THE THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER APRIL 14, 17 & 18, 1999

St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church - Watertown, WI

OUT OF THE DARKNESS ! JOHN 12:35-46

Most people do not like being in the dark. By that, I mean that people don't like not knowing or understanding what is happening around them. Neither do most people enjoy being in a pitch dark room where they are unable to see what is around them and unable to see even themselves. We are people who enjoy the light. How many of us enjoy the many gloomy cloudy days that we have here in Wisconsin? We don't. Have you ever noticed the effect that a bright sun shiny day as on a person's mood and their outlook? Just watch people and see what they are doing when the sun is shining. Then observe them on a dark, cloudy and gloomy day. What a difference the sun shine makes.

Not only does the bright shining sun make a difference in our lives, but so does the Son of God, Jesus Christ. He is a bright sun which shines into our spiritual lives and makes a dramatic difference and impact on our outlook on life and on our view of the future.

The Word of God before us on the second week after our Easter celebration are words that Jesus spoke to the Jews probably on the Tuesday after Palm Sunday. Here he refers to himself at the light walking among them. He calls on them to believe in him and walk in the light. He also warns them that if they reject the light they will spend eternity in the darkness.

As we study these comments of our Savior Jesus shortly before his arrest and execution, we want to focus our attention on this topic - OUT OF THE DARKNESS. Let's learn I) The Darkness of What and then II) Into What? And as we conclude our examination of Jesus' words we need to heed his strong warning III) Don't Despise And Avoid The Light.

OUT OF THE DARKNESS OF WHAT?

What darkness do many people live in? Jesus knows people. He is the Almighty God. As he says, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me." (vv. 44-45) As the true God who knows all things and sees into our hearts and minds, he knows the darkness that many people walk around in everyday. This is a darkness that has overcome people and controls their lives. Let's consider some of the aspects of this darkness. There is the darkness of self-reliance, the darkness of uncertainty, the darkness of guilt and the darkness of hatred and revenge.

Many people walk around in the darkness of self-reliance. How many people don't we know who rely on themselves? They think that God is pleased with them because they are good people. They try to lead decent and upright lives. They go to church regularly because that's the right thing to do. They try to be kind to others. They try to live according to the golden rule, "do unto others as you would have them do unto you." They firmly believe that God is pleased with them because of this. They assume that God will reward them because of their outwardly good life. Many of the Jews that Jesus spoke to looked on themselves in this manner. They considered themselves good people. They were Jews, members of the chosen people of God and as a result God should accept them and be pleased with them. They were all wrapped up in depending on themselves for eternal life and a glorious future with God. As a result they did not need Jesus, the Savior.

Then there are those who are overcome by the darkness of uncertainty. No one of us knows what tomorrow is going to bring for us. With the war in Kosovo, how long will it be before Russia becomes involved on the side of Serbia? The first world war began in the Balkans. Will the third world war begin there also? We don't know. Most of us living don't remember a world war. Over one thousand five hundred members of this congregation don't remember the Vietnam War. Only those over 60 remember World War II. Being on the brink of a world war is not something the majority of the people in our nation are acquainted with. Most of us have been raised during a time of peace and prosperity. We have never experienced anything else. But that could change very quickly. We have seen the job scene change dramatically. It used to be that many people worked for one company the majority of their lives. Their job was secure. They were loyal to their employer and their employer was loyal to them. That's not the case any longer. College students as they enter school are being told that they will have five to eight career changes in their life time. That is not job changes but career changes. They won't be doing the same thing for most of their lives. It will continually be changing. That uncertainty causes great stress and upset in people's lives. Nothing is stable or certain any longer. Without Jesus Christ this uncertainty and instability can undermine a person's hope and confidence.

Another darkness that overcomes many people is the darkness of guilt. Everyone has deep dark secrets. Things that they have done, said or thought that they want no one to know about. They feel guilty and ashamed of what they have done. Many try to handle that guilt by themselves. Some just deny that certain things ever happened in their lives. They attempt to live in a fantasy world of how they imagined things should be rather than how they really were. Others self medicate themselves with drugs and alcohol to try and make the pain and guilt go away. But it's always there.

The last darkness that we consider is the darkness of hatred and revenge. How many people have never forgotten some hurt that another person has caused in their lives? How many people don't try to make that other person pay for the pain that they have caused them? They may not speak to that person again. They may try to make that person's life as miserable as possible by spreading lies and rumors about them. How many people are spending their lives brooding and seething over past hurts - things that were said or done to them? The darkness of hatred and revenge has caught them in its claws and they can't get loose.

These are all symptoms of the darkness of unbelief. When people reject Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, they reject the light. As they walk away from the light, they live in the darkness of unbelief. As Jesus said, "The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going." (v. 35c)

OUT OF THE DARKNESS . . . INTO WHAT ?

But God in his great love and mercy has brought us out of the darkness into his wonderful light. Who or what is this light? Jesus said, "I have come into the world as light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." (v. 46) At the beginning of our reading Jesus was saying to the Jews, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." (vv. 35a,36) Jesus Christ is the light. He gives us light. For Jesus is the truth. He brings certainty to our lives. He removes guilt from our consciences and erases hatred and the desire to get revenge.

Jesus is the truth. As our Lord said to his disciples, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) What he says are not his opinions, his ideas, his observations and thoughts on things. What he says is absolute truth. He reveals what is wrong. He reveals what is right. We are living in a time when we have been led to believe that everyone is right. There is nothing that is wrong. Well, take time to listen to Jesus. Read his word, the Bible. There are absolutes. There are actions, words and thoughts that are definitely wrong. There are standards which God has set for people's conduct, for their words and thoughts. As you walk with Jesus in his Word, you see the light. For you see the truth.

That truth brings certainty to our lives. As we walk with Jesus in the light, we know where we are going. In fact, we are absolutely certain and positive where we are heading. We are on our way to eternity with Jesus in paradise. How can we be so certain about that? Does God really want us to be so confident about our final destiny? He certainly does. As Jesus said, "He that believes has everlasting life." (John 6:47) As the Apostle John concludes his letter he states, "But these things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:31) Isn't it great going through life knowing exactly where we are heading?

Not only do we know where we are heading, but we also can be certain that everything that is happening in our lives and in the world around us has a purpose in God's great design. We often may not understand it. It may seem like total chaos to us, but from God's viewpoint and plan it has a purpose and that purpose is always for our good. As Paul wrote, "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

The light that we are walking in as followers of Jesus also has the power to remove the guilt and shame we have because of our sins, our failure to be perfect. When we conceal our sin, refuse to admit our wrongs, try and handle and make up for our blunders, we don't have peace. Just as King David didn't have peace when he kept quiet about his sins of adultery and murder. However, as David writes, "Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my sins to the Lord - and you forgave the guilt of my sin." (Psalm 32:5) God forgives. The empty grave of Jesus is testimony to the truth that our sins have been pardoned. God accepted the payment Jesus made for us. We are free from the chains of guilt and the fear of eternal punishment.

That forgiveness also has the power to remove from our hearts hatred and the desire for revenge. As we come to appreciate more and more what God has done for us, this empowers you and me to forgive others. Just as we pray in the Lord's Prayer, "forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us." When we recognize the great load that has been removed from us and understand that our holy and perfect God everyday forgives and forgets all that we have done wrong, then we who are sinful and imperfect are able to forgive our fellow human being who is just as imperfect as we are. We also lose the desire to even the score. For we remember the words of the Apostle who wrote, "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay ," says the Lord." (Romans 12:19)

This light is something! It turns our lives around. It helps to give meaning, understanding and purpose to our existence.

DON'T DESPISE OR AVOID THE LIGHT

Jesus has a final warning for us regarding the light. He says, "I have come into the world as light, so that no one who believes in me should remain in darkness." (v. 46) Don't neglect or avoid the light. Unfortunately, this is what the Jews of Jesus' day did. As a result they were lost eternally. In fact, and even more frightening thing happened. God hardened their hearts so that they could not believe. Let's look at John's account.

The people rejected the light. John writes, "Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him." (v. 37) What miraculous signs is John referring to? Just prior to Palm Sunday, Jesus has raised Lazarus back to life after he had been in his grave for four days. People had seen the risen and living Lazarus. They had seen proof of Jesus' power and might and still they would not put their trust in Jesus. They would not walk in the light.

This was a fulfillment of what Isaiah had prophesied over seven hundred years earlier when he had written, "Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" (v. 38)

Why did this happen? The next words seem rather strange to us. John writes, "For this reason they could not believe, because as Isaiah says elsewhere, "He has blinded their eyes and deadened (or hardened) their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn - and I would heal them." (v. 40) God blinded people's eyes? He hardened people's hearts so they would not believe? I thought God wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth. I thought that God does not delight in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their sinful ways and live. He does! Then why does Isaiah say that God blinded these people and hardened their hearts so that they could not turn and be saved? Because that's exactly what God does to those who continue to reject him and the truth. Finally, God hardens their hearts so that they don't believe. They have seen the truth. They have seen the light and yet they reject it. Just as God hardened the heart of the King of Egypt before the exodus of his people, the children of Israel, so he does the same today to those who see the truth and continually reject it.

Does this mean that all the Jews were lost? No! For as we read on, John writes, "Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him." (v. 42a) What is sad about some of those who did believe in Jesus, they were afraid to confess their faith publicly. John writes, "But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue. For they loved praise from men more than praise from God." (vv 42b-43) God's love and forgiveness is still able to turn people around. But how sad that many would not publicly confess what they believed. But that's not new today either, is it? There are many of us who at times don't stand up for the truth and confess our faith before others. Why? Because we are afraid of what others might think of us.

God has brought us out of the darkness of unbelief and uncertainty. In his great love through the risen Jesus he has brought us into the light of the truth. He has given certainty to our future. He has removed the guilt that could enslave us and drive us to hopelessness. He removes from us hatred and the desire to make others pay for the hurts they have caused in our lives. Don't neglect this light. Walk in it. Use God's Word daily. And joyfully and faithfully confess this truth before others. For it is God's power to change hearts.

Amen

J. Werner

April 14, 1999

OUT OF THE DARKNESS

I. The darkness of what?

A. of self-reliance

B. of uncertainty

C. of guilt

D. of hatred & revenge

II. Into what?

A. The light

B. Jesus is the light

C. He is truth

D. He brings certainty

E. He removes guilt

F. He erases hatred & revenge

III. Don't despise the Light

A. Or you will be lost

B. The example of the Jews

I am the way, the truth & the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

He that believes has everlasting life.

But these things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you & did not cover up my iniquity. I said, I will confess my sins to the Lord and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written, It is mine to avenge, I will repay, says the Lord.