3, 2008
by Pastor Terry Davis
First Presbyterian Church, Hartford, CT
The theme and image of light dominates the Christmas and Epiphany seasons. At Christmas John’s words ring in our ear, (John 1:1 – 5) 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. On Epiphany we read: (Isaiah 60)
1 Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
Last Sunday we heard Matthew quote Isaiah again saying:
The people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of
death
light has dawned.”
What we see this morning is that in a visionary experience Peter, James and John saw the light that was always in Jesus shining through the veil of flesh so brightly that his face shone like the sun and his clothing also shone forth the light of God that was within him.
The three disciples needed this assurance, this glimpse of the light; because they were discovering that they lived in a dark and dangerous world. In the springtime of their first encounter with Jesus the world had seemed a bright and cheerful place. The people came flocking to Jesus ready to hear him teach and preach and many of them were eager for healing for themselves or their loved ones, and healings did flow forth. The lame stood up and walked, the blind received their sight, the deaf had their ears opened and their tongue freed, even the dead were raised and the poor had good news proclaimed to them. Although they were aware of the opposition to their teacher they dismissed this easily as the jealousy of failed religious leaders at the new and more successful preacher and healer.
But the storm clouds were gathering and the darkness was growing. John who had been their leader and hero had been arrested and after some months in jail had been executed. Disagreements had broken out among the disciples with James and John challenging Peter for leadership of their little band. The threats from the authorities became more strident; and then Jesus began to tell them that he had to go to Jerusalem and suffer and die at the hands of sinners. What after all had they gotten themselves into? Was this Jesus really the light of the world? How could he save others if now he was telling them that he would suffer and die? Worst of all they had an idea that if he was put to death their own lives would be in danger.
They needed the light that they glimpsed on the mountain to encourage them so that they could encourage the other. They needed this light to show them the way in the days ahead, they needed the reassurance that came in the voice from heaven, this is my child the beloved, listen to him, don’t reject his leadership, don’t doubt the promise of the kingdom, simply because the way gets hard and storm clouds gather. In their vision they saw Jesus clearly and the light and the glory of God shone through him as clearly as the glory of God shone forth on another mountain when God met with Moses.
We also need to see the light of Christ because we also live in a dark and troubled world. I am deeply troubled by the war and violence which darkens our present world. Iraq is the spot most in the headlines, and it is impossible to be untroubled by the continual loss of American lives in a war into which our nation entered under false pretences. It darkens my mind to think about an enemy who would use two mentally retarded women as suicide bombers to kill 91 people, mostly civilians. We could call the roll of other places in the world darkened by the clouds of war, civil disorder and violence, and we would have to include the urban centers of this nation in this roll call. It is profoundly troubling to me that in the relatively small city of Hartford 33 people were murdered in 2007, mostly young people of color. For the money we spend incarcerating our young people we could engage in effective programs to divert youths from lives of crime and violence and into useful lives with jobs, income and family.
Until recently many of us felt we were living in the light of a rising economy, but today we hate to see the financial news, the falling stock prices, the rising unemployment, and rising prices. While the accusation has been made that the war in the Middle East is really about oil, our pursuit of this war has hardly helped the cost of heating oil of gasoline. More and more people are struggling to pay their bills and keep food on the table, heat in the house and gas in the car.
And then each of us struggles with the darkness of our own lives, we seem stalked by disease and death. Our list of intercessions grows every week, each name on that list representing someone whose light has been darkened by troubles of some sort or another. Some of us are facing the difficulties of unemployment, some have struggles in their marriages and with our children, and others suffer because they feel alone in the world.
In all our darkness we need the catch a glimpse of the light of Christ, to be assured that we have a savior who is able to help us and strengthen us and guide us along the way. Jesus is the light of the world, the light shining in the darkness that the darkness cannot overcome.
I think that is part of the reason we gather here each Sunday, we come to see a glimpse of light in the darkness of our world and the darkness of our own lives. In the worship and in our fellowship we find our lives brightened. As we light candles in our midst each one is a beacon of hope for our lives, the scripture is a light to guide our feet, and the hope that we have in God’s unfailing love. We come to pray believing that when two or three are gathered that Jesus is in our midst and hears and answers our prayers.
My prayer for each of us as we move into the Lenten season is that we each may receive the light of Christ that enables us to walk safely through this dark and sometimes dangerous world, and second that each of us would be the light for others who find themselves stumbling along in the darkness.
We will walk in the light, beautiful light,
out where the dew drops of mercy shine bright,
shine all around us by day and by night,
Jesus the light of the world
2 Peter 1:16 - 21 16For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, my Beloved,£ with whom I am well pleased.” 18We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain. 19So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
Matthew 17:1 - 9 1Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” 6When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” 8And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. 9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”