THE LIGHT SHINES

 

JANUARY 2, 2024

Matthew 2:1-3, 7-8

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him." When Herod the king heard this, He was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him ... Then Herod ... sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the Child, and when you have found Him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship Him." 

Herod was a cruel, paranoid king who had recently killed his own wife and sons when he thought they were a threat to him. And now he says, "Let me know when you find the baby, so I can come and worship him, too" What an obvious lie!

It's clear that Jesus was born into the same dark world we see around us today, a world that is not safe, where wickedness destroys human lives. We see this in the conflicts that are raging in our world don’t we? Amos 5:13 records this message from our Creator:

For I know how many are your offenses
and how great your sins.
There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes
and deprive the poor of justice in the courts.
13 Therefore the prudent keep quiet in such times,
for the times are evil.

 

And yet God has not deserted us. He has come Himself to rescue us, to make His light shine into the darkest corners of our world. Back to Amos 5

 

14 Seek good, not evil,
that you may live.
Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you,
just as you say he is.

 

John at the beginning of his Gospel teaches that the pre-existent, eternal, and incarnate Word both acknowledges the darkness of the world and makes a promise that Jesus, the true light the enlightens everyone, shines on in the darkness and, even more, that the darkness has not overcome it.

That is different, take note, than saying that Jesus’ light vanquishes darkness, dispelling it once and forever. That day will come, but it is not yet. Rather, Jesus’ light shines on. Darkness is still there, but it has not, and cannot, overcome the light.

We are at a time when it is, I believe, so important to acknowledge the darkness of loss, grief, and fear that still permeates our world and lives. No devotion, sermon or Christmas carols can or should seek to deny that. Rather, we are reminded that the light of Christ shines on, perhaps never appearing brighter than just now, and will light our way forward. For this is the light that no darkness can overcome.

Jesus laid down His own life to make it happen and then rose from the dead. Death and evil cannot put out His light. Let us remember that death, and wickedness, and the terrible evils we witness in our world cannot destroy us either, because, as we are told in the Bible, that the Holy Spirit draws us to Jesus' light and makes us children of light through faith in Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:5).

Lord, keep us in Your light and help us against the powers of darkness. Amen.

 REFLECT

When have you seen Jesus bring light into a dark situation?