“Light in the Midst of Darkness"
John 8:1-12 ~ Psalm 145:17-19 ~ Isaiah 40:26 ~ Psalm 91
February 2, 2003 ~ Sunday following Columbia disaster
Purpose: To a world stumbling about in darkness,
Christ offers Himself as a constant “light-filled” guide.
Opening Prayer – Lord, as we come to worship you this morning our hearts are heavy. We lift up to you those families who have lost loved ones. We struggle with them as we search for answers. In our attempt to better understand this world you have made, we’ve been met with tragedy. And we take comfort in the fact that because of Your great power and mighty strength, this tragedy is not missing from your sight.
Be with us during this time we share.. Build up our faith where it may be weak, give us a sense of your everlasting presence, help us to follow your light in the midst of the darkness that surrounds us.
May all that we do during this time bring glory unto you. In the name of your Son, we pray…Amen.
Introduction – It was January 28, 1986. I remember coming out of a class in school to hear the halls buzzing with the news…something had went horribly wrong with the Challenger. With the first teacher on board, the haunting words, “throttle up” were the last words heard from those seven dedicated people who took the risk, for exploration and for their country.
I can still remember sitting their stunned as I watched the television in the library with a bunch of other students. Ronald Reagan in his address to the nation quoted John Gillespie’s poem “High Flight” when he said of the seven, “they have slipped the surly bonds of Earth to touch the face of God.”
It left in me a deep, sinking feeling of helplessness, that same helplessness I felt as I watch the events unfold yesterday.
And for many, you may remember the tragedy of Jan. 27, 1967 when the Apollo space craft caught fire and killed three on that fate-filled day.
Tragedies such as these, remind us just how “human” humanity actually is. There was no talk of war and peace on our airways yesterday.There was no talk of economic downturns or slumping stock markets. As a nation, we grieved, and we continue to grieve.
And, in this week, we also grieved as a church. We said good-bye to a long-time member and friend of this congregation and did our best to bring about some comfort and healing to the family as we remembered Philo together.
And I want to be honest with you this morning in saying that my first inclination when I heard the news was to bring a message on any other text than John 8.
In fact, as I sat with the Lay Speaking class during our first meeting, my mind began to race with the list of directions we could take this morning.
But when I sat down at my desk and began to pray and seek God’s direction for the less than seven hours we had before the service this morning, , I began to get some comfort in knowing that in the midst of all of this darkness around us, in the midst of our shaken confidence, in the midst of grief, in the midst of unanswered questions…Jesus Christ is still standing there saying that he and he alone is the Light of the World.
So, this morning we’re going to look at John 8 and see what that story and Christ’s response is saying to us in oder to being our journey through the seven “I am” statements. But along with John 8, I want to look at three other passages of Scripture to hopefully bring some direction into these difficult days we find ourselves in.
Three Passages...
The first of those other three passages is found in Psalm 145:17-19…which when read in my NKJV says, “The Lord is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works. The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; he also will hear their cry and save them.”
For that woman condemned, Jesus was more than someone who stopped her stoning. For that woman condemned, Jesus brought a new understanding of grace and love. For that woman condemned, Jesus’ presence made all the difference in her life.
In the midst of her darkest moment, in the midst of her biggest trial, in the presence of her greatest fear, Jesus was there.
And I believe that goes for us as well. When Annie and I were searching yesterday for something to put on the church to possibly match the mood of someone going by, we “God is Near When Answers Are Far.” When the world becomes one giant question mark, it is God through His Son Jesus Christ in the presence of the Holy Spirit that says “the answers are here.”
If we truly believe that Jesus Christ is the light of the world. Then we realize that even in the darkest moments of life, Jesus is there with the answers…Jesus is there.
Passage Number 2
The second passage comes from Isaiah 40:26… Our president used this passage in his address to the nation when he quoted, “Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens and see who has created these things; He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.”
And while, our president may have taken this passage way out of context, it is a passage none-the-less that brings comfort. And I believe it does so because it tells us that we are “known” by one who created us. The one who names the stars, has also named us.
And Jesus knew the accusers just as well. When Jesus looked at the scribes and the Pharisees who were trying to trap him with their words, he shown his light on their deceit by simply saying, “He who is without sin, cast the first stone.”
It was a statement they couldn’t argue with. It was a statement that broke through all of their false exteriors. It was a statement that put an uncomfortable spotlight on the accusers.
Jesus knew full well that if he had said to stone her he would have been against the Roman law that said Jews could not perform their own executions, and if he said not to stone her, then he would have contradicted Jewish law which demanded some action be taken.
Instead, because Jesus knew of their sin, knew the woman’s sin, and knew her repentant heart and need for forgiveness, he brought a ray of light into an otherwise dark situation.
Not only is Jesus there..but Jesus also knows.
Passage #3
And the last passage that speaks to us today is found in the 91st Psalm which we read together… that speaks of our Lord as a refuge.
As I half-watched the television yesterday, redoing the order of worship for today at the same time, I had to look up at one of the interviews that was taking place. I looked up because the person being interviewed, even though they were a close friend of one of the astronauts, didn’t sound saddened or full of grief, but exactly the opposite.
“I know that my friend knew Christ,” he said. “I’d heard him give his testimony and I was amazed at his depth of faith.” And while the interviewer kept trying to steer the conversation into a different direction, this guy kept coming back to the faith he knew his friend had and it gave me a sense of light in an otherwise dark afternoon.
And that sense of light is one form of the refuge that Jesus gives…
For the woman at the well, Jesus was her refuge.
For Philo, through the ups and downs of running the family farm, he knew Jesus as his refuge.
For those astronauts’ families, who knew of their loved ones faith, Jesus has become a refuge.
And as we sit here this morning, trying to get our hands around the loss and tragedy of this past
week, hear me loud and clear when I say that Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, is our refuge.
Conclusion –
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in
darkness, but have the light of life.” To a world stumbling around in darkness, Christ offers himself as the constant guide. All we need to do is accept his gracious offer.
Jesus is there… he is near to those who call upon His name.
Jesus knows… nothing is missing in his sight.
Jesus is our refuge… when all else fails, we know that He is there.
Praise be to God for this Light which neither condemns nor accuses, but brings the light of hope in the midst of our darkness. Will you join me in prayer?
Heavenly Father,
You have promised strength for the weak, rest for the laborer, grace for our trials, your unfailing sympathy and your undying love, as well as the light for our way.
Give us the light of your truth and may it guide us through these days. May our leaders be led by your wisdom and may they search your will and see it clearly.
May you grant us your assurance of your presence, the knowledge of your knowing, and the strength of your refuge.
In your Word you tell us that those who mourn will be comforted…that even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of dearth, you are with us…that those who follow you will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. Help us, O Lord, to accept these words, placing them upon our hearts, souls and minds during theses days.
In Jesus’ name…Amen.
#534 – Be Still My Soul
Closing Blessing –
As we leave this place…
May the Light of the World be with us to guide us.
May the One who is near and all-knowing be our refuge.
And may we be still enough to experience
the Spirit who leads and directs,
showing us the way as we continue in the journey.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, may this be our
prayer…Amen
NOTE: If you did not find this sermon helpful, please contact me (gb@clergy.net) and tell me why. I appreciate everyone’s advice. Thanks.
