Dec. 3, 2017 “Christmas
Light” Mark 13.24-37 Pastor Jacqueline Hines
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Just when
things seem like they cannot get any worse, there are those days that things do get worse. On television, radio,
Facebook, twitter, and emails, we hear news that goes from bad to worse in the
world. Sometimes we hear news that goes from bad to worse among our friends and
family, our neighbors, from our doctor, job, our spouse, our children.
The gospel of Mark says, “In those days after that suffering…” Mark
is referring to a spiritual season of dire needs and great distress that is yet
to come. Mark’s references suggest a time of terror and tribulation that is on
its way. This terrible time may be caused by corrupt politics, poor economics, or
tumultuous emotions. As if it were not bad enough to have one’s world turned
upside down, Mark is describing how even the earth itself will reflect, will
mirror, humanity’s struggle with evil.
“In those days after that
suffering,” verse 24 continues, “the sun will be darkened, [slide # 1 “…the sun will be
darkened…” ]and the moon will not give its light,
25and
the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.”
Unsettling situations are no real surprise to Christians. Just
like the coming of spring and summer, [slide # 2 flower bud] we see the signs of trouble. We feel anguish
coming just as we may feel rain coming when our joints ache. We see warnings in
our dreams [slide # 3 warning
signs] to obey good and not evil. When we keep our weather eyes open,
we can often see the enemy lurking in the spiritual atmosphere and we know to
call upon our God for help and direction.
Mark reminds us that there are signs in our natural lives that
help us see and prepare for what is coming in our spiritual lives. Verse 28
says [slide # 4 fig tree] 28“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch
becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. [slide # 5 good sign] 29So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that
he is near, at the very gates.
Again, as verse 24 says, “the sun will be darkened, [slide #6 dark sun] and the moon will not give its light,…”We
do not know when trouble will come or when the final Tribulation will come
before the end of all time. Mark tells us :32“But about that day or hour no one knows, [slide # 7 no one
knows] neither
the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33Beware, keep
alert; for you do not know when the time will come.
We do not know the exact moment when troubles will come or when
the time of Tribulation before the end of the world as we know it will begin. What
we do know is what the Apostle Peter says in chapter 2: that God brings us out
of darkness into a marvelous light. [Slide # 8 he has called you…]
No matter how grey the clouds get, no matter how low and fast
they swirl around threatening in our direction, we know God will send the light
of Christ. [Slide # 9 light
of Christ] The Christmas light
shines so we can see our way to God’s promises of peace and joy.
We have all seen days when clouds covered the sun. Before a
storm, light may disappear and the darkness seem foreboding; it is as if evil is
in the air.
Well, whenever evil seems to be in the air, by faith we know
that God is greater than evil. [Slide # 10 blue lighthouse] Here is a riddle for you: What is greater than God and more evil
than the devil. The poor have it, the rich need it and if you eat it you’ll
die. What is it?
The answer: Nothing. Nothing is greater than God, nothing is
more evil than the devil, the poor have nothing, the rich need nothing and if
you eat nothing you’ll die.
By faith, we know that God is greater than evil people, evil
diseases, and evil actions. God is greater than anything.
When hunger comes, [slide # 11 soup bowl] we do not like it, but God provides food, even
if it is a crumb that we can share. [Slide # 12 bread basket]. When drought comes, we do not like it, but God sends water,
even if it is not the 80 gallons that we Americans are used to every day for flushing,
showering, washing clothes, cars, and dishes. [Slide # 13 gallons of water]
When warfare comes, we do not like it, but God sends peacemakers,
even if God uses us by
helping us to let go our resentments and grudges and to make a choice to love
in ways that repair the brokenness of others. We may be the ones God uses to bring peace when we forgive
our trespassers [Slide # 14 two in a gap] and show kindness to those who spitefully use us.
Some of us do not appreciate winter and our time change that
makes darkness comes so early. Fortunately for us, we can count our blessings,
one of which is that the light always
returns in the morning. [slide # 15 bright sky white clouds]
Even for those around the world who live with more dark times
and dark situations, [slide # 16 mother with child after bomb] God provides light for which to be grateful and for which we are
praying that all will have. [slide # 17 with Jesus at the cross]
There are those who live in parts of the world that literally
have fewer hours of daylight than we are accustomed. During certain winter
days, Iceland, Greenland, and Canada may see no light or as little as 4 or 5
hours of daylight which is hard for many of us to imagine or accept. [slide # 18 dark street]
There
are those who endure spiritually dark
days with not enough food and water, or their home is in a battle zone, or they
are responding to disease and distress that takes all their time and most of
their money…
Most of us would prefer more light than darkness. I would not
mind spending time in Yuma Arizona where all year round there are 11-13 hours
of daylight and every day has a 90% chance of being a sunny day! [slide # 19 Yuma]
Whether we are living in the darkest days of our lives or the
sunniest, God promises to be our light. It’s Christmas and we are happily
surrounding ourselves with all kinds of glowing reminders of the light of
Christmas. [slide # 20
Christmas tree, red bow]
We put Christmas lights everywhere; they are bright candles,
shiny ornaments, stars glimmering and trees toppling over with an abundance of
light. Christmas light is a powerful light because we light them passionately.
We light them religiously in preparation for Good News. We light them in anxious
anticipation of the coming of Christ, the coming of light, the coming of love….mmm….love!
Russian-born Irving Berlin wrote the song “I’m Dreaming of a
White Christmas.” He wrote it in 1942 during World War II for a movie with Bing
Crosby singing. Crosby’s character was a New Yorker stranded in sunny
California during Christmas. [slide # 21 snow scene/house] He was dreaming of the winter snow he knew in the North, the
snow that made it really feel like Christmas, the snow that reflected the
beautiful lights and reminds us of precious Christmas memories made year after
year after year.
The song ends with the blessing: “May your days be merry and
bright, and may all your Christmases be white.” We can understand how the words
of that song and many other Christmas songs brought hope during the darkness and fear that
came with World War II. Christmas songs are a part of what lights up our lives
before, during, and after Christmas. [slide # 22 several lit trees and couple walking]
In every season, we need Christmas lights, for it is the light
of Christmas light that always comes and makes the darkness vanish. It is the
light of Christmas that helps us see our way through anything and everything![slide # 23 man walking in
light] Amen. [slide # 24 lights] [slide # 25 lights/church/snow]
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