One Hope, One Light

Introduction 

The Ancient Promise 

Genesis 3:15 (ESV): 15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” 

• A battle between offspring that is going to result in victory for the child that comes from the woman.

• What is less obvious in the moment but is more obvious later: 

• The focus on the offspring coming from the woman hints at a virgin birth.

• Most genealogical records in Scripture describe children coming from the men

The Light of Christ’s Birth 

Matthew 2:1–2 (ESV): 1 saying, Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 

• The birth of Jesus is marked by light.

Matthew 4:12–16 (ESV): 12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” 

• Thefact that Jesus is marked by light points to the fact that Jesus Himself is light. 
• Light is hope.

Our Blessed Hope 

One of the formal ways that Scripture regards Jesus is to call Him hope: 

• Titus 2:11–13 (ESV): 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearingof the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 

• Revelation 21:4 (ESV): 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Two Versions of the Messiah 

The Old Testament talks about the Messiah in two different ways: 

1. The suffering servant
2. The victorious king

• The suffering servant:

• Isaiah 53:1-6(ESV): 1Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.  

• Isaiah 9:1–7 (ESV): 1But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them haslight 3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. 4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace, there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. 

The Counterintuitive Messiah 

• Matthew 26:51–54 (ESV): 51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?54 But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” 

• John 18:36(ESV): 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 

This is what frustrates us about Jesus:  

• He does not operatelike the world does. 

• But we do.

• John 14:30 (ESV):30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 

• 2 Corinthians 11:14 (ESV):14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 

Four Kinds of False Light 

Reason 

• Reasons unaided by light from the Holy Spirit:

• 2 Corinthians 10:3–5 (ESV): 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 

Technology 

• Society of Cain(Genesis 4:17-24) 
• Society of Nimrod(Genesis 10:8-12; 11: 1-9) 

Success 

• Matthew 13:22 (ESV):22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 

Human Works 

• 1 Corinthians 13:1–3 (ESV):1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 

• Matthew 7:21–23 (ESV):21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ 

A Simple Test of How Much Christ is in My Life 

Where am I carrying my cross? 

• Matthew 16:24 (ESV): 24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.