Text: John 12:46

Topic: How the light of Christ overwhelms the darkness of our world.

Introduction: Light is a symbol of hope.

Illustration: Russell tells of a neighbor who kept the Christmas lights on past the holidays, well into February. He was annoyed and thought them lazy, but he later found out they'd left the lights in anticipation of their son's return from Vietnam.

People in darkness—a dark cave, a life raft on the ocean, are delighted to see a light.

• Jesus said, "I have come into the world as a light . . ."
• Isaiah 9:2 says, "The people walking in darkness have seen a light."

Jesus attracted attention at his birth through the use of light.

• An angel appeared to shepherds, "and the glory of the Lord shone around them."
• The whole sky was aglow with angels praising God.
• A star appeared in the east to guide the magi to Christ's birthplace.

Jesus attracted attention, as an adult, like a light does.

• Jesus said, "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men to me."
• Jesus gives direction, just as an airport beacon, lighthouse, or highway reflective marker does; his Holy Spirit and His Word serve as a light to guide us.

Light is always more powerful than darkness.

Illustration: a candle in Mammoth Cave

• Jesus came into a spiritually dark world.
• Herod, king of darkness, died; Jesus, infant of righteousness, lived.

Illustration: An elderly woman, whose husband had recently died, was struggling with her first Christmas alone. A box arrives with a Labrador puppy, with a letter from her late husband, who had arranged the puppy as his last Christmas present to her. Life is stronger than death, and light more powerful than darkness .

Conclusion: Once we walk in light, we're never content to walk in darkness again.

• Darkness conceals reality, but light exposes it.
• If you're trying to conceal secret sin, you don't want the light of Christ.
• Reality is there's no hope in this dark world apart from the light of Jesus Christ.

Illustration: Painter transforms a bleak picture of a winter scene with one brushstroke—by adding a glow to one window of the cabin.