12 Days of Christmas: Day #4 Jesus is LIGHT

Beautiful twinkling lights. The Christmas season is filled with them. Whether strands of brilliant, sparkling white or bright multi-colored bulbs, Christmas lights have long been a staple of Christmas decorations.

There’s something intriguing in their presence. There’s something mesmerizing in the powerful way these tiny bulbs so richly permeate the darkness around them. (Am I the only one who is captivated by the peaceful beauty and perpetually surprised by the amount of light emitted by the strands of lights linked together on the Christmas tree in the dark of the night or the wee hours of the morning? Surely not.) 

Light in the darkness is powerful. The light is unmistakable. The light is easily seen and recognized. The light cannot be easily ignored, nor can it be easily covered or hidden. It shines brilliantly and it permeates all that surrounds it.     

Scripture reveals that Jesus is light. In fact, Jesus Himself declares He is “the light of the world” (John 8:12). He is powerful, unmistakable, and easily seen. He contrasts the darkness, shines brilliantly in its midst, and permeates all that surrounds. 

But, even more so, this declaration would have been a bold witness to the original audience. Those listening would have recognized that Jesus was identifying Himself as the long-awaited Messiah.  

Scripture had long pointed to this attribute of Jesus–Jesus as light–as synonymous with the Messiah. 

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2). The Messiah’s arrival would change everything. People who had been confused and walking in darkness, as one spiritually blind–in sin, in despair, in lack of knowledge or reverence for the Law or the Lord–would suddenly see the great light. They would see the Messiah for who He was.

This light would bring knowledge of truth and understanding of God’s Word and God’s covenant love for His people. It would intrigue and mesmerize hearts and minds, and it would bring people to a saving faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. 

What other light can do this? The light of Jesus shines brighter and reaches farther than any other.

And, with this, we can have hope. Even in the darkest of times, we can realize and remember the words recorded in John 1:5 that say, “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” 

Our world is full of darkness. Things are not as they were intended. Until Jesus returns, we will always be surrounded by darkness in some fashion. But we are not left without hope.

Are you facing some darkness of circumstance? Are you facing some darkness of mood or some darkness of soul? Each one of us can take heart that this present darkness will not overcome the light; the light will always shine through. Jesus is powerful. Jesus is victorious. Jesus overcomes.

Jesus followed His profession to be the light of the world with these words, “whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).  Jesus as light does not simply come to illuminate truth, but to allow us, from now on, to walk in His light, and to have the light of life, always. We can have hope, even when we are surrounded by darkness and despair.

Do we appreciate this truth? Do we recognize the great gift we have been given? 

How does considering this attribute of Jesus–His being light–affect your today? How does it impact your adoration and worship of Jesus Christ? How does it give you hope? How does it increase your joy? How does it affect how you will live for Him today? 

Take a moment to pause in prayer. Thank God for the powerful reality of grace that Jesus is light–a brilliant and powerful light in the darkness. Thank Him for the way that truth changes lives. Confess to Him any ways you have been blind to His light. Confess any ways you may try to hide from His light or relish the darkness. Ask for forgiveness for any ways you have ignored His light. Ask for His help to be unapologetically eager to reveal, share, and reflect His light to others. Ask Him for eyes to see His brilliant light overcoming the darkness and to delight in it–to delight in Him. Thank Him that the light always overcomes darkness.