We are in the early days of winter, the days when darkness has the upper hand. The nights are long, so thatmany of us go to sleep in darkness and awake in darkness. These hours of darkness are alreadyshortening, day by day; darkness is gradually giving way to the light. But in the fall the process will begin again,with darkness overtaking the light. Sothe darkness in nature advances and recedes, but it never completely goes away.

This darkness in the natural world is a reminder that there is another kind of darkness in thisworld: spiritual darkness. This is thedarkness that is the absence of spiritual light, the absence of the Savior Jesus Christ. He is the Light of theworld. Where He is known and believedthere is light and life. Where He is notknown or where He is rejected there is nothing but darkness and death. This world, infected by sin and with Satan asits god, is a dark place. The evidenceof its darkness we see all around us, and we see it every day.

Grace and peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our meditation is based on the Child Jesus in Egypt. You will see the Lord carries you into spiritually difficult situations for the purpose that His saving grace might shine.

A 10-year-old girl had gone with her family to see some Christmas light displays at various locations throughout the city. At one church, they stopped and got out tolook more closely at the beautifully done nativity scene. “Isn’t that beautiful?” said the girl’sgrandmother. “Look at all the animals,Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus.” “Yes, Grandma,” replied the granddaughter. “It is really nice. But, there is only one thing that bothers me. Isn’t baby Jesus ever going to grow up? He’s the same size he was last year!”

Verse 5 of our text says that the darkness could not “comprehend It,” the “It” being Jesus and all He is. The literal meaning is that the darkness could not grasp It. The question is: does that mean darkness couldn’t grasp It like “comprehend It,” or does it mean darkness couldn’t grasp It like “could not destroy It,” like something you have in your hand and try to destroy? Perhaps it means both, for darkness cannot grasp Jesus in either way.

God, however, wants you to grasp what happened on Christmas—not in the sense of destroying it (which you can’t do), but in the sense of believing it and holding on to it. Godwants you to both comprehend and hold on to a couple of things in our text. One: that we have a Child born to us who is the eternal source of real life and light. Two: He is this for all the world. Jesus came to bring us all real life. The life our parents give us is not real life. Real life is the eternal,spiritual, and physical life Jesus gives us—life that conquers death and darkness. Grasp that life with both hands. It is for you!

How many of you are familiar with the Christmas song, “I’ll be home for Christmas?” Originally recorded in 1943by Bing Crosby, it’s been re-recorded by over a dozen artists in the last 80 years – including Kelly Clarkson, Elvis Presley, Rascal Flatts, and Michael Buble’. “I’ll be home for Christmas (ifonly in my dreams)” was originally written from the perspective of a World War II soldier dreaming of being home for Christmas. It immediately became a favorite of soldiers deployed overseas who longed to be home around family and friends, especially at Christmas.

Imagine for a moment hearing that the war was over and either you or your loved one really would be home for Christmas. What good news that would be! How special that Christmas would be.

We hear again from Isaiah as he tells of the good news that the people of God were returning home:

Listen to the names given in Isaiah chapter 9, verse 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. (ESV)

Isaiah is an important part of Christmas. Isaiah writes more about the promised Saviorthan any other Old Testament prophet. Itis for this reason that Isaiah is sometimes called “The Fifth Evangelist,”right along with Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

As we enter the seasonof Advent, we do so with Isaiah. Today,Isaiah tells us of the coming kingdom that Jesus would bring. It is a kingdom greater than all others,which is for all people, and which brings peace. Listen now to the words of the prophet ofGod, Isaiah, chapter two, verses 1 through 5: (Isa. 2:1-5 ESV) "The word that Isaiah the son ofAmoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountainof the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains,and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow toit, 3 and many peoples shallcome, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to thehouse of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walkin his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of theLORD from Jerusalem. 4 Heshall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples;and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learnwar anymore. 5 O house ofJacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD."

2 Corinthians 5:16-21 16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.