Ash Wednesday Sermon: "Jesus Christ is the Light of the World"

+ Ash Wednesday – February 10th, 2016 +

Lenten sermon series: I AM sayings in John’s Gospel

John 8:12

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

Seems like a strange verse to reflect upon on this Ash Wednesday.

We live in a world enveloped in darkness and the shadow of death. The blindness of man’s sin rages on: the world rejoices in the destruction of marriage and family and calls it love and choice; pro-abortion advocates are upset about a Doritos commercial that humanizes a baby in utero; men call it a service to god when they chop off the heads of Christians. Yes, we’re surrounded by people who love the darkness rather than the light.

But the truth of Ash Wednesday deals us a death blow as well. The cross of ashes is a reminder that there’s a sinful heart of darkness within each of us. As our Lord said, Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. The cross of ashes is a reminder that our sin is black as death. The cross of ashes is a reminder that you are dust and to dust you shall return.

There’s no place darker than the grave. Adam and Eve walked in the darkness of disobedience, and so do we. Israel wandered away from God’s commands into the darkness of their own desires, and so do we.

Without Christ, all is darkness. But with Christ, all darkness is banished.

God did not let the darkness swallow up Adam and Eve. He spoke a promise. Light and life would come from a Virgin’s womb. A child was born to crush the devil and chase the darkness away forever.

God did not let the darkness swallow up Israel. He sent prophet after prophet to declare to them light and life in God’s mercy. Prophets like Joel,

Return to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
    and he relents over disaster.

God will not let the darkness swallow you up either. Not the sinful world without, or our sinful flesh within.

Jesus Christ is the light of the world; the light no darkness – no sin, no covetous desires, no forgetful prayer and devotion, no malice or anger in our hearts, no lustful eye, no dark deed of ours, nor anything in all creation - can overcome.

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

To walk in the light of life is to walk in the shadow of Jesus’ cross, for there alone is all darkness defeated for you. In Jesus crucified we are children of light.

Jesus dies for Adam’s sin and yours. Jesus bears the punishment for Israel’s wandering and ours. Jesus is swallowed up by the dark veil of death for you.

Yes, the ashes on our foreheads remind us of death, but they’re not in the shape of a dark, black coffin. They’re in the form of the cross. And that’s no accident. We bear the cross of ashes, but it is a cross – the sign of our life in Christ.

The cross of ashes is reminder that though our sins were as black as coal, in the cross we are white as snow. The cross of ashes is a reminder that death is swallowed up in victory. The cross of ashes is a reminder that Jesus is the Light of the world, and he shines most clearly for you in his death on the cross.

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

This Lent we follow Jesus to the cross. His Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. His Supper is a feast of light in the life of his flesh and blood. His Baptism makes us children of light, a city set on a hill that cannot help but shine in the night around us. For though the darkness surrounds us, we are not alone.

The Light that appeared to Moses in the burning bush not consuming the tree in fire, is hung on a tree in order to consume the flames of God’s wrath for you.

The Light which led Israel through the wilderness by fire and cloud now leads you through death into life on a new exodus in the waters of your Baptism.

Light that first broke the dark and void of creation breaks the seal of the grave and brings you into a new creation filled with the only light you need: the Lamb who was slain and yet lives. And Jesus, the Lamb is also your light.

Jesus is the Light of the World for you, this Ash Wednesday and always.

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.