STEPHANIE FORMENTI | CONTRIBUTOR

Christmas is a season of light. We have lights on our houses, lights wrapped around our trees, candles in our windows, and fires in the hearth. It makes sense when we consider how the days are short and the nights are long and cold during winter (at least in the Northern Hemisphere). Imagine Christmas without lights. It would be so dark and cold.

This is especially true when darkness seems particularly overwhelming, deep, and oppressive. The beauty of light is most noticeable in years marked by significant loss or disappointment. The brightness of a flame is most poignant in moments of sadness, despair, hopelessness, and worry. Often, it is when we understand the oppression of darkness that we truly understand the power of light. This was true for the Old Testament people of God.

In Isaiah 9:2 we read, “The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.”

The prophet is referring to Israel’s history of exile and homelessness. Their own disobedience landed them in a place of oppression by their enemies, enshrouded in spiritual darkness. Notice the verbs: “walked” and “dwelt.” This was no passing darkness and no temporary shadow. They were existing in darkness. It was their home.

But Isaiah’s prophecy is one of hope; they will not wander around in darkness forever. Rather, a great light will burst onto the scene and make the darkness flee. And this light will bring joy (Isaiah 9:3), peace (9:4), and righteousness (9:7).

If you consider this image of light throughout Scripture, you’ll notice that light is always associated with goodness, blessing, and the presence and delight of God. Light comes with obedience. Darkness, on the other hand, implies a curse, God’s wrath and judgment, and is a result of disobedience. Throughout Scripture, light is often sudden and maybe even intrusive in its power, but we also see that light comforts, protects, and guides.

First, light comforts. We see this idea in Exodus during the ninth plague, the plague of darkness. Here we see darkness being used to bring both judgement on Pharaoh for his hard heart and to show God’s great power. It was a terrifying plague. The Bible says it was pitch black, so dark that the people couldn’t see one another or even rise from their beds. And then in Exodus 10:23 we read, “but all the people of Israel had light where they lived.” Comfort. Hope.

The Psalms are full of this idea too:

Psalm 27:1- “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?”

Psalm 139:11,12- “If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night, even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.” Light comforts.

Second, light protects. Isaiah 42:16 talks about how God “will turn the darkness before his people into light, and the rough places into level ground.” Light shows us the places where we might trip, where we might get hurt or encounter danger.

Third, light guides. Again, think of the Exodus story. When God brought his people out of the land of slavery, he guided them. How? As a pillar of fire to give them light. Psalm 43:3 says, “Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me.” Psalm 119:105 observes, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Light comforts, protects, and guides. And though the OT people of God experienced these things, they were often described in the prophets as a people without light. As people dwelling in darkness. They were a people waiting and watching for the true light.

That true light breaks onto the scene in the Gospel of Luke as it shreds the darkness for some sleepy shepherds on an isolated hill. The angels proclaim, “Glory to God in the highest” and magnificent light fills the sky. Jesus, the light of the world, was born.

Like the people of Israel, we need a light that comforts, protects, and guides. But we also need a light that reaches farther and deeper into the darkness of our hearts and shines a burning, red-hot ray into our most precious idols in order to obliterate their power over us. We need a light that exposes our spiritual blindness and shows us our sin in such a way that we see things for how they really are. Jesus does this. He enables us to see God because he is the life which is the light of men. Because of him, we no longer have to walk in darkness.

So, as you sit in front of a Christmas tree drinking coffee, may those happy little Christmas lights remind you of Jesus, the light of man, the true light of the world. And may those Advent candles remind us that one day, we will live together face to face with God. How amazing that will be! We will dwell in the city that has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb: Jesus Christ, the light of the world.

Photo by Alisa Anton on Unsplash