The Light Shines in the Darkness

Advent 2017 INTRODUCTION

One of the things that I really enjoy during the Christmas season is all of the Christmas lights. They have a way of transforming our entire community. When my children were young, at least once a season, we would drive around town to look at the lights. More recently, we have made it a point to take in the massive light display at Sibley Park. For some reason, looking at the lights lifts my spirits.

One of the very first acts of creation was the creation of light. And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. Genesis 1:3 (NIV) On that very first Christmas, God again sent light into the world, in the form of an infant named Jesus.

From His birth on, Jesus shone the light of God into our world with ever increasing intensity. Wherever He went, He dispelled the darkness. Wherever He went, He invited people into the light. When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12 (NIV)

When Jesus completed His earthly ministry, He passed on the light of God to His disciples, who in turn have passed it on to us. He commissioned us to take His light and dispel the darkness in our world. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)

As we celebrate the Christmas season this year, let us determine to shine brightly for the glory of God.

Study 1: John 1:1-3

-2- The first Christmas was not a random, isolated event. It was set in motion at the very beginning of creation.

1. John begins his Gospel at the very beginning of time. Why do you think he did that?

2. The Word, in Greek, is logos. For the Greeks it represented the source of all wisdom and knowledge. For the Jews it represented the creative power of God. Why do you think John chose that word to talk about Jesus?

3. What important things does John tell us about “the Word”?

4. How was the Word involved in creation?

5. Why is this information important for understanding who Jesus is?

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

-3- The Advent wreath is intended to represent the anticipation of the light of Christ coming into the world. The first candle traditionally is called the Prophecy Candle. It stands for all of the prophecies about the coming Messiah. Take a look at some of those prophetic messages.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)

- What important information is given in this prophecy?

- What does the name Immanuel mean?

- How does this relate to the Christmas story?

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)

- What does this tell us about the character of Jesus?

- What does this tell us about the mission of Jesus?

Study 2: John 1:4-5

John moves from creation to the essence of who Jesus is.

-4- 1. What quality does Jesus hold in His hand?

2. How is the life Jesus offers different from physical life?

3. What does it mean for the life of Jesus to be the light of men?

4. What is the purpose of light?

5. What kind of darkness is John referring to?

6. What does it mean for the darkness to not understand the light?

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

The second candle on the Advent wreath is called the Bethlehem Candle. It represents the love of God wrapped up in the

-5- infant Jesus.

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." Micah 5:2 (NIV)

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. Luke 2:1-5 (NIV)

- Bethlehem means house of bread. Why would it be fitting that Jesus would be born there? John 6:35,48-51

- Bethlehem was also known as the city of David, because it was King David’s birth place. Why was this important?

Study 3: John 1:6-9

John introduces us to another significant person in Jesus’ story; John the Baptist.

-6- 1. Why would John stress that John the Baptist was sent from God?

2. What was John’s primary responsibility?

3. How does John distinguish John the Baptist from Jesus?

4. What does it mean for John to be a witness?

5. How does John shift the emphasis back on Jesus?

6. Why did Jesus come?

THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

The third candle in the Advent wreath is called the Shepherds’ Candle. It represents the joy of discovering Jesus.

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the

-7- shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Luke 2:15-20 (NIV)

- What motivated the shepherds to go to Bethlehem?

- What was their response to seeing Jesus?

- What motivates you the most about the Christmas story?

- How have you encountered Jesus?

- What does it mean for you to rejoice in the birth of Jesus?

- How can you share that good news this season?

Study 4: John 1:10-13

John takes us past the arrival of Jesus to the impact of His life in our world.

1. Why is it important that Jesus was really in the world?

2. How did the world of Jesus’ time respond to Him?

3. Who is John referring to when he says that Jesus came to His own? How did they respond to Jesus?

4. What does it mean to believe in Jesus’ name?

5. What is the result of openly receiving Jesus?

6. How is spiritual birth different from natural birth?

7. Jesus is still in our world. How have you responded to Him?

THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

The fourth candle in the Advent wreath is called the Angels’ Candle. It represents the proclamation of peace on earth through Jesus.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord

-9- appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2:8-14 (NIV)

- What was the initial response of the shepherds to the angel?

- What message did the angel have for the shepherds?

- In what ways was this message significant for the shepherds?

- How was the angel’s message reinforced?

- What does the message of Christmas mean to you?

- How do you see the message of Christmas reinforced today?

Study 5: John 1:14

John wraps up his “Advent” message with one of the most powerful verses in the Bible.

1. What radical idea did John introduce about the Word?

2. Why is it significant that the Word made his dwelling among

-10- us?

3. In what way does John imply that he was an eyewitness to the Word? 1 John 1:1

4. What did John see?

5. What statement does John make about the identity of the Word? Why is this important at the beginning of his Gospel?

6. How do the following passages reinforce John’s powerful statement? a. Colossians 1:15-19

b. Hebrews 2:17

c. Hebrews 4:14-16

CHRISTMAS EVE

The final candle in the Advent wreath is the Christ candle. It represents Jesus, the light of the world.

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

-11- So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:1-7

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12

- Think about the circumstances under which Jesus came into the world. How did God orchestrate the fulfillment of the prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem?

- Why do you think God had Jesus born in a stable and not in a palace?

- How does Jesus’ birth foreshadow his death?

- In what way is Jesus the light of the world?

- What does it mean for you to walk in the light of Jesus?