I watched the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean this morning. What a sight! The golden rays of sunlight breaking through a few scattered clouds, were spectacular. It said darkness is vanishing and there is a great new day on the way.
Each morning, the sunrise inspires me. I have the privilege of watching the sun come up over the Atlantic Ocean almost every morning and frequently get my camera to capture the sight. I am constantly in awe of the beauty of the sun coming over the horizon. Every sunrise is different. Every burst of light is full of hope and expectation.
Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, was Jesus’ uncle. John the Baptist and Jesus were cousins, being born just a few months apart. An angel had appeared to Zechariah telling him that he would be a father, even though he and his wife were up in years. Zechariah had doubted the words of the angel and as a result, was unable to speak, until after the birth of his son. However, after John was born, Zechariah was able to speak and his first words were prophetic.
His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. (Luke 1:68).
Starting with these words, Zechariah sang a prophetic hymn of praise. The whole song is rich in meaning, but notice how it ends. Zechariah gives us a fresh perspective on Christmas. He said, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven. (Luke 1:78).
1. SEE THE SUNRISE
There are many word-pictures in the Bible to describe the coming of the Savior. Jesus came as a Shepherd, King, Lamb, Door and Light. Zechariah used a different word-picture. He called Jesus a Sunrise, when he said, the rising sun will come to us from heaven. (Luke 1:78).
The picture is of the start of a new day. It’s a picture of the brightness of the sun breaking over the horizon. It’s a picture of rays of brilliant light piercing the darkness in the eastern sky as a new day breaks on the earth.
Many of us are more familiar with sunsets than sunrises. Some people don’t get up early enough to see the sun rise.
Sunsets can be pretty but there is something about a sunrise that is special. A sunset speaks of the end of the day; a sunrise speaks of the beginning of a new day. A sunset says that darkness is coming; a sunrise says that darkness is fleeing. A sunrise speaks of a new beginning.
The coming of Jesus is a spiritual sunrise, marking the start of a new day with hope for the future. The darkness of the past is dispelled, the despair of the long night is gone and the loneliness and fears of the night are over. The Savior has come. God has visited us. Jesus has come as a sunrise.
2. SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY
Christmas provides us with many options. We can get lost in the festivities of the world or we can respond to the significant person who is at the center of Christmas.
i. He came to our darkness to redeem us.
Zechariah said he has come and has redeemed his people. (Luke 1:68). He said the sunrise came to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death. (Luke 1:79).
Jesus came to those living in darkness. That includes all of us. What a description of our world and each one of us. We’re unable to see. We grope for direction, and search for answers as we stumble through life. We live in the shadow of death, not just the specter of physical death but the awareness of spiritual death. We know we are not alive to God.
Have you ever been awake during the night, unable to sleep and wondering if morning would ever come? Many people live all of life like that.
But many can testify of how coming to the Savior has brought them new hope, new life and a new beginning. The coming of Jesus into our lives has been like a sunrise after the darkness of the past.
He came to redeem us. He came to buy us back and make us his own.
ii. He came to show us mercy
Why did Jesus come? What motivated him to make such a visit? What prompted him to leave the glories of heaven to visit this earth? Zechariah gave us the answer, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven. (Luke 1:78).
He came because he is merciful. He sees our sinful condition but doesn’t punish us as we deserve.
Some people have a wrong idea about God. They think that God is an angry tyrant, waiting to pounce on anyone who breaks his law, but that’s not the God of the Bible. The Bible says that he is full of tender mercy.
iii. He came to show us the way of peace
Jesus came as a sunrise to dispel the darkness and enable us to start a new day. But Zechariah said there was more. He came to guide our feet in the path of peace.
Jesus provides guidance for life. He shows us how to really live. He gives life to the full and guidance that brings peace. As long as we are in darkness, we can’t find our way but with the sunrise, he shows us the way, the way of peace.
Many would say their lives are marked by guilt and fear and anxiety. Yet Jesus has come to bring peace. That’s why the angels sang about peace on earth. Peace is more than a word on a Christmas card. It’s a reality for those who personally receive the Christ of Christmas. Jesus is the Prince of Peace who came to make peace with God a reality.
3. SING PRAISE TO THE ONE WHO BRINGS THE SUNRISE
Zechariah was overwhelmed by what was happening. As soon as he could speak, he said, Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. (Luke 1:68). The first thing he wanted to do was to praise the Lord!
Praise him for who he is. He is the only One who could redeem us out of our darkness.
Praise him that a new day has started for those who choose to follow him. Christmas is a time of new beginnings.
Praise him for the mercy he has shown us. In mercy, he does not treat us as we deserve; in grace, he treats us as we do not deserve.
Praise him that he now guides us in a path that pleases him and brings us inner peace.
Night can be long. Darkness can be frightening and fearsome. You may be waiting for the morning to dawn so you can begin a new day. There’s good news. You don’t need to sit in darkness any longer. Let Jesus pay a visit to you.
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