We human beings are by nature “seekers.” Our God created us with minds. We are, therefore, naturally curious and seek answers to our questions. Our God created us with bodies. We, therefore, have physical needs and seek thefulfillment of those needs. We at times refer to people as “pleasure-seekers” or “thrill-seekers.” Such people undertake activities that involve a good deal of risk and sometimes get hurt in pursuit of pleasures and thrills.

The Epiphany season of the church year is centered around Jesus’ glory as the Son of God and the Savior of the world. This has been revealed to us for our salvation. We see that this week in the events of Jesus’ baptism byJohn in the Jordan River. This remarkable event records for us God the Father’sproclamation of Jesus as the Son of God and His Chosen Servant in whom He iswell pleased. This is a powerful revelation of glory, to say the least! However,there was a second wonder that took place at the same time. It was theappearing of the Holy Spirit in visible form, resting upon Jesus and abidingwith Him. John the Baptist had been told to watch for this as a mark that thisperson was indeed the Christ who had come into the world. This element bringsus a powerful message concerning Jesus’ ministry. We are informed here not onlyof the glory of God in Christ but also of the Holy Spirit’s role in directing,empowering, and blessing the life and ministry of Jesus. We are informed hereas well about others chosen as God’s people to reveal His glory of salvation tothe world. Our text this morning takes us back to God choosing and thenanointing David, Jesus’ ancestor, to fulfill his role in leading God’s peopleto this central event in world history. This central event is when David’s Sonand David’s Lord would be introduced to the world as the Christ, the ChosenServant of the LORD.

We are in the early days of winter, the days when darkness has the upper hand. The nights are long, so thatmany of us go to sleep in darkness and awake in darkness. These hours of darkness are alreadyshortening, day by day; darkness is gradually giving way to the light. But in the fall the process will begin again,with darkness overtaking the light. Sothe darkness in nature advances and recedes, but it never completely goes away.

This darkness in the natural world is a reminder that there is another kind of darkness in thisworld: spiritual darkness. This is thedarkness that is the absence of spiritual light, the absence of the Savior Jesus Christ. He is the Light of theworld. Where He is known and believedthere is light and life. Where He is notknown or where He is rejected there is nothing but darkness and death. This world, infected by sin and with Satan asits god, is a dark place. The evidenceof its darkness we see all around us, and we see it every day.

Grace and peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our meditation is based on the Child Jesus in Egypt. You will see the Lord carries you into spiritually difficult situations for the purpose that His saving grace might shine.

A 10-year-old girl had gone with her family to see some Christmas light displays at various locations throughout the city. At one church, they stopped and got out tolook more closely at the beautifully done nativity scene. “Isn’t that beautiful?” said the girl’sgrandmother. “Look at all the animals,Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus.” “Yes, Grandma,” replied the granddaughter. “It is really nice. But, there is only one thing that bothers me. Isn’t baby Jesus ever going to grow up? He’s the same size he was last year!”

Verse 5 of our text says that the darkness could not “comprehend It,” the “It” being Jesus and all He is. The literal meaning is that the darkness could not grasp It. The question is: does that mean darkness couldn’t grasp It like “comprehend It,” or does it mean darkness couldn’t grasp It like “could not destroy It,” like something you have in your hand and try to destroy? Perhaps it means both, for darkness cannot grasp Jesus in either way.

God, however, wants you to grasp what happened on Christmas—not in the sense of destroying it (which you can’t do), but in the sense of believing it and holding on to it. Godwants you to both comprehend and hold on to a couple of things in our text. One: that we have a Child born to us who is the eternal source of real life and light. Two: He is this for all the world. Jesus came to bring us all real life. The life our parents give us is not real life. Real life is the eternal,spiritual, and physical life Jesus gives us—life that conquers death and darkness. Grasp that life with both hands. It is for you!

How many of you are familiar with the Christmas song, “I’ll be home for Christmas?” Originally recorded in 1943by Bing Crosby, it’s been re-recorded by over a dozen artists in the last 80 years – including Kelly Clarkson, Elvis Presley, Rascal Flatts, and Michael Buble’. “I’ll be home for Christmas (ifonly in my dreams)” was originally written from the perspective of a World War II soldier dreaming of being home for Christmas. It immediately became a favorite of soldiers deployed overseas who longed to be home around family and friends, especially at Christmas.

Imagine for a moment hearing that the war was over and either you or your loved one really would be home for Christmas. What good news that would be! How special that Christmas would be.

We hear again from Isaiah as he tells of the good news that the people of God were returning home:

Listen to the names given in Isaiah chapter 9, verse 6:

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (ESV)