I love it when my neighbours put up their Christmas lights. In the winter, our road is very dark very early and we have no streetlights. The colourful lights are welcoming and seem to be showing the way home. It’s a beautiful reminder that Jesus came to us as the light of the world. As John said, ‘The light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.’ (John 1:5 CSB).
But when Jesus was born, even though he was the light of the world, the darkness was still all around. A song by Hillsong Worship begins with these words: ‘Light of the World, you stepped down into darkness.’1 His birth didn’t automatically dispel the darkness of the world – the evil, the pain, sin and death – It was all still there. But the miracle is that Jesus entered into our humanity, became one of us, and took on all of our sin, shame, death, feelings of abandonment and estrangement from God. Then through another miracle – his life, death and resurrection, he has saved and reconciled us all, to God, to ourselves and to others.
The darkness of our fallen hearts tried to destroy the Light of the world, but it had no power against him. The Light overcame the darkness, and it will never be put out. Just as the strings of lights along my road brighten up the darkness, the presence of Jesus brightens this world with his love, mercy and grace. And one day, that light will be so bright, no shadows of any kind will remain. Light of the world, you conquered the darkness! First published on 10 December 2024, at www.gemsofgodsgrace.wordpress.com a personal blog which is not sponsored by Grace Communion International.
1 Tim Hughes, Here I am to Worship.