DARKNESS 2
JOHN 12:44-50
Introduction:
This is the second message entitled “Darkness.” The Lord said that men love darkness because their deed are evil, John 3:19, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”
Darkness gives everyone an eerie feeling. It scares children. There is something about darkness that we just don’t like. Let consider a few things about darkness from the Scriptures.
I. DARKNESS IS A SYMBOL OF IGNORANCE
A. A great darkness, Matthew 6:23, “But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!”
1. Men walk in darkness, Psalm 82:5, “They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.”
a. He leaves the path of uprightness, Proverbs 2:13, “Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;”
b. He that walks in darkness is a fool, Ecclesiastes 2:14. “The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.”
2. Man sits in darkness, Psalm 107:10, “Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;”
a. Sin binds man, Job 36:8, “And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;”
b. The Lord shows the need for repentance of sin, Matthew 4:16-17, “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
B. A great light, Isaiah 9:2, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.”
1. The Lord shall arise, Isaiah 60:2, “For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.”
2. He will bring healing, Malachi 4:2, “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.”
3. The Lord brought him out of darkness, Psalm 107:14-16, “He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder. 15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.”
II. DARKNESS IS A SYMBOL OF DEATH
A. The shadow of death, Job 10:21, “Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;”
B. The grave, Job 17:13, “If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.”
1. In death there is no remembrance of God, Psalm 6:5, “For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?”
2. There is sorrow in death, Psalm 18:4-5, “The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. 5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.”
3. The Lord Jesus was brought to the “dust of death” to save us from hell, Psalm 22:15-18, “My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. 16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. 18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.”
III. JESUS CHRIST BROUGHT LIGHT OUT OF DARKNESS
A. He opened the blind eyes, Isaiah 42:7, “To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.”
1. He brought the blind by a way they knew not, Isaiah 42:16, “And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.”
2. Then their eyes shall be opened, Isaiah 35:5, “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.”
3. They shall be like blind Bartimaeus, Mark 10:51-52, “And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. 52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.”
4. Jesus will never forsake His people, Hebrews 13:5, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
a. The righteous will not be forsaken, Psalm 37:25, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”
b. The Lord preserves the saints, Psalm 37:28, “For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off,”
c. There is not need to fear, Isaiah 41:10, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
CONCLUSION:
The darkness is past, 1 John 2:8, “Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.” There is no nee to fear because Jesus Christ has died that we might live. He became sin for us, 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” The darkness is past forever.