Light Shines in the DarknessSample

The imagery of light and darkness is consistent throughout the entire Bible, starting from the very beginning when God created the heavens and the earth. In the midst of the chaotic waters of darkness, God said, “Let there be light,” and the darkness gave way to the light of creation. Everywhere we see images of light and darkness within Scripture should call to mind to those first creative moments. Where there is light and darkness mingled, there too is new creation. 

Perhaps the most dramatic introduction to Jesus from any of the gospel accounts is from John 1 where John explicitly connects Jesus to the light of the first creation even as he is now the light of the world being born in human flesh: “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:3-5). In Genesis we read of God commands light to exist, but in Christ we meet Godʼs Speech made flesh. 

The way the prophet speaks of Jesus fits this scheme as well. Though the people walked under darkness, in the land of deep darkness, a child would be born as the great light shining in darkness. This son given to us would be known as Mighty God, even as he will reign on Davidʼs throne. This is the Divine King, who is also Human Lord. This is “Let there be light” made flesh. 

A life spent following Christ is one where we learn to die to our own darkness and become conformed more fully to the light. When God saves us, we are delivered “from the domain of darkness” (Colossians 1:13). But more than that, we behold the glory of the Lord and “are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Indeed, Godʼs purpose is that each of us would bring light everywhere we go; not as though we have become light ourselves, but rather that we would reflect the nature of Jesus as the moon reflects the sunʼs glory with a gentle radiance. 

Though we have faced times of darkness before and will face times of darkness in the future, we can know without question that this world is progressing from darkness to light and it has been from the very beginning. One day, all things will be made new.