Luke 1:77-79
…to give his people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high shall visit us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Introduction
What makes any sunrise special? Either how bad the night was, or what blessing is anticipated for that day. The NT sees the coming of Jesus as the end of a bad night and the dawning of a blessed day:
* See the bad night?
v.79 to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
echoing Is. 9:2: Is. 60:1-3
* See the blessing?
V.77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God
This means the sunrise is a parable of Jesus. It is like God and like his salvation.
1. The sunrise is like God.
How?
a. The sun is vital, indispensable.
b. But the sun is also unapproachable.
c. We can see its effects without seeing it.
d. The sun is good, it is a source of joy.
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth, and deep darkness the peoples; but the Lord will rise upon you, and his glory will appear upon you. And the nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Is.60:1-3
2. The sunrise is like our salvation
Jesus has come for our salvation (v.77), so the sunrise is like our salvation
a. He is the sunrise from on high
(not the place from which we expect the sunrise!)
b. We are waiting for its full effects
Prov.4:18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day.
c. The sunrise, like our salvation, has an end point.
Jesus is coming again, from on high, one final sunrise, to then never rise again. Our salvation is headed for the presence of God, no more suffering, tears, sin, death.
Rev.21:23 And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine upon it for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the lamb.
Is. 60:19-20 No longer will you have the sun for light by day, nor for brightness will the moon give you light; but you will have the Lord for an everlasting light, and your God for your glory. Your sun will set no more, neither will your moon wane; for you will have the Lord for an everlasting light, and the days of morning will be finished.
Rev.22:5 And there shall no longer be any night; and they shall not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall illumine them…
Malachi 4:2 But for you who fear my name the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall…
Psalm 84:11-12 For the Lord God is a sun and a shield; the Lord gives grace and glory; no good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, how blessed is the man who trusts in him.
