Conquering Darkness: Jesus' Victory Shines Bright

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Today, my heart is heavy. Broken over the darkness that is tormenting the next generation (and really people young and old). As a youth pastor, I’ve only seen the darkness get worse every year. Students are facing more evil than I can ever remember facing at their age. And I’m only 35—I like to think that’s still young.

This week I preached on John 4 at youth. We are taking the students through a series on the Gospel of John. It’s been refreshing to dig into this gospel every week.

This week a few things stuck out to me that the Lord was challenging me with. Just two questions that were like a punch in the gut:

1. Am I interruptible?

2. Do I see the outcasts, the hurting, the broken, or others who are different than myself?

Those are tough questions, if I’m honest.

Through a series of events, the Lord interrupted my plans today. He showed me I had to go to a certain place to minister to someone. It reminded me of John 4:4, “And he had to pass through Samaria.”

Jesus was willing to be interrupted in their journey to Galilee. He only did the Father’s will.

So, the question we must ask is: Are we willing to be interruptible so we can do the Father’s will?

If I’m honest, many times I’m not like Jesus. I’m not interruptible. I get so focused on my plans or what I want to do that there is no margin for the Holy Spirit to lead me to see others as He does.

Can you relate?

Jesus made it His mission to go a certain route. I’m sure the disciples probably thought it was odd. The Jews in that day had no dealings with Samaritans.

But Jesus saw this woman at the well the way the Father did.

Do we see others that way?

Ouch, I know.

Today, with the darkness I encountered as my wife and I got to minister to a precious soul and then hearing of some other things happening in our culture, my heart just broke. Ever had those days when the condition of our world just weighed on you?

I’m sure the woman at the well felt stuck in darkness too. But then came Jesus.

And He changed everything.

Jesus overcame the darkness. He conquered it and Jesus’ victory shines bright in a dark world! Jesus brought hope to the Samaritan woman. And he brings hope to us as well.

Darkness existed back then and continues to influence millions today. Until Jesus comes back, creation still groans and darkness still thrives—but it’s a defeated foe!

I’m sure many of you heard about Taylor Swift’s new album The Tortured Poets Department. I have not listened to it, but I’ll admit I was once a fan of Taylor' Swift’s music.

That changed a while ago.

Shane Pruitt had this to say about the new album:

I couldn’t agree more. Lyrics matter.

There is so much darkness in the music many of us listen to. Taylor Swift’s new music mocks Christianity.

Why, as followers of Jesus, would we want to fill our minds with that kind of darkness?

Our young people are. And we must sound the alarm.

Music is influential and with stars like Swift it might appear darkness is gaining ground. But, like I already said, Jesus conquered darkness and His victory shines bright!

This was also circulating on social media:

When so many are immersing these kinds of lyrics into their soul, darkness is just gripping them tighter. And it’s burdened my heart today knowing how rampant it is in our culture, and the next generation (including my generation).

Today was just hard. I was reminded of how much darkness is in this world but even more than that Jesus showed me that darkness is a defeated foe.

John 1:5 says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Whether it was ministering to a hurting soul or hearing of the dark, twisted songs millions are soaking in, the Lord challenged me today to be interruptible so that I can be in a position to see others the way Jesus saw the woman at the well.

I’m thankful for the cross. Though my heart is heavy today, I’m even more determined now to go be light in a dark world. There are more hurting people who need hope, who need Jesus.

So let’s ask the Lord to interrupt our plans to help us see others like Him. When we focus on Him, the darkness fades away.

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