Life Sunday (2025)
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John 1:1-14
John 1:1-14
My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, today is Life Sunday, and we are reminded in our Gospel lesson of who is the author of life, and where true life comes from, and how that is a light to all mankind. I understand that we may look at the world see all manner of hardship and trial, we may not think of their being any hope in this present darkness, but we must not forget who is own our side, Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Our Present Darkness
Darkness has been our enemy.
We are designed to live in light, and despite the many ways that we have been able to adapt to the world. We rely upon light to navigate. So when the light is gone, our imagination starts to run wild. To be clear we don’t fear the darkness,
We fear the dangers it hides.
Who knows what is there in the shadows? Is it a wolf, a bear, is someone seeking to harm us, or is a piece of furniture that is planning to murder our toes! The dark and the night has long been used to cover all manner of evil, and its something that we seek to avoid. The trouble that our text speaks of here isn’t ordinary darkness.
This world is spiritually dark.
That all of us are stumbling around in it blindly. Well what does that blindness mean exactly? Well it means we do not naturally fear, love or trust in God. In fact quite often we confuse what is good and evil, and chase after that which is wrong. Because since we are cloaked in darkness, we think that we can get away with our sins, and that maybe they aren’t as bad as we thought. This has to do with the darkness of sin.
The Darkness of Sin
Jesus made the blind see.
He did this physically for many, but he also removed the spiritual blindness that had closed our hearts and our minds to the truth. This is why some had such a strong reaction. Imagine if you had convinced yourself for years that you were flawless, and had done nothing wrong, you knew about the the ugliness of the world and felt is pain, but you, you were clean, you were good, you were better, but that’s because everytime you looked in the mirror you didn’t see anything wrong. Here is the danger
God’s Word opens our eyes.
We are forced to wrestle with the truth, it’s not just the world that is flawed, sinful, and broken, it’s you, it’s me. If you have grown up or dedicated your life to be a good and decent person and suddenly find out your not. But it also helps explain
Why can’t we fix the world?
We are sinners. If we are dead in our trespasses and sins, and are the ones that are causing this mess, because we keep running around in darkness, then the solution and salvation for the world has to come from outside of the World. That is why Jesus’ incarnation is called
The Life of Men
Jesus is the light that shines.
He brings not only this light, but this life to mankind. For God already knew our sins, knew our failings, and our wickedness, and He came anyway that He might lead us out of this mess and set things right.
God didn’t abandon us.
This is really what the Gospel is about. We look at the world, and we see the mess, or we are wronged by people in this life, or have been mistreated and we think to ourselves why on earth would ever put up with any of these people. Who are ugly on the inside and have nothing good inside of them. That’s good, until you realize your sins make you look the same to in God’s sight, and if God dealt with you, the way we woudl cast aside the world, he would have just left us in the darkness. Instead, He Sent Jesus into the World for our sake, and
The darkness of sin and death was destroyed!
Jesus came not only to show us our sins, but rather to lead us out of the darkness and bring us to the Kingdom of God. Just as God brought the Israelites through the Wilderness by a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night, Christ leads us to our heavenly home that we may not remain in the darkness but dwell with him in the light. That’s why He descended from the realms of endless light to rescue you who were lost.
Why Did Men Reject Him?
The Light of Christ reveals the truth.
This is painful, because no one is righteous, no one is good enough to be saved no matter how good you think you are, or what you have endured, it isn’t enough, and our
Pride refuses to acknowledge failure.
We hate to admit when we are wrong, and when we have failed utterly, and we know how many times we have held others wrongs over their heads and how people will use that knowledge to further shame and guilt us and try to control us, but consider this.
Jesus knew your sins and still came to save you.
Not because you are good, or righteous, but because Jesus is the Savior of Sinners, and so if you are a sinner, then Jesus died for you. Don’t let foolish pride have you deny your sins as though you are going to hide your wrongs from God almighty. But don’t only confess them, but know that Christ’s Words on the Cross are meant for you, Father forgive them for they know not what they do.
What’s the Value of One Life?
Look at the Cross.
For there is the Son of God shedding his blood, and suffering to save you. How precious are you in God’s sight, that Jesus would do that for you? This is not only your value, but the value of every man, woman, and child on earth. That’s why
That’s why we’re for life.
From the womb to hospice care, life is important and worth fighting for, we always aim for life, knowing that God has entrusted us with the care of our neighbor and that we are not to hurt or harm them, but help and support them in every physical need. For that is what Jesus did for you and me. So how can we treat any person no matter how young or old they might be, when the Son of God saw them as precious enough to save.
Share this hope with others.
We want others to enjoy this and celebrate it, and we end up advocating for those who don’t have a voice. For the person who is unresponsive or the child in the womb. The life they have is precious, and we should not seek to hasten death just because life would be hard, difficult, or they themselves might be unwanted.
My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, consider for a moment, if Christ had thought of us that way? Who wants these sinners? Why should I be inconvenienced and descend from heaven, it’s too difficult, its too hard, then we would have every reason to despair, but Jesus didn’t do that. Jesus loves you, and that is why He became flesh for your sake and He wanted you to live. So let us show that love to others as well, and not minimize the value of human lives be they young or old, instead let us remember that Jesus’ incarnation began at his conception, and he grew to adulthood and joined us even in the grave that we might be forgiven, and live in His Kingdom forever. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
